NOISE PLUGS: All you need to know and how to choose them!

Par Pascale LE GURUN DRAYTON Le 18 Janvier 2022

NOISE PLUGS: All you need to know and how to choose them!

          

Let's talk about a subject that concerns everyone and that should not be underestimated. Noise is a source of pollution for our health. Although deafness is not necessarily work-related, there are multifactorial contributions to the damage. According to a 2014 DREES survey, more than 7 million French people are affected by a disability, that is 11.2% and around 11.5% of people admit having difficulties hearing a conversation with several people. In terms of Occupational Accident/Occupational Disease claims on occupational risks, the AMELI report indicates that the majority of the sectors audited are affected by occupational deafness.

This is why Preventing deafness means protecting yourself with appropriate protection. Find the key points to know everything and how to choose noise protection plugs. Before any choice, it is necessary to understand all the parameters relating to noise in order to better adapt the protection.

Hence the need to make a few reminders on the importance of noise levels, effects on the human body, risks, noise regulations, and the importance 

of applying the nine prevention principles before starting a preventive approach to using hearing protection equipment!

              
 Scale of noise levels in dB(A) with frequencies that are harmful to hearing 

Note that the longer the exposure to noise levels exceeding 85 decibels, the greater the damage. The risk of deafness is high especially if the person does not wear hearing 

protection.

The effects of noise on the human body are not only auditory but can cause malfunctions on the human body

 

                                                                                  

 

The effects on hearing are irreversible. On the other hand, the others malfunctions stop as soon as the noise is no longer present. Find an explanation of the effects of noise on humans beings on this video.

Regulatory requirements in terms of exposure values ​​and preventive measures at work

 

	Daily exposure (Lex, 8 h)	Peak level (LpC)	Obligations of the employer
whatever the level			- Risk assessment - Elimination or minimization of risks related to     minimum exposure to noise
Lower exposure value  triggering action (VAI)	80 dB(A)	135 dB(C)	- Provision of individual hearing protectors   (earplugs, noise canceling headphones, etc.) - Preventive audiometric examination at the   request of the worker or the doctor - Information and training of workers
Upper exposure value  triggering action (VAS)	85 dB(A)	137 dB(C)	- Program of technical or work organization   measures aimed at reducing exposure to noise - Appropriate signage, limiting access to noisy   areas - Effective wearing of individual hearing   protectors - Reinforced medical surveillance of exposed   workers
Exposure Limit Value (VLE) taking into account the attenuation of  noise provided by the hearing protector  worn by the worker	87 dB(A)	140 dB(C)	- Immediate adoption of measures to reduce the   level of noise exposure to values ​​below the   limit values - Identification of the causes of excessive   exposure and adaptation of protective   measures

 

At work, at home, in the street... Noise is present in our daily lives in any activity, whether  professional (industry, metallurgy, agri-food, etc.) or personal (DIY, gardening, concerts, etc.). Each activity requires questioning the noise emitted by tools and machines. Who would have thought that a screwdriver/unscrewer could emit 85 decibels and a hammer drill 95 decibels! The exposure, the type, the power of the noise level of the devices that are used without forgetting the duration of the work are the first elements to take into account. Each device has a technical sheet indicating its noise levels and nuisances.

This is why the protection must meet your expectations and your needs. Many parameters must be taken into account when choosing plugs in order to limit exposure to noise.

The choice is initially based on acoustic performance criteria (CE mark, guaranteed and compliant with regulations) taking into account the recommended attenuation in relation tothe level of sound exposure. Then, the subjective criteria linked to the person are essential so that they are worn and adapted to the morphology of the person (compatibility, work environment, earplug materials, hygiene, hearing disorders).

In a second step, the choice concerns the level of sound protection desired in relation to the nature, the exposure, the intensity of the noise, the activity and the place in which the person works.

And finally, there are different types of hearing protection models depending on the frequency of use, the usefulness and the comfort they can provide:

Model	Visual
Disposable caps to shape (foam)
Reusable preformed caps (with or without cord)
Poles with caps or preformed plugs
Noise canceling headphones
Shells mounted on safety helmet
Individual molded caps

 

Once the protection has been defined, each model has its own instructions for wearing them and hygiene recommendations. If it comes to corks to be formed, it is essential to know “How to wear them well! ".

Thanks to this article, you have all the information to protect yourself and preserve your hearing capital by wearing hearing protection adapted to your activity.

Prevention, whether individual or collective, would it not be the best weapon to prevent deafness!

