Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-1-24
pubmed:abstractText
Three air temperatures (22/26/30 degrees C) and two acoustic conditions-quiet (35 dBA) or open-plan office noise (55 dBA)-were established in an office. Thirty subjects aged 18-29 years (16 male), clothed for thermal neutrality at 22 degrees C, performed simulated office work for 3 h under all six conditions. Many more (68% vs. 4%) were dissatisfied with noise in the noise condition (P < 0.01). Warmth decreased thermal acceptability (P < 0.001) and perceived air quality (P < 0.01) and increased odour intensity (P < 0.05) and stuffiness (P < 0.01). After 2 h, some forehead sweating was observed on 4, 36 and 76% of subjects (P < 0.001) at 22, 26 and 30 degrees C, while 0, 21 and 65% felt "warm" (P < 0.001). Raised temperature increased eye, nose and throat irritation (P < 0.05), headache intensity (P < 0.05), difficulty in thinking clearly (P < 0.01) and concentrating (P < 0.01), and decreased self-estimated performance (P < 0.001). Noise increased fatigue (P < 0.05) and difficulty in concentrating (P < 0.05) but did not interact with thermal effects on subjective perception. In an addition task, noise decreased workrate by 3% (P < 0.05), subjects who felt warm made 56% more errors (P < 0.05) and there was a noise-temperature interaction (P < 0.01): the effect of warmth on errors was less in the noise condition. Typing speed (P < 0.05) and reading speed (P < 0.05) were higher in noise. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This paper demonstrates that open office noise distraction, even at the realistic level of 55 dBA, increases fatigue and has many negative effects on the performance of office work, as does a moderately warm air temperature. These findings may be used to provide economic justification for the provision of private offices and air temperature control in hot weather. The additional finding that noise distraction and heat stress can sometimes counteract each other in the short term is of academic interest only, as they both increase subjective distress and fatigue. In practice, neither should be deliberately introduced to counteract the other.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0905-6947
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
14 Suppl 8
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
30-40
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-9-29
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
The effects of moderate heat stress and open-plan office noise distraction on SBS symptoms and on the performance of office work.
pubmed:affiliation
International Center for Indoor Environment and Energy, DTU-Building 402, DK-2800, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark. thomas.witterseh@teknologisk.dk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Evaluation Studies