Press

Noise at work: an everyday hazard that is still widely underestimated. People who spend a lot of time on the phone run a special risk of suffering acoustic shock. Extremely loud sounds, like a shrill alarm siren or the clatter of a dropped receiver, can cause headaches, tinnitus or even loss of hearing. For this reason Sennheiser Communications has developed a unique headset technology that plays an active role in protection against acoustic shock.

Not nearly enough is being done to protect one of the most sensitive senses: our hearing. Particularly in everyday office life, insufficient importance is attached to active protection for hearing. This is however highly justified, since people who spend a lot of time on the phone in the course of their work day are exposed to considerable stress. Frequently the working environment itself is very loud. Not only that, but multi-tasking - like receiving orders by phone and entering them straight into the computer - calls for substantial extra concentration.

On top of this permanent stress, frequent phoners such as contact centre staff run a constant risk of exposure to acoustic shock. An unexpected and extremely loud sound at the other end of the phone can be enough to cause headaches, tinnitus or even irreversible loss of hearing. Headset users in particular are completely at the mercy of loudness peaks. Unlike people holding a receiver, they do not have the advantage of a reflex action that removes the sound source from their ear.

For this reason, headset specialist Sennheiser Communications has developed ActiveGardTM, an active protection system specially designed for professional frequent phoners. As an ever watchful invisible assistant, ActiveGardTM replaces the instinctive human reaction and permits safer and stress-free working. All telecommunications headsets in the SH 300 and CC 500 series are equipped with this unique patented system.

Tests confirmed by the renowned Norwegian research institute Nemko Comlab show that ActiveGardTM is superior to conventional systems. These merely chop off the peak volume without removing the energy of the sound pressure. As a result, the signal retains its dangerous energy, and annoying distortion may occur. The safety for the user is considerably lower than with ActiveGardTM. The ActiveGardTM system cuts in before any damaging acoustic signal can reach the ear. It not only reduces the dangerous energy of the sound, but removes it. As soon as the volume returns to a safe level, ActiveGardTM restores the normal working volume and switches back to the surveilliance mode.

"ActiveGardTM brings a significant and demonstrable improvement for safety at staff in jobs requiring heavy phone usage. For professional frequent phoners and for decision makers in contact centres, active hearing protection ought to be at least as standard as an ergonomic workplace and a low-radiation monitor", says Andreas Bach, Managing Director of Sennheiser Communications. "People who feel safe experience less stress and achieve more."

*www.comlab.no
Test Report No. 03/566/3