Advice on the use of headsets (handfree kits, earpieces)

You’ll find advice here on what you should bear in mind when using your headset – to the benefit of both yourself and the environment.

Alternate between the right and left ear
- Alternate between your right and your left ear if you’re using a monaural handsfree kit so as to prevent uneven stresses on your hearing.

Bear in mind hygiene
- For reasons of hygiene, make sure the components close to your ears and mouth are replaceable. Don’t share your headset with anyone else.

Using the wire provided for your mobile phone
Your mobile phone should be positioned away from the body or held in the hand to achieve the best result. 

In noisy surroundings, maximum volume on the headset isn’t the solution
Simply cranking up the volume of your headset when working in noisy surroundings isn’t what you need to be able to hear calls well.
The noise level at your place of work mustn’t exceed 85 dB (A) so as not to pose a risk of damage to your hearing. If you make a lot of phone calls or use your headset a lot, it’s better if the ambient noise level doesn’t exceed 55 dB (A) so as to ensure that you’re not exposed to unnecessarily loud noise and that you don’t need to strain your voice. 

Reduce power consumption when charging Remove the plug from the socket as soon as your wireless headset is fully charged. A charger that’s plugged in will be using power even if the headset is fully charged.
If you want to charge your headset without a power supply, you can get chargers which are operated using solar cells or little portable windmills.

Find out more:
Advice on choosing and buying a headset
Advice on using a headset
Advice on disposing of an old headset
Advantages of a TCO-labelled headsets