Noise induced hearing loss, or industrial deafness, is caused by exposure to loud working environments. Many people at work in the UK – especially those working in the shipbuilding, mining and factory industries – have been put at risk in various noisy environments.
In recent years there have been many claims by people working as telecommunications industry who were exposed to unsafe levels of noise through oscillators and amplifiers they were given to work with.
Thousands of people have been affected by industrial deafness and noise induced hearing loss.
The Noise at Work Act 1989
This act was introduced to protect employees working in noisy industries. It implemented health and safety measures which an employer must adhere to.
In addition to the act, advances in technology now mean that workplaces are quieter and incidences of industrial deafness are becoming less frequent.
Making a claim
If you were employed in a workplace where you were exposed to noise, and your hearing has deteriorated over time, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. You must be able to prove that your employer could have prevented your hearing loss and that it was caused through your employment.
Compensation awarded for industrial deafness claims varies depending on the level of hearing loss and the amount of earnings lost as a direct result of the injury.