Noise in the workplace

Almost 7% of French employees are exposed to hazardous noise levels. A further 25% are subjected to other types of noise, less harmful in terms of health but which have some adverse effects, nonetheless.

Approximately one-third of employees reported being exposed to noise pollution, as part of the SUMER 2003 survey, commissioned by DARES (Research and Statistics Department of the French Ministry of Employment) and the DRT (Labour Relations Directorate). (See below for note on survey methodology.) Almost 7% of employees are subjected to over 20 hours per week of noise exceeding the 85dbA (A-weighted decibel) threshold, or of impact and impulse noise. These types are classed as ‘hazardous noise’.

Furthermore, 25% of employees are subjected to ‘other noise’: exceeding 85dbA, but for less than 20 hours per week, as well as all other bothersome noise of a lower sound level.

Hazardous noise is likely to impair hearing. Other noise has less severe consequences, even though it can also have adverse effects on health, quality of life in the workplace and even on hearing in the longer term.

Most vulnerable groups

Hazardous noise affects 18% of employees in manufacturing and 12% of employees in agriculture and the construction sector. The main sectors concerned are wood-paper, metallurgy and metal processing, mineral goods, automotives, mechanical equipment, textiles and agri-food.

The survey identified the following risk groups:

• Hazardous noise is more prevalent in establishments with 200 to 500 employees.

• Men tend to be subjected to hazardous noise more frequently than women (10%, compared with 2%).

• Employees working in production are particularly at risk, as well as those working in installation, maintenance, tuning and repairs.

• Temporary workers are subjected to three times the average exposure (20.2%).

• Qualified (30%) or non-qualified (26%) industrial workers are particularly affected.

Combined risks

Employees subjected to hazardous noise tend to be considerably more involved in the manual handling of loads than other employees are. They also tend to work more frequently with vibrating machinery and tools, as well as operating mobile machinery more frequently in the workplace. In addition, these workers have a higher exposure to extreme temperatures. Almost all of them suffer from postural and articular cartilage problems.

Three-quarters of employees exposed to hazardous noise are also exposed to one or several chemical products, including: lubricating oil, silica, crystalline, solvents, welding fumes, exhaust emissions or wood dust.

Types of work organisation

Employees subjected to hazardous noise are more likely to work in teams and at night than other employees are. They have a more highly controlled pace of work, as it tends to depend more on automatic procedures, stringent production standards or short lead times.

They also tend to rely more on colleagues and line management. They generally have to be more versatile when a colleague needs to be urgently replaced.

Hearing protection

While effective hearing protection can prevent hearing impairment, 32% of those exposed to hazardous noise do not have access to any type of hearing protection.

In the manufacturing sector, 77% of exposed employees have recourse to hearing protection. The same is true for 71% of exposed employees in construction and 67% in agriculture. However, in the services sector, where there is less exposure to hazardous noise, over half of exposed employees are not protected.

Other noise

A quarter of employees are exposed to other types of noise, whether it is noise above the 85dbA threshold, but for a duration of less than 20 hours per week, or simply bothersome noise. The sectors most exposed to this risk are often the same as for hazardous noise. However, certain sectors of the service industry are also greatly affected by other types of noise, such as automotive sale and repairs (47.8%), operational services (including temporary agencies), and the transport sector.

While hazardous noise primarily affects employees with a production-based role, other noise mainly affects those with a position in installation, maintenance, tuning or repairs. These employees are often exposed to noise over 85dbA, but for a shorter period.

In conclusion, it may be said that noise exposure remains a major constraint for certain employee categories, for which the risk of work-related deafness is far from being overcome.