Posted By fats van den raad Morning all I would appreciate it if someone could point me to where I can get information about the benefits of using telephone headsets on our sales desk. I need to sell the health advantages of using these devices to the ladies taking telephone orders, instead of the method currently used (pinching the phone receiver between the ear and the shoulder). They have all got headsets, but there is a reluctance to use them, and the excuses range from messing hair up to piching and giving headaches to forgetting about them and walking off with the telephone attached to the head when leaving the desk. I would appreciate if anyone in a similar environment could point me in the right direction Regards Fats

Posted By Kieran J Duignan From the situation Fats outlined, rational argument based on evidence is problematic.The rational argument set out in the HSE Research Report referred to by Richie is undoubtedly valid - but it lacks the emotional factor. There are two three difficulties a. the symptoms of the conditions you are trying to prevent are not easy to recognise initially: many people don't pay attention till the problem is severe and g.ps vary greatly in their understanding of the symptoms and readiness to diagnose them b. it's factually not possible to quantify how vulnerable each employee is and to pinpoint remedial action customised to her makeup, task demands, posture, behaviour, etc. c. each employee is likely to believe that she is absolutely and permanently immune to the condition you are trying to safeguard them from - and believe with equal intensity that the employer is equally absolutely and solely responsible in the event of a serious injury. Having seen many people suffer from various kinds of WRMSD and RSI conditions, of various degrees, I've quickly moved from a position of disbelief and indifference to awe and horror. So, Fats I suggest that you find two or three people who have suffered personally from diabling injuries of the kind you are trying to prevent and pay them to give a talk to your employees. If you can't address the emotional barrier in this way, consider getting a safety ergonomist who has provided expert witness evidence in this area to talk to them.

Posted By Lorraine Shuker If you contact some suppliers of headsets (ie Plantronics) they will probably have information as they use the health and productivity benefits as a selling tool