A study on the psychosocial effects of noise level in hydroelectric power plants on employees

Noise is an important physical risk factor that affects the health of employees. This study is designed as a cross-sectional study to investigate the psychosocial effects of noise on employees working in Hydroelectric Power Plants in the city of Artvin. The study was conducted with a total of 110 employees working in hydroelectric power plants in Artvin. Data was collected by performing noise measurement, blood pressure measurement and heartbeat measurement and using descriptive characteristics form, World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF TR) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-42). According to the study findings, measured average noise of the sample was 72.3 ± 0.8 dB(A). It was detected that technical staff was exposed to the most amount of noise. Blood pressure and heartbeat values of employees were within the normal limits. No difference was observed between noise levels and DASS-42 scale sub-dimensions. There was no difference between WHOQOL-BREF (TR) scale sub-dimensions and noise, and no significant correlation was detected between noise and life quality. Keywords: HPP, noise, quality of life, depression, anxiety, stress