People experiencing such symptoms will respond in different ways. As with other workplace injuries and ill health, some may experience further effects, including anger, anxiety, social isolation and other psychological problems. Few people suffer hearing loss from acoustic shock. To assist in the diagnosis where this may occur, consideration should be given to a specialist conducting audiometric testing of all operators’ hearing when they commence work to establish their baseline hearing ability. Control measures Control measures to eliminate or minimise the risk of acoustic shock include: providing high quality headsets with acoustic shock protection devices giving prompt attention to damaged equipment and network faults (the equipment or network supplier or an acoustic specialist should be contacted if necessary) ensuring the proper fitting, use and maintenance of headsets reducing background noise in the room providing information and training on how to detect warning sounds, for example cordless phones being used too close to the base station at the customer end training on warning sounds should also prepare operators to know when to remove headsets as quickly as possible, where necessary with hot-desking work, ensuring workers turn the headset volume down as soon as possible after a changeover considering work organisation issues, such as unreasonable or unrealistic performance pressures or demands, which may cause tension and distress, and preventing mobile phones from being used in call centres. Control of background noise in call centres Possible control measures to implement include: reviewing the design and layout of the room and workstations: reducing external and building service noise reducing reverberation within the room by sound-absorbing materials placing acoustic barriers around/between workstations and other call centre areas. encouraging people to not talk loudly or hold discussions near operators locating fax machines, photocopiers and printers away from operators controlling noise and use of mobile telephones with hot-desking, ensuring changeovers are smoothly managed and quiet, and providing sufficient room for workers to move around at changeover times without crowding. Managing acoustic incidents After an acoustic incident, the worker should: remove the headset immediately in some circumstances, move to the out’ area ‘break report the incident and any symptoms to the supervisor, and discuss with the supervisor ability to continue work and, where appropriate, relocate to another workstation. After an acoustic incident, you should: ensure the event is recorded and logged discuss the incident and ability to continue work with the worker where symptoms are persistent or severe, refer the worker to a general practitioner and/or an audiologist for assessment and treatment of possible injury
People experiencing such symptoms will respond in different ways. As with other workplace injuries and ill health, some may experience further effects, including anger, anxiety, social isolation and other psychological problems. Few people suffer hearing loss from acoustic shock. To assist in the diagnosis where this may occur, consideration should be given to a specialist conducting audiometric testing of all operators’ hearing when they commence work to establish their baseline hearing ability. Control measures Control measures to eliminate or minimise the risk of acoustic shock include: providing high quality headsets with acoustic shock protection devices giving prompt attention to damaged equipment and network faults (the equipment or network supplier or an acoustic specialist should be contacted if necessary) ensuring the proper fitting, use and maintenance of headsets reducing background noise in the room providing information and training on how to detect warning sounds, for example cordless phones being used too close to the base station at the customer end training on warning sounds should also prepare operators to know when to remove headsets as quickly as possible, where necessary with hot-desking work, ensuring workers turn the headset volume down as soon as possible after a changeover considering work organisation issues, such as unreasonable or unrealistic performance pressures or demands, which may cause tension and distress, and preventing mobile phones from being used in call centres. Control of background noise in call centres Possible control measures to implement include: reviewing the design and layout of the room and workstations: reducing external and building service noise reducing reverberation within the room by sound-absorbing materials placing acoustic barriers around/between workstations and other call centre areas. encouraging people to not talk loudly or hold discussions near operators locating fax machines, photocopiers and printers away from operators controlling noise and use of mobile telephones with hot-desking, ensuring changeovers are smoothly managed and quiet, and providing sufficient room for workers to move around at changeover times without crowding. Managing acoustic incidents After an acoustic incident, the worker should: remove the headset immediately in some circumstances, move to the ‘break out’ area report the incident and any symptoms to the supervisor, and discuss with the supervisor ability to continue work and, where appropriate, relocate to another workstation. After an acoustic incident, you should: ensure the event is recorded and logged discuss the incident and ability to continue work with the worker where symptoms are persistent or severe, refer the worker to a general practitioner and/or an audiologist for assessment and treatment of possible injury
model-cop-managing-noise-and-preventing-hearing-loss-at-work.docx