[Difficulties in the prevention of noise in an occupational milieu]

Emphasis is given to the lack of basic engineering knowledge in devising and building "noiseless" tools or machines, as well as in understanding sources and mechanisms of noise production. Teaching and training are not sufficiently developed in this field. Moreover, users of such devices are all too often unaware of the long-term effects of noise and of the appropriate methods of prevention. In this respect, occupational physicians, hygienists, nurses, safety engineers and others can play a very important role. In a second part, the technical difficulties in assessing properly the noise hazard and the efficiency of the protection techniques are underlined. Noise source, noise propagation and the "target" worker are the three levels of control in order to decreasing priority. Finally a few psycho-physiological problems are discussed, among others the attitude of the public towards noise in general. The need of changing this attitude and creating a real understanding and motivation is stressed. Everybody has a responsibility of his own in this respect.