Wind turbine noise annoyance due to ability of employee to carry out his basic tasks

This paper presents the results of laboratory studies on the effect of wind turbine noise as an annoyance factor affecting the employees’ ability to carry out their basic tasks. It was assumed that different acoustic conditions characterizing wind turbine noise induce different levels of mental strain leading to differences in performance on cognitive performance tests. Therefore, during exposures to 9 different virtual acoustic environments, representing different wind turbine noises, 50 participants of the study performed 2 psychological tests the Vienna Test System: the ALS Work Performance Test and the COG Cognitrone Attention and Concentration Test. The statistical analysis of the obtained results allowed to formulate the following conclusion: the wind turbine noise with the equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level of at least 50 dB(A) should be considered as the annoyance factor affecting the employees’ ability to carry out their basic tasks.