Factsheet 56 - An introduction to noise at work
Keywords:Every day, millions of employees in Europe are exposed to noise at work and all the risks this can entail. While noise is most obviously a problem in industries such as manufacturing and construction, it can also be an issue in a wide range of other working environments, from call centres to schools, orchestra pits to bars. One in five of Europe’s workers has to raise their voices to be heard for at least half of the time that they are at work and 7 % suffer from work-related hearing difficulties. Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common reported occupational disease in the EU. This factsheet outlines the key issues surrounding noise at work, including the risks, legal responsibilities and solutions. Other factsheets deal with these issues in more detail, supported by online information and advice ( http://ew2005.osha.europa.eu).