If you feel you are suffering from Occupational hearing loss, then you may be eligible to make a compensation claim against your employer if they did not provide adequate safety equipment to protect you. For a free no obligation call back, simply leave your details in the box to the right and one of our professional staff will contact you and help you assess your situation.

What is Occupational Hearing Loss?

Occupational hearing loss is one of many forms of industrial injury that affects our ability to hear.  Hearing loss is classified in degrees of hearing loss.  Tinnitus is the medical term for ringing or buzzing in the ears.  There is also complete deafness that can be either permanent or temporary.  Degrees of hearing loss range from total deafness to slight hearing loss.

All forms of industrial deafness are considered to be a noise induced hearing loss.  Some cases of hearing loss may be permanent or they may get better with time and healing.   For many people with advanced hearing loss, modern medicine and technology have been able to help them to regain at least part of their hearing though the use of hearing assisting devices.  Symptoms may involve both ears, but many times the hearing loss is more significant on one side.

What Causes Occupational Hearing Loss?

Noise induced hearing loss is caused by exposure to constant or consistent noise.  Occupational hearing loss can also be caused by a sudden loud noise.  There are many types of jobs that require the worker to be subjected to a variety of noises.  Running power saws and heavy equipment as part of your work day can cause hearing loss over time.

The medical reason for hearing loss is attributed to the destruction of tiny cells inside the ear.  These tiny cells grow special hair shafts that help us to hear.  Their job is to vibrate when they encounter sound.  As these special cells die off, the amount we hear drops.  In some cases, complete deafness may occur.

Can I Make a Noise Induced Hearing Loss Claim?

In some cases, proving occupational hearing loss can be difficult.  Some of the best advice for anyone who may have suffered a noise induced hearing loss is to talk the details of your situation over with a claims solicitor.   These legal professionals are experienced to provide an understanding of what your rights may be.  In order to receive a free consultation and evaluation of eligibility to file an occupational hearing loss claim, please fill in the form at the top right of this page and we will contact you to discuss your claim.

In 1974 laws were put into place to help protect employees from being forced to work in unsafe conditions.  The laws and their current counterparts make it the employers responsibility to keep employees safe.  Employers are mandated to educate employes in the safest methods of work.  Employers are also required by law to provide safety equipment such as ear plugs, latex gloves, and eye goggles as needed to help prevent injury to employees.  Employers have a legal obligation to study job related performance and reduce or mitigate the amount of risk that an employee may face while performing their job duties.

The use of an audiogram can help to prove the existence of hearing loss, and these tests are accepted as irrefutable evidence since they are nearly impossible to fake.  To validate your claim, certain pieces of evidence must be gathered.  This sound more difficult than it actually is.  The mechanism that caused the hearing loss should be isolated, and confirmed.

This usually can be answered by describing the type of work that was performed, equipment that was used, etc.   Did the employer provide noise reduction equipment such as ear plugs?  Did the employer fail to perform their duty to protect the employee from harm?  This can usually be proven by examining training records and safety equipment.   These are some of the questions that can help to prove or validate a hearing loss claim.

How Much Can I Claim for Occupational Hearing Loss?

It should be noted that making a claim and receiving a compensation award are two separate actions.  To make a claim for occupational hearing loss, the claim must be tied to a work injury or industrial injury to become valid.  If the claim can be validated, then a compensation amount can be determined.  The compensation amount is either determined by the court or through a settlement offer between the solicitor representing the claim and the insurance solicitors that represent the business.

Determining the compensation amount is very complicated.  Many factors are examined before a compensation amount is determined.  Occupational hearing loss is divided up into several categories that range from mild to sever.  They are also categorized by permanent and temporary.  The range of compensation for noise induced hearing loss is between ₤3,000 and ₤80,000.  Mild hearing loss and temporary tinnitus have compensation range that is lower than if the victim suffered complete and permanent hearing loss.

It is important to reiterate that there is more to estimating a compensation amount then just determining how sever an injury may be.   The severity of the injury is part of the equation, but there is also a look at what future medical care may cost, how the injury may impact the quality of life of the victim, and many other criteria that are a result of the injury.

This is why it is important to discuss the case with a solicitor.  There is a great deal at stake.  A more exact estimate of what a potential case may be worth is a conversation that is best discussed between the victim and a claim solicitor.  Remember that is the employers responsibility to keep their workers safe from injury.  If you have suffered a hearing loss injury then contact a claim solicitor today.