Industrial Deafness Claims
Occupational Deafness
Noise induced deafness is generally caused by exposure to persistent and prolonged workplace noise. Thousands of workers in the UK are and have been affected by occupational deafness. Many of these workers were employed in industries such as ship building, coal mining, engineering, manufacture of railway rolling stock, fetting etc.
A link was first made between exposure to noise at work and deafness in approximately 1830. It was noted that a number of blacksmiths who were exposed to excessive levels of noise had suffered a deterioration in their hearing.
Clear Answers Lawyers took the landmark case of Thompson -v- Smith Ship Repairers (North Shields Limited) to court in 1983. This test case was successful. Compensation payments were made to many men who suffered damage to their hearing as a result of working in the ship building and ship repair industries between the 1940's and 1970's.
Legislation
A code of practice was published in 1972. The aim of this code of practice was to reduced the exposure of workers to noise. The code of practice provided a time limit for a worker exposed to noise. That limit was 90 decibels over an eight hour working day. That limit has progressively lowered which means that less and less people now face exposure to damaging noise levels at work. New regulations, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 come into force on the 6 th April 2006. These regulations basically provide increased protection for workers employed in noisy industries.
Claiming Compensation for Noise Induced Deafness
In order for you to succeed in obtaining compensation for noise induced deafness, you have to show that you have suffered a deterioration in your hearing or that you are suffering from tinnitus (a ringing / buzzing in your ears), that your hearing loss has been caused by noise at work, that the noise that you were exposed to was in breach of your employers or former employers legal duties towards you and that you have brought your compensation claim within time. If you have been employed in one of the industries mentioned above, then you could have a very strong clam. Other industries where workers have successfully claimed compensation for occupational deafness including textile manufactures, garment manufacturers, car manufacturers, road workers, forestry workers etc.
Level of Compensation
Levels of compensation differ according to the level of deafness and/or tinnitus which you are suffering from. Clear Answers Lawyers can provide you with advice and assistance on pursuing a claim for compensation and can provide you with details of the level of compensation which might typically be available.
If you have been employed or formally employed in a noisy environment and you are worried that you hearing has deteriorated, then speak to Clear Answers Lawyers. They will be able to advise you on claiming compensation for occupational deafness.
If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Clear Answers to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for yourself. Telephone us now on 0800 783 9019 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.
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