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Damages for hearing loss

Damages awarded against Department of Transport for former worker’s hearing damage Trial Result: The High Court has ruled that the Department of Transport (DfT) is liable to pay compensation to the family of a man who suffered from industrial deafness as a result of working on steam railways in the 1960s. John Wignall, who died in 2014, was employed from the late 1950s until 1966 as a fireman on the footplate of steam trains, and was struck by industrial deafness in his later years. In a statement before his death, Mr Wignall said the trains were so noisy that he had to shout to be heard by colleagues standing only two feet away. His lawyers began a damages claim against the government in 2012. His family continued with the claim after Mr Wignall’s death. On 4 July 2016 at the High Court, Judge Philip Butler ruled the Department of Transport liable to pay compensation to Mr Wignall’s family. Rejecting arguments that the claim had been brought too late, the judge said it was only late in life that Mr Wignall had made the link between his work on the railways and his deafness. He said British Rail, Mr Wignall’s employer at the time, had ‘guilty knowledge’ of the risk of industrial deafness from 1961 or 1962 onwards, but had not done enough to warn its footplate workers. Comprehensive noise surveys should have been carried out by the middle of 1962 and workers given information and training to protect themselves. He ruled that Mr Wignall’s lawyers had proved his deafness was, at least in part, due to ‘hazardous noise exposure’ on the railways. He valued the overall claim at £6,000, but ruled that only a relatively small proportion of blame was attributable to British Rail. LNB News 04/07/2016 188/Lexis Nexis

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Industrial hearing loss claim

When we are at work we put our health and safety in the hands of our employers, we trust that we can carry out our duties in a manner that does not affect our long term health and well-being. It is therefore appropriate that sufferers of industrial deafness can claim compensation for their industrial deafness by making a Personal Injury claim for loss of hearing against their employer’s insurers. I can help bring industrial claims for deafness throughout the UK for:-

  • Noise Induced Hearing Loss Compensation Claim: experienced as muffled, or deadened sounds, or difficulty in hearing, especially in crowded environments, or speech sounds. Noise induced hearing loss (industrial deafness) tends to occur as a result of long term excessive noise exposure without adequate hearing protection
  • Tinnitus: experienced as ringing or buzzing in the ears, and again likely to have been caused by long term noise exposure.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus are all possibilities when excessive workplace noise is prevalent. Our hearing is sensitive and delicate, and it’s easy to take it for granted until it’s no longer there or as good as it was. Noise exposure is the biggest cause of hearing loss so it needs to be taken extremely seriously but often isn’t.

Various different workplace environments have been responsible for causing industrial deafness (noise induced hearing loss), for example: coal mining, ship building, textile manufacturing; factories; engineering; car manufacturing; and road drilling.

Can I Claim For Industrial Deafness/Hearing Loss?
How to claim for hearing loss: the key to making a successful compensation claim for Noise Induced Hearing Loss is that your employer did not protect you from that risk. This would include providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as ear plugs and/or defenders, and additionally ensuring that you have received adequate training and instruction in the dangers of noise. They should also monitor your hearing by carrying out a industrial hearing loss test at regular intervals. I work with you to establish whether your employer failed in their responsibilities, and I investigate all cases personally ensuring your case receives my dedication, focus and legal expertise. This is crucial as claims for industrial deafness are difficult and need to be handled a specialist solicitor.

If you are still employed by the employer you think may be responsible for your hearing difficulties, please do not worry. All employers are obliged to have Employer’s Liability Insurance to enable claims to be made and paid, and additionally Employment Law protects your rights as an employee so your employment is not at risk.

Hearing Loss Compensation Claim UK Time Limit
How long do you have to claim for industrial deafness? Often the hearing impairment does not manifest until years later – I am an expert in understanding these cases, and getting to the root of your difficulties – as long as you bring your claim within 3 years of when your hearing loss became “significant” i.e. serious enough to do something about, not when you first noticed it, then I can help you make successful industrial deafness claims.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss Solicitors
How do I claim for industrial deafness? You need a specialist solicitor! I specialise in noise induced hearing loss claims, and I use my expert legal knowledge to personally undertake all such claims throughout the UK ensuring you receive the compensation you are entitled to for which I use a hearing loss compensation calculator. I am not a Claims Management Company, but a solicitor specialising in noise induced hearing loss compensation amounts. I carry out all such claims on a genuine No Win No Fee basis, believing you have suffered already and aiming to help you get the compensation you deserve without additional cost to yourself.

Contact Nigel Askew Solicitor
If you wish to seek no win no fee industrial deafness compensation for Noise Induced Hearing Loss or Tinnitus arising from your employment, get in touch with me on 01507 609027 or online for a free, no-obligation consultation. I deal with cases on a no-win, no-fee basis. There are no hidden charges.

