All the Noise in Our Schools!

Did you know that teachers are also exposed to very high noise levels at work? In classrooms, gyms, cafeterias and music rooms, the volume can rise very quickly. Fortunately, noise control solutions designed specifically for schools are available.

Recent studies in Quebec have shown that daily, schools get close to the noise exposure limit recommended by the Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST). In Quebec, this limit is currently 90 dB(A) for a daily duration of eight hours. However, Bill 59, An Act to Modernize the Occupational Health and Safety Regime, tabled in October 2020, would reduce this daily limit to 85 dB(A). The Quebec limit would thus be harmonized with that of the other Canadian provinces.

In a school, the volume can vary greatly depending on what’s going on. It’s generally estimated to be between 80and 90 dB(A), but it can sometimes rise to over 100 dB(A). Sounds above this level increase the risk of noise-related deafness. In industrial circles, noise levels like these can even lead to disciplinary action. In addition, according to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2018), the safe limit for 8 hours of daily exposure is 80 dB(A).

The best way to make changes in schools is to create accessible solutions that involve students. For instance, think of school gyms; they’re infamous for being large, open spaces where sounds are amplified as they echo off the walls.

So why not line the walls with gym mats that act as sound-absorbing panels? They prevent sound from bouncing off the walls, which lowers the volume. Another idea is to install a noise meter in the gym. This system looks like traffic lights, so it’s easy to understand for children of all ages. As the volume increases, the light goes from green to yellow, then to red. That makes it easy for everyone to recognize that it’s too loud and react accordingly. The traffic lights system is available on the online shop of a school material store and on online sales plateforms.

And what about classrooms? You can try placing tennis balls beneath chair legs to stop them from scraping across the floor. Teachers can also get custom noise protectors that reduce noise effectively. Teachers need to hear what’s going on around them, so frequency-filtering custom noise protectors are a perfect solution. In addition, students who are most likely to be disturbed by ambient noise can in turn wear protective earmuffs. In fact, earmuffs for children, offering an attenuation level of 26 dB(A), are available in all Lobe clinics and on boutique.lobe.ca.

There’s no doubt that cutting back on noise in schools comes with a number of benefits. It can help reduce the number of teachers and educators with occupational deafness. On a day-to-day basis, a less aggressive auditory environment also directly boosts motivation and performance for staff and students alike. It reduces irritability and the likelihood of hearing fatigue at the end of the day. For all of these reasons, it’s critical to establish sustainable solutions to protect the hearing health of our children and the people responsible for their education.

For more information, don’t hesitate to contact an audioprosthetist.

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