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lisar  
#1 Posted : 05 March 2013 11:56:54(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lisar
Hello,

This one is new to me so wondering if anyone has any advice.
A member of staff sits very close to office printer that is going all day long and is very stressed out about it. She is the only one complaining but sits closer to it.

Her manager has said she cant move desks.
I think the issue is the frequency of time rather than the noise level.

How do I go about tackling this issue in order to help her correctly and avoid politics.

Thank you in advance for your responses
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chris42  
#2 Posted : 05 March 2013 12:09:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42
I had the same issue at one point, but fortunately we were able to move the printer.

A long long time ago with the old dot matrix printers you used to be able to get sound proof boxes for the printers to go in. I wonder if you can still get them? just a thought.
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mootoppers  
#3 Posted : 05 March 2013 12:10:35(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
mootoppers
Hi

Two possible options spring to mind...the obvious one of moving the printer instead, although I suspect that you may have considered that one already! The other option is of boxing in, or putting some sort of panel up around the printer so that the sound is naturally deadened or travels upwards instead of outwards (non-technical!)
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martynp1000  
#4 Posted : 05 March 2013 12:12:35(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
martynp1000
is it the noise of the printer or the distraction caused by other people going back and forth to it.
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lisar  
#5 Posted : 05 March 2013 12:18:59(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lisar
it cant be moved and its the noise of printer droning on all day. Its not especially loud but the fact that its on all day. She has mentioned it a few times that it gives here headache.

Unfortuntaley her manager is the type that just says stop moaning
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SP900308  
#6 Posted : 05 March 2013 12:24:09(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
SP900308
Is this not a DSE related issue?
I don't think 'stop moaning' would be a satisfactory response to any concern!
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damelcfc  
#7 Posted : 05 March 2013 12:26:00(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
damelcfc
If its not breaching any actions levels its not hazardous so legal requirement to reduce ALARP.
However, we know that the pitch, frequency and other parts that make up sound can be bloomin' annoying if not loud measured in dB(A).

employer/employee relations issue with a hint of H&S really but I can sympathise.
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KieranD  
#8 Posted : 05 March 2013 12:49:01(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
KieranD
Lisar

As what you have described is a manager's exercise of power, your expressed preference to 'avoid politics' amounts to 'deny reality'.

By introducing a programme of safe performance at work, sometimes labelled 'behavioural safety', you can address the issues as ones of 'innovation', with appropriate professional incisiveness.

Almost all safety involves employee relations.
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gt  
#9 Posted : 05 March 2013 12:59:21(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
gt

Is this not a DSE related issue?
I don't think 'stop moaning' would be a satisfactory response to any concern!

I agree - DSE assessment specifically looks at noise in the workplace. However, deal with it positively or you will probably have to do a stress risk assessment.

If you move the noisy machine to another room the chances are that there will be a collective sigh of relief from the other desk occupants.

Improve the workspace and improve productivity.

Graham
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chris42  
#10 Posted : 05 March 2013 13:10:10(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42


Is the printer particularly noisy (would a newer one help the situation?), ie next new printer goes in this position and this move moved elsewhere. (NB printers don't like paperclips or staples in them)

Is the unit it is stood on amplifying the sound, had this issue at home with a bookcase.

As suggested above could a small screen be used or even turning the printer may make a difference.

Had a quick look you can buy covers, but seem a bit expensive. The best site seemed to be in dollars.

Change the boss !

What are you going to do if the person starts wearing ear plugs, again had this happen. Though this was due to excessive talking of sales annoying chief engineer (talk about rock and hard place).
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NLivesey  
#11 Posted : 05 March 2013 13:14:25(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
NLivesey
lisar wrote:
Hello,

This one is new to me so wondering if anyone has any advice.
A member of staff sits very close to office printer that is going all day long and is very stressed out about it. She is the only one complaining but sits closer to it.

Her manager has said she cant move desks.
I think the issue is the frequency of time rather than the noise level.

How do I go about tackling this issue in order to help her correctly and avoid politics.

Thank you in advance for your responses

Ok, there's another potential issue from the story so far in terms of stress management. Where as this may not be a bona fide 'safety' issue (in terms of noise exposure) this has all the right elements for what could turn into an occy health issue if not managed correctly.

The questions I'd be inclined to ask are;
What are the blockers to enabling her to move desks?
What efforts has her manager gone to to enable the wellbeing of the person in question?
Are there other underlying issues and this is just another example of someone not caring for the welfare of their reports? (Cultural issues?).

I've usually found that the reaction to this kind of complaint will be an indicator of other elements that need addressing. Unfortunately, the politics side of things may not be avoidable here.
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geoffclem  
#12 Posted : 05 March 2013 14:14:56(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
geoffclem
I would have a quite word with the manager and suggest that they come up with the solution (which, of course, you would have suggested anyway i.e - we need to sort this out now or it will be a bigger issue later) This way the manager can apease the staff member and not loose face.
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damelcfc  
#13 Posted : 05 March 2013 15:28:49(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
damelcfc
Slightly to the left, but linked, whilst at large blue chip we had a director that spent literally thousands at all the sites moving us out of our lovely offices into an open plan area. 10 Years later we had a director that spent literally thousands at all the sites moving us into lovely seperate offices again.

These things go in fashionable circles like everything else.

