Acoustic quality of buildings: Contributions to the workers health of the health area

Abstract

This work presents a case study carried through in a research center, education, assistance, and technological development in the areas of the health of the woman, child, and adolescent, situated in Rio de Janeiro, where pathologies of average and high complexity are taken care of. It intended detect environmental problems that could affect the health of workers of the institution, in order to support the elaboration of the action plan to mitigate urgent questions and to develop an architectonical project for a new center. The environments and processes of work had been evaluated, through a participative approach, being visited all the sectors of the center, carried through interviews half-structuralized with workers of all the sectors and promoted debates that had pointed the noise as one of the main factors of bother and stress. The observation in loco and analyze of the project allowed to detect that the architectural design and the disrespect of basic acoustics recommendations had contributed for this picture. Measurements carried through in some pointed areas as uncomfortable indicated to have exposition to sound pressure level above 75 dB(A). However, the resolution of the many of identified acoustic problems will have to wait the construction of the new headquarters.