Bibliographic sources

Internet links :

-       Cotral, “8 key points for choosing your hearing protectors”, White Paper. Address

URL https://www.cotral.fr/outils.html (site consulted the 29 december 2021)

   - Department of research, studies, evaluation and statistics – DREES, Laurence 

          HAEUSLER, Thibaud DE LAVAL, Charlotte MILLOT, “Quantitative study on hearing   

          impairment based on the “Handicap-Santé” survey”, Working document

          Research Studies Series, N°131, August 2014, p11-12. Address URL 

          https://drees.solidarites- sante.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/2020-09/dt131.pdf 

(Site consulted the 20 december 2021)

-       National health insurance fund – Occupation Risk Department  –« Claims statistics 2018 all CTN et par CTN », Study 2020-037-CTN, february 2020. Address URL  https://www.ameli.fr/sites/default/files/2018_at-tr-mp-fiches-selon-ctn.pdf (site consulted the 22 december 2021)

-       Institute for Research and Innovation on occupational Health and Safety (IRIS-ST), "Scale of noise levels in dB(A) with frequencies that are harmful to hearing", Case/Risks/Noise/Noisy Environment,  Address URL  http://www.iris-st.org/risques-3/bruit-23.php

-       Aisne management center – NEERIA, Meeting of prevention  assistants/Advisers « Atmosphere factors (noise, vibration, light, ventilation) », 18 september 2018, p13, Others effects of noise. Adresse URL http://www.cdg02.fr/doc/Facteurs_ambiance_CDG02.pdf (site consulted the 22 december 2021)

-       National Institute for Reseach and Security - INRS, « Health effects », Health and Security at work, Case noise, 2020. Address URL https://www.inrs.fr/risques/bruit/effets-sante.html (site consuled the 27 december 2021

-       National Institute for Reseach and Security - INRS, « Understand everything about noise », Address URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFGU0yaD9vo (video viewed on  24 January 2022)

-       South Alsace Occupational  Health Service, «What the regulations tell us ». Address URL  https://employeurs.stsa.fr/se-documenter/risques-bruit/ (site consulted the 27 december 2021)

-       National Institute for Reseach and Security - INRS, « Prevention approach», Health and Security at work, Case Noise, 2021. Address URL https://www.inrs.fr/risques/bruit/demarche-prevention.html (site consulted the 27 december 2021)

-       Prevention BTP, « Prevention against noise at work : Individual hearing protection », Prevention Approach, 28 september 2020. Address URL https://www.preventionbtp.fr/ressources/solutions/prevention-contre-le-bruit-au-travail-les-protections-auditives-individuelles (site consuled the 29 december 2021)

-       National Institute for Reseach and Security - INRS, « Comment choisir son protecteur individuel contre le bruit (picb) ? », Santé et Sécurité au Travail, Form HST, N°233, June 2013. Address URL https://www.inrs.fr/media.html?refINRS=FI%201

-       National Institute for Reseach and Security - INRS, « How to correctly insert your form caps », Health and Security at work,  Picture, July 2013. Address URL https://www.inrs.fr/media.html?refINRS=A%20762 (site consulted the 29 december 2021)

-       Captures of images taken on different sites on noise. Address URL Smiley who covers the ears :

https://www.google.com/search?q=niveau+de+bruit+emoticones+&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi9veOwusD1AhWWX_EDHcfZAFwQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=niveau+de+bruit+emoticones+&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIHCCMQ7wMQJ1CxElixEmDqFGgAcAB4AIABPogBc5IBATKYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=W2bpYf2jG5a_xc8Px7OD4AU&bih=643&biw=1349&client=firefox-b-d&hl=fr#imgrc=KamoA0FKawWq5M ;

Noise  risk prevention poster – INRS :

 https://www.inrs.fr/media.html?refINRS=A%20839 ;

Smiley whith helmets : https://www.alamyimages.fr/smiley-avec-casque-antibruit-image8848345.html ;

Noise hazard warning side :  https://www.signaletique-express.fr/panneau-danger-du-au-bruit-p-76-6420.html ;

Tricolore noise scale : https://www.istockphoto.com/fr/vectoriel/smileys-rouges-jaunes-et-verts-gm1048860390-280527309 ;

Ear sound level : https://fr.dreamstime.com/oreille-entendre-%C3%A9couter-signal-sonore-haut-parleur-graphique-vectorielle-modifiable-simple-%C3%A9coute-ic%C3%B4ne-isol%C3%A9-fond-blanc-image227736846

                                                                                              

The flex office, the new organization of corporate offices

The flex office, the new organization of corporate offices

Antoine PIVERT - LPro QHSSTE 2021-2022

I – Introduction

Hello to you dear reader,

It's 2022 and you still haven’t heard about the flex office? This article is made for you. In this article, I’m going to give you an overview of this concept, which is becoming more and more popular in 21^st-century companies.

