HSE plans to investigate call centres

Hard on the heels of BT's labour problems and new reports of high stress and high staff turnover, the Health and Safety Executive has announced its intention to take a close look at call centres.

The HSE plans to study the potential physical and health risks arising from this specialised environment and associated working practices. The study will take in the daily routine, shift patterns and level of training, as well as specific issues such as noise, stress and comfort.

The HSE says it is focusing on call centres now because they continue to be an area of rapid growth and, because they are relatively new, appropriate advice is needed.

Unions, interested in the BT situation, of course, but also targeting call centres as a source of new membership, welcomed the announcement.

Elliott Chase