Noise can be defined very simply as unwanted sound. Office workers are
subjected to many noise sources including video display terminals, high-speed
printers, telephones, fax machines, and human voices. Noise can produce
tension and stress as well as damage to hearing at high noise levels. For noise
levels in offices, the most common effects are interference with speech
communication, annoyance, and distraction from mental activities. The
annoying effect of noise can decrease performance or increase errors in some
task situations. If the tasks require a great deal of mental concentration, noise
can be detrimental to performance.
Government standards have set limits for exposure to noise to prevent hearing
loss in employees. The level of noise one can safely be exposed to is
dependent on the intensity of the noise as well as the duration of exposure. In
an office setting OSHA noise standards are rarely approached or exceeded.
However, problems could arise in areas with a high concentration of noisy
machines, such as high-speed printers or copy machines.
When employees are subjected to sound levels exceeding OSHA standards,
feasible administrative or engineering controls must be utilized. If such controls
fail to reduce sound levels, personal protective equipment must be provided
and used to reduce sound levels.