I just hate open plan and would squeem and squeem at every opportunity including blaming noisy printers (actually I didn't say that but I said I was almost always printing priviliged documents from solicitors etc - yes - they gave me a pin number for the communal printer grrrrrr)

Thank goodness I have my own now - for a month at least - (should have checked what new co has in place!)
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Dr Sanyi Gabe  
#14 Posted : 05 March 2013 15:55:06(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Dr Sanyi Gabe
Continuous exposure to monotonous and daily printer noise (even if below the TWA exposure limit) may be affecting the psychological or mental well being of the more proximate employee and so I agree that the manager may have an underlying problem of stress to resolve. I would suggest the manager addresses this by involving not only the complainant but other employees in seeking a solution.

It is usual to position a common printer serving the entire office at a reasonable distance away (perhaps in the corner) from employees to minimize exposure to printer noise and repetitive movement to and from printer by users. This is the measure we have adopted in our general office.
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jay  
#15 Posted : 05 March 2013 16:27:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jay
I have researched authoritative sources of information on noise level guidelines for office environments, and have listed 3 sources below. None of them are above 50dB(A).

1) BS8233:1999 –“Code of practice for sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings” recommends 40-45dB LAeq for private offices and small conference rooms, and 45-50dB LAeq for open-plan offices.

2) “Level of noise data”: Extract from 1995 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Handbook, HVAC Applications, Chapter 43, Table 2.Admissible Maximum Levels of Noise:-

Office Buildings
25-35 Executive and private offices
25-35 Conference rooms
25 (max) Teleconference rooms
30-40 Open plan offices
40-45 Circulation and public lobbies
40-50 Research, extensive telephone use, speech communication
35-45 Group teaching
25-35 Churches, mosques, synagogues

Laboratories (with fume hoods)
45-55 Testing/research, minimal speech communication

The values and ranges are based on judgement and experience, not on quantitative evaluations of human reactions. They represent general limits of acceptability for typical building occupancies. Higher or lower values may be appropriate and should be based on a careful analysis of economics, space usage, and user needs. They are not intended to serve by themselves as a basis for a contractual requirement

3) Australian Standard, AS 2107: Acoustics – Recommended Design Sound Levels and Reverberation Times for Building Interiors.
For open plan offices the recommended levels are 40-45dB(A)


There is interesting information from HP, in the form of “HP PCs and Acoustic Noise- Background information on PC noise, and its effect and measurement”
http://www.quietpc.com/download/hp_white_paper.pdf


The regulatory noise levels/limits are not of much use for general office nosie levels where one is required to concentrate on particular tasks etc.!
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jay  
#16 Posted : 05 March 2013 16:38:39(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
jay
The HP Background information on PC noise, and its effect and measurement titlked "HP PCs and Acoustic Noise" states that:-

http://www.quietpc.com/download/hp_white_paper.pdf

Of more importance than regulations is the manner in which a PC user perceives noise.

The noise level which a user will accept from his or her PC depends on many factors including the following:
• work in an open plan office or in a closed single room office
• PC installed against a reflective wall or not
• carpet on the floor and walls, as opposed to reflective tiles and painting
• PC used occasionally or continually
• noise of the PC masked by other noise (e.g. air conditioning) or not
• special attention paid to noise or not
• cultural differences.

Note that a very low noise level in the office also creates problems: any 'normal' noise will create such a large difference compared to the very low ambient noise that it will be perceived as excessively loud. For example, if you use a '40 dB PC' in a '30 dB office' there is a very noticeable difference of 10 dB. Use the same PC in a '45 dB' office and you won't hear it anymore. Both EN31690 and the Swiss Caisse Nationale d'Assurance, therefore, recommend a background noise level (generated by air-conditioning, external noise, etc.) of 35 to 45 dB(A) for open plan offices, and 30 to 40 dB(A) for single room offices.



It also states that:-

.......to our knowledge, there are no laws relative to noise levels in offices, but the European
Union has issued some official recommendations. European Norm EN31690:1992 (ISO/DIS 11690) gives guidelines for the design of low-noise workplaces. It recommends a noise exposure limit of 55 dB(A) (Lp) for normal office work, and 45 dB(A) for conference rooms and mental work. The Swiss Caisse Nationale d'Assurance recommends the same value of maximum 55 dB(A) as EN31690.

The Swedish Labor Union TCO also recommended a maximum of 55 dB(A) up to a few years ago, but has recently changed its target value to less than 45 dB(A).
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KieranD  
#17 Posted : 06 March 2013 06:24:48(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
KieranD
Lisar

If I recall correctly, a couple of months ago you raised a question about the reported failure of HR to respond consistently after an employee fell at work and indications surfaced that she had been under the influence of alcohol.

You expressed very strong concern that HR were 'sending the wrong message' by not disciplining her in accordance with the professed company protocol.

From what you report, this instance you now report appears to be a similar instance of 'sending the wrong message' by a person in authority, which undermines professed company protocol on employee health
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lisar  
#18 Posted : 06 March 2013 12:54:15(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
lisar
KieranD wrote:
Lisar

If I recall correctly, a couple of months ago you raised a question about the reported failure of HR to respond consistently after an employee fell at work and indications surfaced that she had been under the influence of alcohol.

You expressed very strong concern that HR were 'sending the wrong message' by not disciplining her in accordance with the professed company protocol.

From what you report, this instance you now report appears to be a similar instance of 'sending the wrong message' by a person in authority, which undermines professed company protocol on employee health







Hi Keiran, not me.....not been involved with anyone to do with alcohol and we have a strict alcohol policy in place that has been succesful :)
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