Firstly, I will introduce you to its operating principle and its history. Then I will give you some key figures and finally I will explain the advantages and disadvantages of this concept while giving you my opinion on the subject.

II - Definition, principle of the concept, history

What is the flex office?

It is an organisation of workspace based on unassigned workstations. Indeed, this concept is far from the classic organisation that we can experience in companies with one workstation per employee.

The flex office is based on a known statistic. On average, a workstation in a company, whether in a closed office or an open space, remains occupied between 60 and 80% of the time. Therefore, by making all workstations freely available to any employee, the company optimizes its workspace.

In contrast to a traditional organisation, this concept offers a wide variety of activity-specific workstations. For example, there are meeting rooms, classic offices, isolated offices (bubbles), confidential rooms (opaque glass and soundproof), standing desks, project rooms, etc.

This great diversity allows each employee to choose a workstation that suits him or her, depending on the task or activity of the day.

In addition to optimizing space and offering a wide variety of workstations, the flex office offers a more pleasant daily environment (break room, cafeteria, relaxation areas, etc.) and more dynamic services.

Before setting up a flex office organisation

This photo shows a classic organisation of work space with offices partitioned by large windows

After the implementation of a flex office organisation

This photo shows the organisation of the flex office work space. There is an open space base with different types of offices (classic offices, meeting rooms, project areas) and a relaxation/break area

When was this concept invente and where?

The concept of the flex office was invented in the 1980. The idea was developed by Philip Stone and Robert Luchetti, two professors from Harvard University in the United States.

Today, work organisations have been completely overturned by the current COVID-19 health crisis and by the strong development of start-ups. The concept of the flex office will become increasingly popular in the years to come.

III - Key figures, statistics

According to a survey* carried out by Deskeo, a company that creates customised work space, currently in France 16% of companies have adopted an organisation based on the flex office concept.

In the coming years, this figure will increase. Indeed, according to the survey, about 55% of companies would like to switch to a flex office in the near future.

*survey carried out by the company Deskeo among 3978 professionals

IV - Advantages, disadvantages, personal opinion

The disadvantages of the flex office are :

Organisational problems within the teams and between the different departments. Indeed, if communication is not good and a defined internal organisation is not adopted, then the flex office can lead to great disorder within the company.

Problem of space or office space. If too many employees are working on site on the same day this can cause a problem with the amount of space available. In addition, it can also cause a problem in terms of the types of office space available. For example, if an employee wants to work on a standard desk and there is no more space available on this type of desk, then he/she will have to find another place with a different type of desk (bubble desk, standing desk...).

No more personalization of the desk. Personal belongings will have to be stored in lockers.

Less contact with your team. People in the same team will no longer necessarily be side by side in the workspace, or will not be present on site at the same time, which can lead to communication problems, or even a feeling of loss of belonging to a team. 

The advantages of this concept are :

A dynamic and flexible environment. The different types of offices available allow employees to adapt their workspace according to the tasks they have to perform each day. In addition, the available layouts allow teams to work in a variety of ways to break the routine.

A pleasant working environment. Employees benefit from a workspace designed to improve the QWL Quality of Work Life maybe Quality of Work Life?, to maintain the order of the acronym) with relaxation areas, cafeterias, leisure areas and even rest areas.

Cost reduction. By adopting this type of organisation, companies considerably reduce their real estate costs.

V - Conclusion

The flex office is a work organisation that cannot be adopted by all companies. Indeed, it will depend on the sector of activity and the size of the company.

Moreover, the flex office is not a miracle solution for increasing productivity and QWL while reducing costs. Therefore, before adopting this organisation, companies will have to carry out a needs study to determine whether or not the flex office would be suitable for them.

 

VI - Bibliography

DESKEO (2021) | [Survey] Flex office: towards the end of the fixed office | Available at the following URL: https://www.deskeo.com/blog/sondage-flex-office/

GREENWORKING (2019) | Flex office : what ? why ? how ? A look back at the birth of the office 2.0 | Available at the following URL: https://www.greenworking.fr/flex-office-quoi-pourquoi-comment-retour-sur-la-naissance-du-bureau-2-0/

UBIQ MEDIA (2021) | What is the flex office ? Available at the following URL: https://www.ubiq.fr/blog/quest-ce-que-le-flex-office/

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (2020) | Flex office: source of well-being or poisoned gift | Available at the following URL: https://www.welcometothejungle.com/fr/articles/flex-office-travailleurs-nomades