What is Industrial Deafness?

Industrial deafness is known as “Occupational noise induced hearing loss” it may or may not be accompanied by “tinnitus” which is a ringing or buzzing experienced in one or both ears.

Occupational noise induced hearing loss is not always accompanied by tinnitus. The hearing loss is a loss of hearing caused as the result of exposure at work to excessive noise over a period of time.

Usually a worker has to be exposed to excessive noise over at least 12 months because the condition of “occupational noise induced hearing loss” is a gradual condition slowly becoming worse with the passage of time and as the worker gets older. If a person experiences “occupational noise induced hearing loss” then this will not become worse as a result of the exposure to noise once that person is no longer exposed to the source of the noise.

If a persons hearing continues to deteriorate after the exposure to the noise ends then the increased hearing loss is likely to be age related or due to some other cause.

To establish whether or not a worker is suffering from “occupational noise induced hearing loss” it is necessary for the worker to undergo what is known as an audiogram. This is a hearing test which is produced by a machine in the form of a graph. The graph is divided into two parts, decibels and kilohertz. Decibels are the amount of noise which a person can hear and kilohertz is the frequency at which the amount of hearing loss is measured. Generally the audiogram has to show a “notch” or “bulge” at between 2 and 3 kilohertz. In certain circumstances this can be extended to 4 kilohertz. The “notch” or “bulge” is usually in the region of 10 decibels and is in the form of a fall in the general reading shown on the audiogram.

When dealing with a claim for “occupational noise induced hearing loss” it is necessary to take a detailed working history from the worker and in particular making detailed notes as to the types of employment during which the worker was exposed to excessive noise. It is necessary to establish the cause of the noise and how close the worker was to the source of that noise and also for how long during the course of a shift the worker was exposed to the noise. It is also necessary to establish whether or not any ear protection was provided such as muffs or ear plugs. Details also have to be taken as to whether or not any noise surveys were carried out by the employer and whether any risk assessment in relation to noise was carried out by the employer.

We are a company who has experience in dealing with claims for “occupational noise induced hearing loss”. If you suspect that you may be suffering from a hearing loss which may be work related then we would provide you with a free interview for one hour in order to take preliminary details from you in order to advise you whether or not, in our opinion, you have or may have a claim for “occupational noise induced hearing loss”.

Examples of Successful Claims for Industrial Deafness

1. Our client worked in South Wales at a knitting machinist in a knitting department. He was exposed to excessive noise created by numerous knitting machines. Our client was aged 44 and says that he was never provided with any hearing tests and that ear muffs which were provided were very scarce and not always available to him. No noise surveys or noise risk assessments were carried out. there were no warning signs in place warning employees of the dangers of excessive noise and the need to wear ear protection.

We succeeded with our clients claim and recovered the sum of £4000.00 for our client.

2. Our client was employed in the West Midlands with a company who used moulding machines. Our client was unable to hear what the employee next to her was saying and in order to make herself heard at arms length she would have to shout.

Ear protection was not readily available. There was no policy of enforcement of the wearing of ear protection.

Our client who was aged 60 noticed deterioration in her hearing within the time she worked for the company.

We succeeded in obtaining compensation for our client in the sum of £1850.00.

3. Our client was a 61 year old lady who worked in the Midlands and was exposed to the noise of presses, cutting machines etc. our client found it difficult to communicate with her work colleagues at arms length. Our client worked in a noisy environment for 18 years.

We obtained compensation in the sum of £1500.00 for our client.