Noise in the workplace is a major problem affecting not only employees’ health, but also their productivity. As the main cause of occupational deafness and hearing fatigue, noise can have serious consequences for workers. It is responsible for numerous occupational illnesses, reduced employee productivity, and can even be the cause ofworkplace accidents and conflicts between colleagues. Faced with these risks, noise prevention in the workplace has become a priority, reinforced by recent legislative reforms.
Noise in the workplace is a major public health problem, affecting not only employees’ health but also their productivity. The law of August 2, 2021 strengthened preventive measures in occupational health, particularly with regard to noise prevention. This text explores the impacts of noise on workers’ health and productivity, employers’ obligations, and the new legislative measures put in place to improve the situation.
The impact of noise on workers’ health
Noise has been identified as the main cause of occupational deafness and hearing fatigue, two recognized occupational illnesses. Prolonged exposure to noise can lead to irreversible hearing loss. In addition, noise can cause
Noise can also be a source of conflict between colleagues, and ofaccidents in the workplace. A noisy working environment can make communication difficult, increasing the risk of accidents. What’s more, noise can impair concentration and alertness, which can be particularly dangerous in certain sectors such as industry or construction.
The impact of noise on productivity
Noise has a direct impact on employee productivity. A noisy working environment can make tasks more difficult to accomplish, slowing down the pace of work. Employees can be constantly distracted by background noise, which can lead to errors and a drop in the quality of their work.
Noise-induced hearing fatigue and stress can also contribute to reduced productivity. Workers who suffer from sleep disorders or migraines perform less well, and are more likely to take sick leave. What’s more, a noisy work environment can demotivate employees, reducing their commitment and job satisfaction. To find out more about improving productivity through office design, read this article.
Employers’ obligations
The law requires employers to take all necessary measures to protect the health of their workers. This includes assessing employees’ exposure to noise. Based on the results of this assessment, employers must implement collective and individual measures to limit noise exposure.
Collective measures can include acoustic treatment of premises andenclosure of machines. Individual measures, meanwhile, may include the provision of ear muffs and ear plugs. These obligations are laid down in the Labor Code and have been reinforced by the law of August 2, 2021, which imposes more rigorous monitoring of noise prevention in the workplace.
New legislative measures
Occupational health and safety services
The law of August 2, 2021 transformed occupational health services (SST) into prevention and occupational health services (SPST). The missions of these services have been extended to include contributing to the achievement of public health objectives. SPSTs are now required to take part in actions to promote health in the workplace, such as information and awareness-raising campaigns.
STPS can also provide advice on working conditions, including teleworking. To find out more about office layout and teleworking, read this article. The services provided by these SPSTs will be subject to a certification and accreditation procedure, thus guaranteeing higher-quality services.
Worker monitoring
Each worker will have a prevention passport, including health and safety training. A mid-career check-up will also be introduced at the age of 45, to assess the state of health of workers and their adaptation to the position they occupy. The most exposed workers will benefit from a medical check-up before retirement. These provisions are designed to ensure more rigorous monitoring of workers’ health throughout their careers.
The role of general practitioners
GPs will be able to contribute to workers’ medical monitoring. The occupational health medical record (DMST) compiled by the occupational physician will be accessible to the attending physician. This file will be able to include occupational risk factors such as noise, and the information will be integrated into the shared medical file. This measure will ensure better circulation of occupational health information between different health professionals.
Poly-exposure
The law also lays down specific rules for employees in poly-exposure situations, i.e. those exposed to several chemical and noise hazards. Preventive measures adapted to these situations will be introduced by decree. Ears exposed to ototoxic agents may be more vulnerable to noise attack, requiring extra vigilance.
PPE inspection
Controls on personal protective equipment (PPE), such as helmets and earplugs, will be stepped up. Manufacturers and distributors of infringing PPE will be heavily penalized. A fine of 100,000 euros will be imposed for failure to comply with technical rules, and this fine will be doubled in the event of a repeat offence. If the infringements jeopardize the health or safety of workers, the penalty could rise to 200,000 euros.
Mandatory occupational health training
Employee representatives on the Conseil Economique et Social (CSE) will be required to attend a five-day training course during their first term of office. This training will also be compulsory for company HSE managers. These measures are designed to ensure better understanding and management of occupational health risks.
