The requirements and recommendations differ in detail between, for example, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. It is the employer’s responsibility to take appropriate measures to reduce noise exposure in the office so that the specified limits are not exceeded.

Corrosive hazard

Colleagues’ conversations and telephone calls are typical sources of human noise in an open-plan office. These noise sources are perceived as stressful because they often lead to involuntary listening. Loud IT equipment such as copiers, printers, plotters or telephones and air conditioning or ventilation systems are possible sources of noise from office equipment or the building’s technical system. Outside noise from business activities or road traffic can also have a detrimental effect.

When we are exposed to high sound levels, the main effect is on our hearing. These are known as auditory effects. However, in addition to these aural effects, there are other negative effects, known as extra-aural effects. Extra-aural effects are the body’s reactions to noise. As noise in the workplace is often a continuous exposure, it causes long-term stress reactions in the body and can lead to illness: Noise has a negative effect on hearing and leads to serious overall impairment.

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In open-plan offices in particular, in addition to interior design that improves acoustics and the selection of low-noise technical equipment, easy-to-implement measures are useful for reducing noise pollution. These include the spatial organisation of workplaces and rules of behaviour for employees:

Employees who are stressed by noise are less productive and more likely to fall ill. For those affected, it is important to understand that it is often the noise in the office that causes stress, not the work itself. For the employer, it is all the more important to take proactive measures to prevent noise in the workplace at the planning stage.

How high can noise levels be and what is the noise limit? Find out what you need to know and get tips on how to reduce noise.

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These specifications include, for example, a rating level of 50 dB, which must not be exceeded. In rooms where simple office work is carried out, a rating level of 65 dB must not be exceeded. The legislator assumes that speech intelligibility is given when these limits are respected.

Thanks to its microporous surface, BASWA’s marble sand acoustic plaster achieves excellent Class A sound absorption values. At the same time, our acoustic systems are made from natural materials. Up to 94% of them are recycled. The new plant-based  BASWA Natural product line is becoming increasingly important: the acoustic solution made from regional hemp fibres is sustainable and combines efficient sound absorption with a healthy indoor climate.

The Ontario Poison Centre is available to help you over the phone 24 hours a day, every day of the year. We can help you with poison emergencies and with questions about poisoning.

A significant improvement in room acoustics is possible with the right office furniture. Find ways to reduce volume, reverberation and echo with the help of office furniture:

Particularly in large offices with many people, speech intelligibility and the spatial distribution of sound levels play an important role in subjective perception, in addition to volume. It is therefore necessary to consider the aspects of sound propagation and sound attenuation separately for large multi-person offices. This is done in the form of so-called sound propagation levels.

The seamless acoustic solutions (acoustic ceiling and acoustic wall) from BASWA also offer almost unlimited possibilities for individual design. Depending on the desired look, acoustic ceilings and walls can be smooth, curved and coloured, or with structured surfaces and an exposed concrete look. BASWA acoustic systems are always discreet and fit seamlessly into the architectural and design concept. In addition to the acoustic design of ceilings and walls, our solutions are ideal for the uncompromising and aesthetic design of curves, domes and vaults.

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The Ontario Poison Centre provides toxicology consultation to health-care professionals regarding the care of the poisoned patient. Our toxicology experts will collaborate with other health-care professionals to advocate for optimal, current and evidence-based care of the poisoned patient. If you have a patient with a poison exposure, call us and we can help you with information on poison management.

If concentration is impaired by noise in the workplace, errors will creep in and productivity will drop. Especially if the task requires a lot of short-term memory, a lot of calculations or conceptual work, noise significantly worsens the work result. Conversations in the background can impair memory, and important details of information can be lost, leading to poor performance. The more complex and demanding the task, the more disturbing and detrimental noise in the workplace is to performance.

Noise in the office causes stress and has a negative impact on work performance. When an office task requires full concentration, noise can disrupt the flow of work, affect performance and even make people ill in the long term. The intelligibility of conversations suffers from background noise, making communication tiring and error-prone. Good acoustics and noise control in the workplace are essential to ensure a productive and quality working environment for employees.

