Unfortunately, living and dealing with noise is something that’s apparently next to impossible to escape. We’re inundated at home, en route and, more and more often, in our workplaces. With the high cost of real estate, many companies are forced to do business in more limited space. With that comes open-concept offices complete with mind-numbing racket from telephones, speakerphones, printers, and so on.
Numerous studies demonstrate that noise is the number one contributor to lack of productivity in the workplace. Research shows that sound levels over 60 decibels (which is a normal conversation level) can significantly reduce a person’s attention span. In a study completed for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), 70% of office workers polled agreed that productivity would increase if office noise decreased. Yet, in a subsequent study conducted for ASID, business executives did not acknowledge the problem: 81% of those polled reported they were not concerned with office noise.
The following strategies have worked for some businesses in curbing office noise:
• Shrink the quiet space and create a greater variety of places where people can be noisier such as cafés or social spaces.
• Use new technology, such as flat-screen monitors and wireless networks, to allow for smaller workstations.
• Increase alternative workspaces that are more
suitable for conversation and collaboration.
• Consider internal traffic patterns and sound dampeners.
More ideas from the Canada Safety Council:
• Group noisy equipment in an area away from workstations, preferably in a separate room.
• Don’t place noisy equipment against a hard wall or in a corner as the sound will be reflected back into the workplace.
• Practice good maintenance (greasing the wheels and hinges) to prevent noise from squeaking chair bearings, door hinges, moving equipment parts and other sources.
• Encourage people to speak in lowered voices and to carry on conversations where they will not disturb others.
• Music is sometimes used to mask sounds. Music can provide mental stimulation while performing monotonous tasks which can help to reduce stress levels in the office. Some people, however, find music in the office annoying.
• Identify all of the noise sources in the office. Remove the sources you can (e.g. oil that squeaky door). For those you can’t eliminate, take steps to prevent further amplification of noise.
• Furnish walls, ceilings and other large surfaces with sound absorptive materials. Use office dividers to reduce or redirect sound away from workstations. Soft floor surfaces will reduce noise. Heavy drapes or sound-absorbing wall decorations will also help.
• When arranging the layout of workstations, allow sufficient space between them. They should be located away from high-traffic areas, so that people can work without being distracted. Define corridors with either partitions or free-standing screens. Avoid crowding too many workstations into one area.
• Screens should not block air diffusers or prevent ventilation. They should be raised off the floor to encourage air circulation. This does not affect their acoustical effectiveness; sound travelling under the screen is partly redirected or absorbed by office furniture and carpets.
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