Losing any portion of your hearing through your everyday work can affect your
whole life – if you need to pay for treatment or gadgets to help you live normally,
you may be able to make a compensation claim. Industrial deafness can also
be known as noise-induced hearing loss or occupational deafness
and usually comes about after a long period of working in an environment where
noise is above a tolerable level. According to the 2005
Control of Noise at Work Regulations, if there is a consistent noise level
about 80 dB, your employer should look into reducing
it or providing you with ear protection. To put that number into context, it's like
standing at the back of the platform when a freight train runs through a station,
which may not seem too bad, but if it's consistent for an eight-hour shift,
five days a week for many years, it will take a toll on your hearing.
You don't have to be totally deaf before you can make a claim for damages
– even mild deafness can warrant some compensation.
You might notice this if you find you're missing parts of conversations, have to turn the
TV up or aren't able to hear in noisy environments. If you recognise these
conditions or have experienced worse after working in a noisy environment
for a long period of time you may be able to make an industrial deafness
claim
To find out more about receiving compensation, call us on
0845 676 9228 or visit handleylaw.co.uk.