Workplace Health & Safety Key Issue

Date: 20 June 2001

Workplace health and safety is one of the major industrial issues in call centres in Queensland.

Acoustic shock, stress, back and neck pain, time for breaks are just some of the factors experienced by workers in call centres.

"As part of the national Call Centre campaign on the Gold Coast workplace health and safety issues are a major item on the agenda," Queensland Council of Unions General Secretary Grace Grace said.

"One of the main reasons for getting Queensland employers and the government to sign up to the Minimum Standards Code is to ensure workplace health and safety standards are met," Ms Grace said.

"We have had reports of unhealthy workplaces including bad ergonomics for chairs and head sets, unrealistic performance monitoring including a system which records conversations of staff off and on the phone, putting up flags to go the toilet, and timed toilet breaks," she said.

"These are unrealistic, unhealthy and unsafe working conditions for call centre workers, in fact for any worker in Queensland," Ms Grace said.

"The sooner Queensland employers and government sign up to the Minimum Standards Code the sooner these conditions will be a thing of the past," she said.

Acoustic Shock - Call Centre workers at risk

A microwave beep doesn't normally worry any of us. But tell that to call centre worker from Western Australia.

The sound of a microwave beep drops her to the floor. Why?

New research suggests that the intense and repetitive nature of call centre work causes two small muscles within the inner ear to become enlarged. Evidence suggests the combination of the enlarged muscles and a loud and unexpected sound that is responsible for the injuries known as acoustic shock.

Acoustic shock is the RSI of the 21st century. And the most likely sufferers are call centre workers throughout Australia.

Unions are working with government authorities, medical researchers and legal authorities to determine beyond doubt the causes of acoustic shock injury. Until the causes are confirmed, call centre workers are at risk of an injury for which there is no effective treatment. Few medical practitioners are familiar with the condition, meaning diagnosis is difficult.

For media comment contact General Secretary Grace Grace on (07) 3846 2468 or 0418 782 654 or Assistant General Secretary Chris Barrett on (07) 3846 2468 or 0418 156 289

For further information

Contact:	Liz Phillips
Union:	Queensland Council of Unions
Phone:	07 3846 2468
Contact Mobile:	0407 624 475
Email:	lizp@qcu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qcu.asn.au

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