Industrial Deafness Compensation Personal Injury News:

Work Related Personal Injury Claims

Claiming compensation for industrial deafness

Tens of thousands of people in the UK have noise related hearing problems and many of them are suffering as a result of working in a noisy environment.

The most common conditions are tinnitus, industrial deafness - also known as noise induced hearing loss - and acoustic trauma. If you suffer from any of these conditions, you may be entitled to claim for compensation.

The fact that too much noise in the workplace can cause workers to experience a range of hearing problems is well establish and employers should have systems in place to minimise risk, such as providing appropriate safety equipment, for example ear defenders.

However, historically this may not have been the case and in some cases workers are still exposed to unacceptable noise levels. If this is the case, they may be able to claim compensation for tinnitus or compensation for industrial deafness.
The amount of compensation for industrial deafness will depend on a number of things, including the severity of the condition and whether it is temporary or permanent.

Temporary hearing loss, also known as a temporary threshold shift, is commonly experienced after being exposure to noises above 75 or 80 dB for several hours. Most of this hearing loss occurs during the first two hours of exposure and does not get much worse in subsequent hours.

Someone suffering from temporary hearing loss will find that sound seems muffled or dull and they may have to turn the volume up on their radio or TV to compensate. However, after a short while (up to 14 hours) in a relatively quiet environment, hearing usually returns to normal.

Unfortunately continued exposure to noise that causes this temporary hearing loss may cause irreversible damage, leading to permanent hearing loss.

There are several ways that loud noise can damage ears, but essentially, hair cells deteriorate in the inner ear and are not replenished. As a result the person will not be able to hear some frequencies as well as others.

Difficulty in hearing women and children's voices is usually the first signs of permanent hearing loss, as it is sensitivity to this frequency that is one of the earliest to be lost. Sadly, by the time it is noticed, the damage has already occurred and cannot be reversed.

Meanwhile acoustic trauma can occur as a result of a very loud noise or several very loud noises occurring for a short period of time. It can be caused by exposure to an explosion at work or gunfire at close range without ear protection. There have been a number of cases of police officers claiming compensation for acoustic trauma after training with guns without suitable ear protection.

Hearing loss that results from acoustic trauma is usually sensorineural meaning that it either affects the sense organ of hearing or the neural pathways that lead to this organ and in most cases it is irreversible.

As well as hearing loss, severe acoustic trauma can lead to damage to physical structures in the ear, including injuries such as a perforated eardrum.

Many people also suffer from tinnitus, and the hear noises in their ears such as ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling or roaring. Tinnitus can occur suddenly or over a period of time. In many cases it is temporary, but sometime symptoms are permanent. In cases relating to industrial deafness it is often one of the first signs that damage has been done to the ear.

Anyone who believes they have suffered similar hearing problems as a result of work may be entitled to industrial deafness compensation but it is important to seek professional legal advice from a an industrial deafness solicitor.

A recent case of a compensation award for industrial deafness is highlighted below