In the United Kingdom, there has been an increase in cases of “acoustic trauma” suffered by call center workers. According to the publication Industrial Safety and Hygiene News, when a sound hits 118 decibels or higher, the headset the call center worker is wearing should not transmit the sound to the headset wearer, but not all headsets have built-in noise limiting features. Call center workers, it says, are at particular risk of acoustic shock. In 2006 a report concluded 700 people in the UK suffered acoustic shock, with some $32 million paid out in compensation. U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health research showed millions of workers at call and dispatch centers suffer acoustic trauma from a spike in noise levels, such as headset feedback or a sudden change in volume.
United Kingdom
