Work-related stress occurs when the demands of the work environment exceed the workers’ ability to cope with, or control, the demands. The physical environment of a workplace can introduce a wide variety of uncontrollable factors that result as stressors throughout the workday. One of the most prevalent stressors across professions is noise. From machinery, alarms, specialized equipment to the general hum and buzz throughout a building, noise in the workplace can be bothersome.
Beyond being an annoyance, noise can cause permanent auditory and non-auditory consequences. Prolonged exposure to hazardous noises can trigger certain physiological stress responses such as spikes in blood pressure and heart rate. These responses result in your employees becoming mentally and physically exhausted from noise-induced stress. The EPA’s “Noise Effects Handbook” states that excessive noise can create a distraction and mental fatigue that can impair workers’ judgment and reduce morale. When your employees aren’t performing at their best, neither is your company.
What does this mean for you as an employer? Consistent exposure to hazardous noise creates a greater risk for work-related injury and fatigued, stressed employees. If hazardous noise is not addressed properly and proactively, the consequences can be severe.
You can protect yourself and your employees from noise-induced stress by complying to OSHA’s noise exposure limits and guidelines. From a full hearing conservation program, noise monitoring, audiometric testing, hearing protection, and more, Center for Industrial Audiometrics is here to help proactively protect employees from hazardous noise levels. Contact us today for a consultation.
https://ciahearing.com/
7200 Cameron Park Drive
Fort Smith, AR 72903
(479) 785-3277