Impulsive Noise Increases Stress and Errors during Mental Work even at Speech Levels

Mental work in the presence of noise is a known stress situation. The study by Radun et al. (2022), demonstrates that the addition of an impulsive characteristic further increases stress and errors made in comparison to a steady noise. Impulsive is a technical description also used to describe hammering noise.

From the study it is noted that, a steady noise at around speech levels, 65dB(A), for the duration of around 50 minutes, already has a psychological and physiological impact. The noise with the added impulsive character, despite being at the same levels, caused further stress and human error.

It is also noted that the noise level measured in typical dB(A) is insufficient to judge the negative impact of a noise. Without factoring in the characteristic, in this case the impulsiveness, the assessment would be an underestimation.

The impulsive noise used in this test was that from a pile driver. A study by Lee at al. (2019) shows that rock breaking by hammering has a worse impact than pile-driving. It is thus reasonable to expect worse results in the context of Malta & Gozo where hammering for rock breaking is the principal method used.

This study supports the local experience that the actual cost in reduced well-being, reduced efficiency, and increased human error is thus borne by many, even at a considerable distance from an excavation site. Let alone the price paid or yet to be paid by the machine operator.

Fig. 4. Psychological measures (annoyance, workload, lack of energy) showing significant main effect of sound condition. Radun et al. (2022)

Fig. 5. Physiological measures (cortisol, systolic blood pressure SBP) showing significant main effect of sound condition. Radun et al. (2022)

Click here to read the study by Radun et al. (2022)

Click here to read study by Lee at al. (2019)