Traditionally, workplace noise has been a hazard linked to heavy industries such as ship-building and associated only with noise induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Modern thinking in occupational safety and health identifies noise as hazard to worker safety and health in many places of employment and by a variety of means.

Noise not only makes a person deaf (at exposures of over 85 decibels (dB)), but it also acts as a causal factor for stress and raises systolic blood pressure.

Additionally, it can be a causal factor in work accidents, both by masking hazards and warning signals, and by impeding concentration.

Noise also acts synergistically with other hazards to increase the risk of harm to workers. In particular, noise and dangerous substances (e.g. some solvents) that have some tendencies towards ototoxicity may give rise to rapid ear damage.