Conference_programme: 18.4 - Office noise : psychological effects and room acoustic design
Lecture: A subjective investigation on the impact of irrelevant speech noise on health, well-being and productivity in open-plan offices
Author(s): Di Blasio Sonja , Vannelli Giuseppe , Shtrepi Louena, , Masoero Marco Carlo, Astolfi Arianna
Summary:
The popularity of open-plan offices in recent years has led to increased research on their acoustic environment. Noise may be defined as one of the most disturbing work environment factors in terms of health, well-being and performance of employees. In particular, irrelevant speech noise tends to be mentioned as the most distracting noise source in open-plan offices. The present study concerns a subjective online survey that has involved several companies, two research centers and one research university in Italy. The objective was threefold: 1) to investigate workers’ perceived impact of irrelevant speech noise related on health, productivity and atmosphere between colleagues, 2) to determinate how open-plan offices are acoustically treated in percentage, and 3) to evaluate the attitude of workers toward the use of an active light-system to control the voice volume. \nSurvey responses based on about 500 questionnaires demonstrate that around 67% of workers, who share office with five and more people, are annoyed due to irrelevant speech noise. In terms of health and work performance, almost 66% of workers define loss of concentration as the main feeling due to irrelevant speech noise, and a loss of work productivity has been self-estimated by around 47% of employees. \nThe results also emphasize that the acoustic treatments, such as sound absorption on ceiling and walls and absorptive screens between workstations, are present in only 20% of open-plan offices. \nThe survey responses highlighted that workers would pay attention to a light-system for voice volume control. Therefore, a device with a sound level meter and a coloured warning light activation, will be tested as a tool to reduce irrelevant speech noise in open-plan offices.
Corresponding author
Name: Ms Sonja Di Blasio
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Country: Italy
