NW BT UNION HEALTH & SAFETY
 
 
     

 


National Definition Of Acoustic Shock Released

As reported in June this year by Unionsafety, following last November's Acoustic Safety Conference at the NPL HQ, an "ASP-NPL" Research Partnership was set up funded by jointly by the ASP, NPL and the DTI in order to define for the first time exactly waht acoustic shock is.

In May the research partnership announced the completion and release of the UK's first ever "National Definition of Acoustic Shock in Telephone and Headset Users”.

This very important development now for the first time places Acoustic Shock firmly on the map as defined by a group of experts in their field.

Despite the lack of the definition being present in this months updated version of HS Labs advice to environmental health departments in the form of it's LAC 94/2 document, it is now very difficult to deny the existence of the phenomenon and its affects.

The definition is as follows:-

"AN ACOUSTIC INCIDENT IS A SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED, NOISE EVENT WHICH IS PERCEIVED AS LOUD, TRANSMITTED THROUGH A TELEPHONE OR HEADSET - ACOUSTIC SHOCK IS AN ADVERSE RESPONSE TO AN ACOUSTIC INCIDENT RESULTING IN ALTERATION OF AUDITORY FUNCTION".

This definition is based upon currently available evidence and has been studied, authored and approved by a leading body of medical, scientific and engineering experts in the field of acoustics working together as the ASP-NPL Research Advisory Board. 

Downloads:

Full ASP/NPL statement

LAC 94/2 document

CWU LTB763/06

Acoustic safety Conference Report November 2005

Links:

Acoustic Safety Programme

HSE's Position on acoustic shock


 


Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Oasis Heath & Safety Ltd
www.oasissafety.eu