Workers Win Hearing Loss Compensation

Two workers who developed occupational deafness after being exposed to excessive levels of noise at work have won compensation.

The first claim was brought by a 50-year-old machine fitter who worked in a noisy factory environment but was never warned about the dangers of exposure to excessive noise levels. The man now finds it difficult to hear when there is background noise and, after bringing a personal injury claim, has been awarded £5,500 in compensation for his injury.

The second claim concerned a council road worker, identified as ‘Mr Y’, who developed hearing loss after working with noisy tools, including compressors and jackhammers. Mr Y was not provided with adequate hearing protection until the middle of the 1980s, even though he had worked for the council since the 1960s.

After he pursued his personal injury claim, the council admitted liability and Mr Y was awarded a substantial undisclosed sum in compensation for his hearing loss.

It has been estimated that more than 1 million workers in Great Britain are exposed to noise that has the potential to damage their hearing. Figures suggest that in 2007/2008 as many as 21,000 individuals may have suffered work-related hearing loss. In most cases, damage to hearing is irreversible and sufferers are forced to adapt their lifestyle to cope.

Employers have a duty to provide the correct hearing protection for employees, as well as to monitor workplace noise levels. If you suffer from an occupational disease, such as hearing loss, as a result of a failure on the part of your employer to put in place the safety measures required by law, you could be entitled to compensation.