Ambient Noise in Emergency Rooms and Its Health Hazards

Abstract

Introduction The occupational risk due to high levels of noise in the hospital environment has been recognized, and the National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance of the Ministry of Health recommends evaluation and control of noise in hospital areas. Objectives To assess the sound environment in the emergency ward of a general trauma reference hospital in the city of Curitiba, Parana State, Brazil. Methods In this descriptive study, noise levels were assessed on mornings, afternoons, and evenings using an integrating Bruel & Kjaer (Denmark) calibrated sound level meter, type 2230. Ten indoor points in the emergency ward were assessed; the helicopter as well as several available pieces of equipment in the ward were assessed individually. Results Noise levels in sound pressure level ambiance [dBA] ranged from 56.6 to 68.8. The afternoon period was the noisiest. The helicopter at 119 dBA and the cast saw at 90 dBA were the noisiest equipment, and the lowest noise level found was the activated oximeter at 61.0 dBA. Conclusion In all assessed points, noise levels were above the comfort levels recommended by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (1987), which may harm users' and professionals' health as well as influence professional performance in the emergency ward. Sound pressure levels of the helicopter and cast saw reach high hearing hazard levels, requiring professionals to use individual protection equipment, and point to the need for creation and implementation of effective control measures of noise levels in emergency wards.

Percepção de equipes de trabalho sobre o ruído em pronto-socorro

“…The fact that calls attention is that only 2.63% of the NA and 14.29% among the AD considered the environment as not noisy ( Table 1). These answers matched noise levels assessed at an ER, which ranged from 56.6 to 119 dB(A) (16,18) . Importantly, the comfort levels recommended for hospitals, according to the NBR 101522 (13) , are from 35 dB (A) to 45 dB (A).…”

“…The lowest noise level was measured in the suture room (56.6 dBA), in the morning, and the highest level was the helicopter at the moment of its landing and stay (119 dBA). Among the equipment, the highest noise was the plaster saw at work (90.0 dBA), and the lowest noise was the oximeter at work (61.0 dBA) (16,18) . Measurements were held in ten internal sites in the emergency room every two minutes and thirty seconds in each site, repeated for over three times, thus four measurements were carried out in each site, maximum, minimum and equivalent continuous noise (Leq), in the morning, afternoon and evening/night (16,18) .…”

Effects of environmental distractors on nurse emergency triage accuracy: a pilot study protocol

“…It is characterized by intensity (decibels), type (continuous, intermittent, variable), duration of exposure (time), and frequency (56). Research has shown that nurses in emergency clinical units are exposed to continuous ambient noise of more than 65 dB, which exceeds the maximum noise levels recommended by the WHO for hospitals (58)(59)(60). In our study, noise will be considered as a distractor and inserted directly in clinical vignettes.…”

Effects of environmental distractors on nurse emergency triage accuracy: a pilot study

“…It is characterised by intensity (decibels), type (continuous, intermittent, variable), duration of exposure (time), and frequency (70). Nurses in emergency clinical units have been shown to be exposed to continuous ambient noise of more than 65 dB, which exceeds the maximum noise levels (35) recommended by the WHO for hospitals (71,72). In our study, noise will be considered as a distractor and inserted in the proposed SG.…”