Acoustic shock

'Acoustic shock' is a term used in connection with incidents involving exposure to short duration, high frequency, high intensity sounds through a telephone headset. Some sources suggest that these incidents are associated with a range of physiological and psychological symptoms that have been reported amongst headset wearers. It has not been established whether the reported symptoms are caused directly by exposure to these unexpected sounds. There is no clear single cause of these incidents, but one cause may be interference on the telephone line. Although call handlers may be shocked or startled by the sounds, exposure to them should not cause hearing damage as assessed by conventional methods.

Since 1991, major manufacturers have incorporated an acoustic limiter in the electronics of their headsets to meet the requirements of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) specification 85/013. In the UK, this limiter ensures that any type of noise (eg conversation, short duration impulses) above 118 dB is not transmitted through the headset.

HSE is aware that 'acoustic shock protection' and 'headset noise limiter' devices are being brought to market, but is not in a position to comment on any of these devices at this time.

HSE considers that, in general, call handlers' daily personal noise exposure is unlikely to exceed the 80 dB lower exposure action value defined in the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, provided good practice in the management of noise risks is followed. Call handlers should be encouraged to report to management exposure to acoustic shock incidents and management should keep a record of these reported events.

Updated February 2008

Link URLs in this page

  1. Noise at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/index.htm
  2. Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/regulations.htm
  3. Worried about your hearing?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/worried.htm
  4. Overview - Worried about your hearing?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/worried.htm
  5. Audio demonstrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/assets/video/index.htm
  6. Overview - Advice for employershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/advice.htm
  7. Employers' responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/employers.htm
  8. How do I assess the risks?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/risks.htm
  9. Managing noise risks checklisthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/checklist.htm
  10. Overview - How do I protect my workers?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/protect.htm
  11. How do I control the risks from noise?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/controlrisks.htm
  12. Use the information from my risk assessment?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/useinfo.htm
  13. Reduce noise?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/reducenoise.htm
  14. Choose quieter equipment and machinery?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/choosequieter.htm
  15. Hearing protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/hearingprotection.htm
  16. What do I need to tell my employees?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/assets/video/tell-index.htm
  17. Employee and safety representativeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/safetyrep.htm
  18. Health surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/healthsurveillance.htm
  19. Advice for manufacturershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/advice-for-manufacturers.htm
  20. Noise calculatorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/calculator.htm
  21. Key messageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/keyfacts.htm
  22. Overview - Industry good practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/index.htm
  23. Overview - Managing noise riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/managingrisks.htm
  24. Over-protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/hearingoverprotect.htm
  25. Accounting for 'real-world' factorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/hearingrealworld.htm
  26. Advice on issuing hearing protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/hearingadvice.htm
  27. Workplace designhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/workplacedesign.htm
  28. Plastic productshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/plastics.htm
  29. Overview - Wood workinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/woodworking.htm
  30. Saw millinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/sawmilling.htm
  31. Air turbulencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/airturbulence.htm
  32. Planing and mouldinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/planingmoulding.htm
  33. Overview - Concrete and cementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/concrete.htm
  34. General informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/concretegeninfo.htm
  35. Avoiding impactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/avoidingimpacts.htm
  36. Music and entertainmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/goodpractice/music-and-entertainment.htm
  37. Overview - Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/casestudies/index.htm
  38. Full indexhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/casestudies/fullindex.htm
  39. Sound solutionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/casestudies/soundsolutions/index.htm
  40. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/furtherinfo.htm
  41. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/publications.htm
  42. Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/research.htm
  43. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/statistics.htm
  44. Overview - Policy statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/policy.htm
  45. Acoustic shockhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/acoustic.htm
  46. Noise calculatorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/calculator.htm
  47. Noise: Don't lose your hearing https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg363.htm
  48. Noise at work: A brief guide to controlling the riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg362.htm
  49. Hearing loss - what's it like?https://www.hse.gov.uk/NOISE/assets/video/index.htm

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Updated 2011-01-25