Pilot Studies on the Effects of Tonal Noise Annoyance Impact on Workers Performing Their Primary Tasks

Numerous references indicate that the subjectively assessed annoyance of tonal noise is higher than that of wide band noise. There are no criteria for the impact of tonal noise in assessing the occupational environment for both indoor areas (construction standards) and workplaces (annoyance assessment). As a stressor, noise can contribute to the development of various types of illnesses (e.g, hypertension, peptic ulcers, neurosis), it causes distraction of attention, hinders work, and reduces personnel performance. The pilot studies involved 11 people (6 male and 5 female) fulfilling the audiometric qualification criteria. The group of test participants was diversified in terms of noise sensitivity. The research method used both the questionnaire studies and computer psychological tests checking work performance, attention level, and memory. Four types of generated test signals were developed (filtered noise - A, and three signals with tonal components 125, 1600 and 8000 Hz - B, C, and D) at the same sound level A of 55 dB. Results of the statistical analysis based on the questionnaire studies, as well as for the psychological tests, did not show a statistically significant variation between individual signals. The absence of variation in test results between the individual signals presented in the statistical analysis does not give any reasons for applying correction of tonality measurement results according to ISO 1996-2.