Employee well-being at work and workplace learning in industrial soundscapes – The Sounds of work
Objectives
This study aims to
- describe industrial soundscapes
- understand the significance of soundscapes for industrial employees' well-being at work, the smooth flow of work and workplace learning.
- develop soundscape solutions for industrial work that promote well-being at work, smooth flow of work and workplace learning.
The meaning and effects of sounds have not been studied in the industrial sector as diversely as in other work environments and leisure contexts, such as offices, schools and urban spaces. This study, carried out at five industrial workplaces, represents a fundamental change in occupational health and safety thinking in industry: it shifts the perspective from just combating loud noise to collaborative and proactive soundscape design.
The study examines the soundscapes of industrial work in a more systematic and broader way instead of focussing only on sound that is harmful to hearing. The project provides increased understanding of how sounds are perceived as either positive or negative and how industrial soundscapes at workplaces can be cooperatively designed regarding well-being at work, workplace learning and the smooth flow of work.
In the long term, better soundscapes can have a positive impact on factors such as health and well-being at work. They can also improve companies' productivity by improving opportunities for workplace learning, which industrial employees perceived to be fairly few.
The industrial companies participating in the study will have an immediate opportunity to develop their soundscapes. Simultaneously, their employees will have the opportunity to influence the soundscape of their own work, which can be expected to be a positive experience for them.
Data and methods
The study will be carried out as a multi-method, multi-case study design involving five industrial companies. The data is collected using different methods, and the observations made are integrated in accordance with the integration strategy to be developed during the project.
The premises, workstations and work phases to be studied will be specified further based on physical-acoustic measurements of the related soundscapes and their characteristics. This data is combined with qualitative observations and discussions from soundscape walks, themed interview material and discussion carried out in workshops. Qualitative data will be used to examine the personnel’s experiences related to the sounds and the meaning given to them.
Results and impact
The research will help workplaces and industry experts to better build soundscapes that support well-being at work, learning and the smooth flow of work in the future. It will provide perspectives on how industrial workplaces could better ensure compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The study will also create ways to manage the sound environment.
Contact us
Anu Järvensivu
Research Manager,
Project Manager and
Principal Investigator
Other members of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health research group:
Partners
The other party to the research consortium is AINS Group. Specialist Esa Nousiainen is the Project Manager for the entire consortium. Rest of the AINS Group research group consists of specialist Rauno Pääkkönen, acoustic designers Saveli Valjakka and Saana Romula and research assistant Riku Tanila. The consortium combines expertise in occupational medicine, sociology, work environment psychology and acoustics.
In addition to the target companies and the research group’s background organizations, the research project steering group includes the Confederation of Finnish Industries, the Federation of Finnish Technology Industries, the Centre for Occupational Safety, the Finnish Work Environment Fund and the University of Eastern Finland.
Funding
The research is funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, AINS Group and the industrial companies participating in the study: Nokian Renkaat Oyj, Ruukki Construction Oy, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj, AGCO Power Oy and Promeco Oy.