The law will apply by April 2022 at the latest, and implementing decrees are expected before 2023. For more information on preventive occupational health and safety, visit the government page.
Legal information
Pursuant to Article 6 of Law No. 2004-575 of June 21, 2004 on confidence in the digital economy, users of the Centre de Soins de Nevers website are informed of the identity of the various parties involved in its creation and follow-up:
Site presentation
Owner: Centre de Soins de Nevers – 58000
Creator: Quentin CHARRIER
Publication manager: Catherine NICOLAS
Webmaster: Cédric PRUVOT
Host: OVH – France, 2 rue Kellermann, 59100 Roubaix.
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Use of the Centre de Soins de Nevers website implies full acceptance of the general conditions of use described below. These conditions of use may be amended or supplemented at any time, and users of the Centre de Soins de Nevers website are therefore advised to consult them regularly.
The site is normally accessible to users at all times. The Centre de Soins de Nevers may, however, decide to interrupt the site for technical maintenance purposes, and will endeavour to inform users of the dates and times of such interventions in advance.
The Centre de Soins de Nevers website is regularly updated by Catherine NICOLAS. In the same way, the legal notices may be modified at any time: they are nevertheless binding on the user, who is invited to refer to them as often as possible in order to take cognizance of them.
Description of services provided
The purpose of the Centre de Soins de Nevers website is to provide information concerning all of the company’s activities. The Centre de Soins de Nevers strives to provide information on the site that is as accurate as possible. However, it cannot be held responsible for any omissions, inaccuracies or failure to update information, whether caused by itself or by third-party partners supplying such information.
All information on the Centre de Soins de Nevers website is provided for information purposes only and is subject to change. Furthermore, the information contained on the Centre de Soins de Nevers website is not exhaustive. It is subject to modifications having been made since it was put on line.
Contractual limitations on technical data
The site uses JavaScript technology. The website cannot be held responsible for any material damage arising from use of the site. In addition, the user of the site undertakes to access the site using recent, virus-free equipment and with a last-generation, up-to-date browser.
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Any reproduction, representation, modification, publication, adaptation of all or part of the elements of the site, whatever the means or process used, is forbidden, except with the prior written authorization of the Centre de Soins de Nevers. Any unauthorized use of the site or of any of the elements it contains will be considered as constituting an infringement and will be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of articles L.335-2 et seq. of the French Intellectual Property Code.
Limitation of liability
The Centre de Soins de Nevers cannot be held responsible for any direct or indirect damage caused to the user’s equipment when accessing the Centre de Soins de Nevers website, and resulting either from the use of equipment that does not meet the specifications indicated in point 4, or from the appearance of a bug or incompatibility.
The Centre de Soins de Nevers cannot be held responsible for indirect damage (such as loss of market or loss of opportunity) resulting from the use of the Centre de Soins de Nevers website.
Interactive areas (possibility to ask questions in the contact area) are available to users. The Centre de Soins de Nevers reserves the right to delete, without prior notice, any content posted in this area that contravenes French legislation, in particular provisions relating to data protection.
Personal data management
In France, personal data is protected by law no. 78-87 of January 6, 1978, law no. 2004-801 of August 6, 2004, article L. 226-13 of the Criminal Code and the European Directive of October 24, 1995.
During use of the Centre de Soins de Nevers site, the following information may be collected: the URL of the links through which the user has accessed the Centre de Soins de Nevers site, the user’s access provider, the user’s Internet protocol (IP) address.
In any event, the Centre de Soins de Nevers only collects personal information relating to the user for the purpose of certain services offered by the Centre de Soins de Nevers website. The user provides this information with full knowledge of the facts, in particular when he/she enters the information him/herself. Users of the Centre de Soins de Nevers website are informed whether or not they are required to provide this information.
In accordance with the provisions of Articles 38 et seq. of the French Data Protection Act 78-17 of January 6, 1978, all users have the right to access, rectify and object to any personal data concerning them, by sending a written and signed request, accompanied by a copy of the identity document bearing the signature of the holder of the document, and specifying the address to which the reply is to be sent.
