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Call centre staff 'hearing risk' | Call centre staff 'hearing risk' |
(about 23 hours later) | |
Two thirds of UK call centres fail to protect their workers against hearing damage from noise, a report warns. | Two thirds of UK call centres fail to protect their workers against hearing damage from noise, a report warns. |
Experts will tell an acoustic safety conference in Glasgow many of the 900,000 call centre staff are at risk. | Experts will tell an acoustic safety conference in Glasgow many of the 900,000 call centre staff are at risk. |
They are set to say increasing numbers of injuries and illnesses are being caused by acoustic shock and other noise related hazards. | They are set to say increasing numbers of injuries and illnesses are being caused by acoustic shock and other noise related hazards. |
Over 700 people have so far suffered acoustic shock, with the compensation paid out so far totalling £2.5m. | Over 700 people have so far suffered acoustic shock, with the compensation paid out so far totalling £2.5m. |
It can be a debilitating occurrence for a call centre worker Chris Atwell, Acoustic Safety Programme | It can be a debilitating occurrence for a call centre worker Chris Atwell, Acoustic Safety Programme |
Around 300 further cases are pending, according to the Acoustic Safety Programme, an independent body which aims to protect the hearing of call centre workers. | Around 300 further cases are pending, according to the Acoustic Safety Programme, an independent body which aims to protect the hearing of call centre workers. |
'Permanent damage' | 'Permanent damage' |
Acoustic shocks are defined as "any temporary or permanent disturbance of the functioning of the ear, or of the nervous system, which may be caused to the user of a telephone earphone by a sudden sharp rise in the acoustic pressure produced by it". | Acoustic shocks are defined as "any temporary or permanent disturbance of the functioning of the ear, or of the nervous system, which may be caused to the user of a telephone earphone by a sudden sharp rise in the acoustic pressure produced by it". |
The sound could be a whistle, a bleep - or any unexpected noise. | The sound could be a whistle, a bleep - or any unexpected noise. |
Experts suggest there are many more people who have experienced acoustic shock but do not realise it. | Experts suggest there are many more people who have experienced acoustic shock but do not realise it. |
It warns that, while some organisations are acting to safeguard the hearing of their staff, the vast majority are not. | It warns that, while some organisations are acting to safeguard the hearing of their staff, the vast majority are not. |
Call centres can introduce equipment such as headphones which extract any potential causes of acoustic shock to protect the worker's hearing. | |
There should also be measures such as raising awareness of the problem and good incident reporting that the Health and Safety Executive recommend should be in place. | There should also be measures such as raising awareness of the problem and good incident reporting that the Health and Safety Executive recommend should be in place. |
Chris Atwell, operations director for the Acoustic Safety Programme, said: "It can be a debilitating occurrence for a call centre worker. | Chris Atwell, operations director for the Acoustic Safety Programme, said: "It can be a debilitating occurrence for a call centre worker. |
"They can develop permanent damage to their hearing." | "They can develop permanent damage to their hearing." |
Dr Mark Downs, executive director of technology and enterprise for the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, said: "Acoustic shock is not the same as noise-induced hearing loss and is believed to occur at sound pressure levels below those which present an immediate risk to hearing damage. | Dr Mark Downs, executive director of technology and enterprise for the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, said: "Acoustic shock is not the same as noise-induced hearing loss and is believed to occur at sound pressure levels below those which present an immediate risk to hearing damage. |
"It is still a relatively un-researched condition and RNID welcomes public debate on the issue." | "It is still a relatively un-researched condition and RNID welcomes public debate on the issue." |
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