Sound insulation can be an effective barrier to noise in the workplace, however the nature of some jobs means exposure to excessive noise is inevitable.

Noise exposure can increase the risk of acquiring all sorts of health problems, particularly if noise levels are high in a work environment where most of us spend the majority of our time. Some noise in buildings can be reduced by fitting adequate sound insulation and individuals can wear ear protection such as ear plugs or ear muffs.

Some of the noisiest jobs include:

Teaching
Noisy classrooms are often just a part of the job for most teachers. It is also not possible to wear ear protection for obvious reasons, so it is important to fit effective sound insulation in schools to reduce the effect of being exposed to noise levels of 85dB.

Factory work
Depending on the industry, factories can be exceptionally noisy environments leaving employees at risk of hearing damage from the 105dB they will often be exposed to. An assessment should be carried out to see if noise can be reduced by fitting sound insulation.

Even the above is nothing compared to working as a construction worker or formula one driver. Noise from hammer drills can reach 120dB and if you thought being a race car driver was glamorous, consider how you would cope with 135dB of noise on a regular basis.