The Swiss Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA) sets acoustic limits and guidelines for background noise in workplaces. In addition, the SIA 181 standard for sound insulation in buildings regulates corresponding limit values.

A: less than 30 db(A) for single offices, less than 35 db(A) for multi-user offices. B: less than 35 db(A) for single offices, less than 40 db(A) for multi-person offices C: Less than 40 db(A) for both single and multi-person offices.

Poisonous substances can be found in a variety of places. They can easily be found in and around your home, at work, in public places – places that you would least expect.

The flame symbol means the product may catch fire. Flammable products or their fumes may catch fire easily if near heat, flames or sparks.

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This symbol means the container is explosive! The container is under pressure and can explode if it is heated or broken.

Expert poison advice is available to all of Ontario, 24 hours a day. The Ontario Poison Centre (OPC) is operated and supported by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto. In collaboration with Montfort Hospital, the OPC also operates a bilingual satellite site in Ottawa.

As an example, SUVA regulates the following noise exposure levels for different types of office space, in accordance with the instructions to Regulation 3 of the Labour Code:

Noise exposure is perceived differently by different people. While one employee may be able to work well in a higher noise level, another may find it much more difficult to work in an identical noise environment. Perceived noise exposure is highly dependent on the activity being performed. Noise is perceived as much more stressful in mentally demanding work than in routine work.

In Germany, the guidelines VDI 2569 for sound insulation and acoustic design in offices and DIN 18041 for audibility in rooms apply. VDI 2569 distinguishes between single-person and multi-person offices, each of which is divided into three different room acoustic classes. The specified noise level limits refer only to on-site noise. Only about a third of the total noise exposure can be attributed to on-site noise.

Hazard symbolsand meanings

Long-term exposure to noise can also have negative effects on health. Therefore, we cannot and should not get used to office noise. Legislation has been enacted to protect against noise. Institutions that represent the interests of employees publish recommendations and guidelines for maximum permissible noise  exposure.

With the right office furniture, you can significantly improve the acoustics in your office. Look for ways to reduce volume, reverberation and echo with the help of office furniture:

Many household products have symbols on their labels. These symbols will tell you if the product is harmful. These products can be found in your house, garage, backyard, or at school. If you see one of these symbols on a product label, be very careful with the product. Make sure it is used properly and stored safely.

The Ontario Poison Centre (OPC) is operated and supported by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto.Please note: Some of the photography on this website is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the content is a model.

The bony hand symbol means the product is corrosive. Corrosive products will burn your skin or eyes if touched, or your throat and stomach if swallowed.

In Austria, the Labour Inspectorate issues specifications for workplaces where predominantly mental activities are carried out.

Poisons can be found in many homes. You may not be aware of the possible dangers that some of these products may pose. This section has information on how to keep your family safe.

Education is an important part of what we do at the Ontario Poison Centre. This education may focus on toxicology, poison prevention and general awareness of poison centre services. This education is accomplished through a variety of methods including: teaching at the poison centre or on-location, printed materials, and distance education technology.

The skull and crossbones symbol means the product is poisonous. Licking, eating, drinking, or smelling a substance marked with this symbol can make you very sick or even cause death.

The guideline values given below indicate, on the one hand, the volume that should not be continuously exceeded by background noise. Background noise is defined as all noise from built-in technical equipment as well as noise immissions from outside, such as operating noise. In practice, it is also important to take into account noise sources such as computer equipment and human noise. It is always possible to exceed the noise exposure limit for a short period of time. For example: A normal conversation at a distance of 1 m has a sound level of about 60 dB(A).

When selecting products, it is not only the sound absorption aspect that is important: the product should also be flame retardant or have flame retardant properties to meet fire safety requirements. The materials should be suitable for allergy sufferers and, finally, the ecological safety of the materials is not insignificant. BASWA’s acoustic solutions meet all these requirements and have even more advantages.