Safety

NIOSH: Transcriptionists face excessive noise risks

Hospital Safety Connection, August 3, 2005

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Medical transcriptionists run the risk of excessive noise exposure when they use dictation headsets. So says the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which investigated complaints from transcriptionists at three hospitals in California.

NIOSH interviewed transcriptionists, measured background noise in their work areas, and tested dictation devices known as C-phones.

The agency recommends that employees not turn up C-phone volume controls beyond the mid-point. Meanwhile, hospitals should

  • work with dictation device manufacturers to further reduce noise levels
  • train physicians to more effectively and clearly dictate their records
  • offer yearly hearing tests to transcriptionists

To read the full report, click here.



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