Health and Safety Minister to speak at Acoustic Safety Conference

Lord Hunt, Minister for health and safety, is to be the keynote speaker at the Acoustic Safety Programme Conference on Monday, November 7, at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, London.

With approximately 1.4 million people working in UK call centres accounting for three per cent of the UK’s total workforce, acoustic safety is an important issue for employers. Acoustic shock is a major issue, with the Communication Worker’s Union estimating that over 500 claims for damages have been filed in the UK associated with the symptoms of this problem, with a further 123 cases pending, and with a reported 10-15 new cases each month.

All claims have so far been resolved out of court with an estimated total of ?3 million paid out by companies. However, the final bill could be much higher for companies like Eircom, who are facing mass litigation from over 500 former workers, a figure that could rise to 1000s.

Acoustic shock, or noise interference, is caused by repeated exposure to sharply rising noises in close proximity to the ear, usually through headphones without adequate protection. Symptoms include tinnitus, ear pain, dizziness and nausea, impaired hearing, and anxiety, and can also lead to headaches, depression, fear of work, and lethargy; all contributory factors to an annual ?2.5 billion loss through call centre sickness, absenteeism and attrition.

An RNID study has further highlighted the problem. It found that 30% of call centre workers surveyed suffered from tinnitus and 39% believed that their hearing had been damaged through their work.

The Acoustic Safety Programme conference will brief employers of the issues relating to acoustic safety, including acoustic shock, and offer some solutions to the problems.