A simple method to estimate noise levels in the workplace based on self-reported speech communication effort in noise

Abstract

Objective: To validate a method using self-reported speech communication effort in noise to estimate occupational noise levels by comparing with measured noise levels.

Design: A comparative observational study. Reported vocal effort to communicate with a person at a distance of 1.2 m during workplace-related tasks was used to provide an estimate of noise levels in the workplace. These estimated noise levels were compared against noise level measurements obtained using personal noise dosimetry badges for corresponding tasks undertaken by participants.

Study sample: Participants (n = 168) aged 16–25 years were recruited from companies where workplace noise levels were at least 85 dB(A).

Results: Estimated noise levels using speech communication ability were evenly distributed above and below the measured noise levels (n = 134), indicating a lack of systematic bias in the method. For 91% of participants, estimates of noise levels using speech communication were within ±6 dB of the measured levels, whilst 56% were within ±3 dB.

Conclusions: Report of speech communication effort required in noise by employees is an effective method of estimating noise levels within the workplace. This can be used for retrospective noise level assessment where there are no recorded noise level measurements, such as for retrospective research studies or in medicolegal work.

Keywords:

• Noise exposure
• occupational noise
• estimation of noise
• speech communication
• social noise
• medicolegal

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the companies who kindly allowed us access to their workplace, the employees who took part in both the interviews and the noise badge measurements, and in particular to the health and safety managers and occupational nurses who were instrumental in arranging for us to see the participants. Many thanks to Ann Fomukong who collected the data from companies in the North-West. This is part of a larger longitudinal study of hearing and the effectiveness of the Noise at Work regulations that is funded by the Health and Safety Executive.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This paper presents independent research funded by the Health and Safety Executive. The research was originally initiated by the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research.