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The results are striking. According to the results of an Ifop barometer carried out for the National Hearing Day Association (JNA), one in two French people say they are bothered by noise at work. More specifically, 16% of workers say they suffer from it “often” and 35% “from time to time”.
You may not have known it, but we are currently at the heart of hearing health week at work, which is holding its 7th edition from October 17 to 22, 2022. On this occasion, a survey was conducted by Ifop for the association National Hearing Day (JNA) and the results are striking.
One in two French people bothered by noise at work
The study was carried out on 1,118 people. And like every year, the figure remains fairly stable: one in two French people is bothered by noise in their workplace. And returning to face-to-face work can even be a challenge for 53% of those questioned.
What are the most annoying noises?
Noise yes, but which one? According to the respondents, there are different sources of noise. Talking back and forth from colleagues topped the list at 28%, followed closely by talking to others at 27%.
And for 23% of respondents, it is simply the noise of printers and computers that bothers them.
Who are the people most affected? Unsurprisingly, workers, but also Ile-de-France residents, are 65% to report suffering this nuisance. The 35-49 age group is also the most affected, with 57% of respondents belonging to this age category. Regarding the sectors, it is that of trade which comes first, before agriculture, industry and construction. The services and the administration arrive at the back of the pack.
Consequences on health
The consequences of noise pollution are still too often overlooked. However, noise can really affect physical and mental health, with different symptoms. Asked about this, two-thirds of respondents report fatigue and irritability, while more than one person in two reports a state of stress.
Finally, for nearly four out of ten people, there is the appearance of anxiety, sleep disorders, wheezing and tinnitus and no less than 34% note the appearance of the onset of deafness.
Less noise tolerance since working from home
In addition, the study reveals that 58% of respondents declare “not knowing how to react in the event of hearing problems resulting from high noise exposure at their workstation”. Finally, according to the conclusions of this work, “in terms of noise, the tolerance threshold that some workers could previously tolerate has become more restrictive since they have experimented with other organizations such as teleworking”.