This review examines the evidence for a possible relationship between
accidents and noise in industry. It has often been asserted that
noise can be the cause of accidents; however, only five studies have
attempted to assess the extent of this problem. These studies have
indicated that high noise levels may be associated with higher accident
rates and therefore provide suggestive but not conclusive evidence
that noise is a contributory factor in the causation of accidents.
The possible mechanisms of such an effect include the role of noise
in causing a lack of attention and the masking of important auditory
signals such as warning shouts, sirens and machinery sounds which
indicate impending danger. In addition, the effects of a noise-induced
hearing loss and the need to wear personal hearing protection to
counter the noise could contribute indirectly to accidents by interfering
with auditory communications. It is concluded that the possible link
between noise and industrial accidents further emphasizes the need
for reducing noise in industry and that this should be achieved wherever
possible by means of noise control.
%0 Journal Article
%1 WILKINS1982
%A WILKINS, P. A.
%A ACTON, W. I
%D 1982
%J The Annals of Occupational Hygiene
%K imported
%P 249-260
%T Noise and Accidents- a review
%V 25
%X This review examines the evidence for a possible relationship between
accidents and noise in industry. It has often been asserted that
noise can be the cause of accidents; however, only five studies have
attempted to assess the extent of this problem. These studies have
indicated that high noise levels may be associated with higher accident
rates and therefore provide suggestive but not conclusive evidence
that noise is a contributory factor in the causation of accidents.
The possible mechanisms of such an effect include the role of noise
in causing a lack of attention and the masking of important auditory
signals such as warning shouts, sirens and machinery sounds which
indicate impending danger. In addition, the effects of a noise-induced
hearing loss and the need to wear personal hearing protection to
counter the noise could contribute indirectly to accidents by interfering
with auditory communications. It is concluded that the possible link
between noise and industrial accidents further emphasizes the need
for reducing noise in industry and that this should be achieved wherever
possible by means of noise control.
@article{WILKINS1982,
abstract = {This review examines the evidence for a possible relationship between
accidents and noise in industry. It has often been asserted that
noise can be the cause of accidents; however, only five studies have
attempted to assess the extent of this problem. These studies have
indicated that high noise levels may be associated with higher accident
rates and therefore provide suggestive but not conclusive evidence
that noise is a contributory factor in the causation of accidents.
The possible mechanisms of such an effect include the role of noise
in causing a lack of attention and the masking of important auditory
signals such as warning shouts, sirens and machinery sounds which
indicate impending danger. In addition, the effects of a noise-induced
hearing loss and the need to wear personal hearing protection to
counter the noise could contribute indirectly to accidents by interfering
with auditory communications. It is concluded that the possible link
between noise and industrial accidents further emphasizes the need
for reducing noise in industry and that this should be achieved wherever
possible by means of noise control.},
added-at = {2012-01-27T14:10:42.000+0100},
author = {WILKINS, P. A. and ACTON, W. I},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/20433ee9bcf66c736dec680d351aa73e3/muhe},
interhash = {b1fe965f10468313051da6af7b33fc0d},
intrahash = {0433ee9bcf66c736dec680d351aa73e3},
journal = {The Annals of Occupational Hygiene},
keywords = {imported},
owner = {Mu},
pages = {249-260},
timestamp = {2012-01-27T14:11:16.000+0100},
title = {Noise and Accidents- a review},
volume = 25,
year = 1982
}