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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hearing status of call centre operators in relation to their noise exposure. Conventional pure-tone audiometry and extended high-frequency audiometry were performed in 49 workers, aged 22–47 years (mean ± SD: 32.0 ± 6.0 years), working in call centre from 1.0 to 16.5 years (mean ± SD: 4.7 ± 2.9 years).

Questionnaire inquiry aimed at collecting personal data, the information on ommunication headset usage habits, self-assessment of hearing ability and identification of risk factors for noise-induced hearing loss were also carried out. Sound pressure levels generated by the communication headset were determined using the artificial ear technique specified in CSA Z107.56-13 (2013) standard. The background noise prevailing in offices was also measured according to PN-N-01307 (1994) and PN-EN ISO 9612 (2011).

Personal daily noise exposure levels in call centre operators varied from 66 to 86 dB (10–90th percentile). About half of the study subjects had normal hearing in the standard frequencies (from 250 to 8000 Hz) in both ears, while only 27.1% in the extended high-frequencies (9–16 kHz). Moreover, both high-frequency and speech-frequency hearing losses were observed in less than 10% of audiograms, while the extended high-frequency threshold shift was noted in 37.1% of analysed ears. The hearing threshold

levels of call centre operators in the frequency of 0.25–11.2 kHz were higher (worse) than the expected median values for equivalent (due to age and gender) highly screened population specified in ISO 7029 (2017). Furthermore, they were also higher than predicted for 500–4000 Hz according to ISO 1999 (2013) based on the results of noise exposure evaluation.

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Authors and Affiliations

Małgorzata Pawlaczyk-Łuszczyńska
Małgorzata Zamojska-Daniszewska
Kamil Zaborowski
Adam Dudarewicz
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Abstract

To evaluate the occupational safety of a high signal operator exposed to the electric field induced by contact wires with a frequency of 50 Hz and a voltage of 27.5 kV, this study established a model of a high signal operator working in the vicinity of singleand double-track railways. The electric field distribution in the operator’s body and his head were calculated and analyzed during the operation using the finite element method (FEM). The calculated results were compared with the international standard occupational exposure limits formulated by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and action levels (ALs), exposure limit values (ELVs) in Directive 2013/35/EU (EU Directive). In the case of a single-track railway exposure, the maximum electric field strength in the worker’s body, in the scalp layer, and inside the brain are 227 mV/m, 2.76 kV/m, and 0.14 mV/m, respectively. For a double-track railway exposure, the maximum internal electric field strength of the operator is 310 mV/m, which is 37.85% of the occupational exposure basic restriction limit. The maximum electric field strength in the head layers is 3.42 kV/m, which is 34.2% of the occupational exposure reference level and 34.2% of the low ALs. The maximum electric field strength of the brain is 0.19 mV/m, which is 0.19% of the occupational basic restriction limit and 0.135% of the sensory effects ELVs. Results show that the electric field exposure of the high signal operator to contact wires in single- and double-track railways is lower than the occupational exposure limits provided by the ICNIRP and EU Directive standards and is thus regarded as safe forworkers.
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Authors and Affiliations

Chang-Qiong Yang
1
ORCID: ORCID
Mai Lu
1
ORCID: ORCID

  1. Lanzhou Jiaotong University, China

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