Performance and Annoyance Effects of Noise

In the industrial environment, the impact of noise on hearing acuity is of major concern. However, a second area of potential importance is the relationship between noise and performance. This paper presents an overview of the psychoacoustic literature on the effects of noise on performance and the salient theories developed to describe this relationship. Also included is the application of various psychoacoustic noise rating systems to a sawmill situation. At present, there is no consensus regarding the appropriate threshold limit value for the various psychological effects of noise. Even the results of the numerous noise-performance studies are highly variable and at times contradictory. Applying the best available guidelines to the selected sawmill situation shows that the potential exists for noise to have an adverse effect on efficiency and productivity.

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