Acoustic Shock Compensation

Rather than factory workers, night club employees or other workers that are frequently subjected to consistently loud noises, acoustic shock targets a whole different range of the market and mainly occurs in call centre operatives and telemarketers. As these people are consistently using the phone, the frequency of these acoustic shock attacks can add up to numerous each day, and over a period of time this can lead to permanent injury.

If your employer hasn’t taken the correct precautions to ensure that you are protected from this potential injury, then you may be eligible to claim for compensation. 

What is acoustic shock?

Acoustic shock is a term commonly used in the telecommunications industry and is used to describe any injuries incurred by an employee due to loud, high pitched sounds that are heard through a telephone. These noises commonly include fax tones and feedback oscillation.  This commonly occurs as the result of headsets which may malfunction or be faulty. 

What are some symptoms of acoustic shock?

When it comes to acoustic shock, they symptoms are very similar to that you would come to expect from any hearing injuries and commonly include:

• Loss of hearing
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Constant ringing/hissing noise in the ears
• Muffled sounds/difficulty hearing common sounds. 

Who can I claim against?

If you have suffered from acoustic shock and any of its symptoms then you may be able to make a claim against your employer. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that the correct protection devices have been put in place to prevent loud noises reaching your ears from the telephone line, this is done through a process called digital signal processing and is already a major player in many large telecommunications companies. 

In addition, ensuring that the correct headsets, which are installed with the appropriate software, are used, enables the headsets to muffle any loud noises that may be transferred down the line. Many companies also ask their employees to turn off their mobile phones and other communication devices to prevent high levels of feedback through the telephone lines. 

What should I do next?

If you have suffered from acoustic shock as the result of negligence by your current or previous employer then you could be eligible to make a claim. Acoustic shock can be an incredibly debilitating disease which can have a real effect on your life and your are entitled to be compensated for any pain and aggrevation that it causes you. To find out more information or to start your acoustic shock claim today, contact the Legal Request team on 0800 990 3500.