1. The challenges

1.1 Noise in the workplace

Over the past 25 years, technical progress has led to higher production rates and increased mechanization of manufacturing processes. In many industrial sectors, operators are still exposed to noise levels in excess of those permissible for their health, making it all the more urgent to control the acoustic environment on the shop floor. The exposure of individuals to high noise levels in the workplace can affect their health, safety and working conditions.

Protecting people in the workplace requires a global approach to the sound phenomena that have an impact on hearing risk, the risk of annoyance and the risk of discomfort.