No personal information concerning the user of the Centre de Soins de Nevers site is published without the user’s knowledge, exchanged, transferred, assigned or sold on any medium whatsoever to third parties. Only the assumption of the purchase of the Centre de Soins de Nevers and its rights would allow the transmission of the said information to the eventual purchaser who would in turn be bound by the same obligation of conservation and modification of the data with respect to the user of the Centre de Soins de Nevers site.
Databases are protected by the provisions of the law of July 1, 1998, transposing directive 96/9 of March 11, 1996, on the legal protection of databases.
Hyperlinks and cookies
The Centre de Soins de Nevers website contains a number of hyperlinks to other sites. However, the Centre de Soins de Nevers is not in a position to check the content of sites visited in this way, and consequently accepts no responsibility in this respect.
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Refusal to install a cookie may make it impossible to access certain services. Users may, however, configure their computers as follows to refuse the installation of cookies:
Internet Explorer: Tools tab (cog-shaped icon at top right) / Internet options. Click on Confidentiality and choose Block all cookies. Confirm with Ok.
Firefox: at the top of the browser window, click on the Firefox button, then go to the Options tab. Click on the Privacy tab. Set the Retention Rules to: use custom settings for history. Finally, uncheck it to disable cookies.
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Applicable law and jurisdiction
Any dispute arising from the use of the Centre de Soins de Nevers website is subject to French law. Exclusive jurisdiction is granted to the competent courts of Paris.
The main laws concerned
Act no. 78-17 of January 6, 1978, as amended by Act no. 2004-801 of August 6, 2004 on data processing, data files and individual liberties.
Law no. 2004-575 of June 21, 2004 on confidence in the digital economy.
Lexicon
User: Internet user using the above-mentioned site.
Personal information: “information which enables, in any form whatsoever, directly or indirectly, the identification of the natural persons to whom it applies” (article 4 of law no. 78-17 of January 6, 1978).
FAQ – Noise at work: its impact on health and productivity
What are the main risks associated with noise in the workplace?
Noise in the workplace is the main cause of occupational deafness and hearing fatigue. It can also lead to loss of productivity, conflicts between colleagues and accidents in the workplace. Exposure to noise is on the increase, unlike other physical constraints.
What are the employer’s noise prevention obligations?
Employers are required by law to protect workers’ health. They must assess employees’ exposure to noise pollution and take collective measures (acoustic treatment of premises, enclosure of machines) and individual measures (provision of earmuffs, earplugs) to limit their exposure.
What new prevention measures have been introduced since the 2021 reform?
The law of August 2, 2021 strengthens occupational health prevention, particularly with regard to noise. It provides for more monitoring, control and awareness-raising. Occupational health and prevention services (SPST) have extended missions, including health promotion and advice on working conditions.
How are workers monitored in terms of noise prevention?
Each worker will have a prevention passport, and will benefit from a mid-career check-up at age 45 to assess his or her state of health. The most exposed workers will have a medical check-up before retirement. Temporary workers, subcontractors, external service providers and self-employed workers will also benefit from occupational health monitoring.
What role do GPs play in workers’ health monitoring?
GPs can contribute to the medical monitoring of workers. The occupational health medical record (DMST) will be accessible to the attending physician, including occupational risk factors. Information will be entered into the shared medical file, facilitating the circulation of information between the occupational physician and the general practitioner.
How is poly-exposure taken into account by law?
The law provides better protection for employees in multiple-exposure situations. Special prevention rules will be introduced for employees exposed to chemical and noise risks. Post-exposure or post-professional monitoring will be set up in conjunction with the attending physician and the medical officer of the social security bodies.
What are the new penalties for manufacturers of non-compliant PPE?
Controls on personal protective equipment (PPE) have been stepped up. Manufacturers and distributors of infringing PPE will be more heavily penalized. A fine of 100,000 euros will be imposed, doubling in the event of a repeat offence. If the infringements jeopardize the health or safety of workers, the penalty rises to 200,000 euros.
What are the new occupational health training requirements?
Occupational health training is now compulsory for staff representatives on the Economic and Social Council (Conseil Économique et Social – CSE) and for company HSE managers. Employee representatives will be required to attend a five-day training course during their first term of office.