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Hearing loss claims against CEGB

People who worked in loud environments or who were subjected to regular and prolonged exposure to loud noises may suffer from industrial deafness and/or tinnitus (noises in the ears) in later life. One such employer that exposed thousands of workers to excessive noise in the Lincoln and Lincolnshire area was the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) through its power stations based in the Trent Valley.

Many old CEGB employees who worked in excessive noise in the Trent Valley power stations have fallen victim to noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus, and could be entitled to make an occupational deafness claim for compensation. Many ex-workers from the CEGB who live in Lincoln and the surrounding areas of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire will qualify for compensation for noise damage to their hearing and should contact me urgently to discuss a claim as time limits apply.

Work Related Hearing Loss
Excessive exposure to loud noises, such as those created in power stations, can cause severe hearing problems in later life. Such problems can massively hamper quality of life, and are often very debilitating and expensive to try and improve with costly hearing aids running into thousands of pounds.

It is clear that ex-workers from the Trent Valley power stations run by the CEGB were subjected to extremely loud noise from turbines, pumps, coal mills etc. They were often not provided with any or adequate hearing protection or, if they were, they were not shown how to use it properly! As a result, many CEGB workers in the Lincoln area now suffer from deafness due to noise damage to their inner ears from prolonged exposure to noise through not fault of their own.

If you are in Lincoln or Lincolnshire and are a former employee of the CEGB at one of the Trent Valley power stations, you may have been unnecessarily and negligently exposed to excessive noise. If this has caused difficulty hearing, you may be entitled to compensation because the damage was not your fault. If you are still working at another company or have since retired, you may still be able to take legal action.

Whether you suffer from severe hearing loss, mild hearing loss, or tinnitus caused by working in the Trent Valley CEGB power stations, you may be eligible to make a claim.

Contact Nigel Askew Specialist Hearing Damage Solicitor
If you have suffered hearing loss or damage because of the loud conditions you were exposed to whilst working at the CEGB Trent Valley power stations, contact Nigel Askew. Your circumstances will be discussed on a free no obligation basis, and all claims are pursued on a no-win no-fee basis. If you think you have a valid hearing loss claim and are in Lincoln, Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshire contact Nigel online or by calling 01507 609027.

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Workers industrial hearing loss claims in Hull

Noise induced hearing loss is also known as Occupational Deafness or Industrial Deafness and is hearing problems or hearing loss caused by working in high levels of noise.

In Hull, many thousands of people are still working and have worked in noise levels which are too high and dangerous to their hearing. Workers in Hull have been exposed to excessively high levels of noise in numerous industries which has put them at great risk of suffering industrial deafness and tinnitus.

Hull Industries Expose Their Workers To Unnecessary Risk Of Noise Induced Hearing Loss And Tinnitus
Industries in Hull exposing their workers to a high risk of noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus include noisy factory environments where excessively noisy machinery is used by factory workers in the flour milling, caravan manufacturing, engineering, metal working and metal box making, chemical and plastic bag, excavator manufacturing industries and in the construction, ferry, shipping and fishing industries.

Also BT engineers, sheet metal workers, welders, platers, body shop workers, metal castings and foundry workers, machinists, mechanics, fitters, electricians, ferry workers, dockyard workers, lorry drivers and road workers have been exposed to excessive and dangerous levels of noise increasing the risk they will suffer from industrial hearing loss and tinnitus.

For example, it has been reported that one law firm helped a Hull worker claim compensation for his industrial deafness due to working in a noisy plastics factory and as an engineer on a tug boat.

Are You Concerned About Hearing Problems?
If you have worked in a noisy environment and have noticed you are going deaf, or others tell you that you are deaf, it’s likely that you are suffering from noise induced hearing loss.

To find out if you are suffering from industrial deafness you will need to undergo a free hearing test to see from the results if you have any noise damage to your hearing. Nigel Askew Solicitor will be pleased to arrange a free hearing test for you.

What Are The Buzzing And Ringing Noises I can Hear?
If you can hear ringing or buzzing noises in your head or ears you are suffering from what is known as tinnitus. If you have been diagnosed with work related deafness it is likely that your tinnitus is also due to working in excessive noise.

Unfortunately your occupational deafness and tinnitus are permanent as there is no cure for either, but you may find you can improve your hearing and tinnitus by using digital hearing aids. Tinnitus treatment is available but no tinnitus cure. Nigel Askew Solicitor can include the costs of private digital hearings aids and tinnitus treatment as part of your claim to avoid having to wait for NHS aids which are not as good as private hearing aids.

Who Is Responsible For Your Industrial Deafness?
Your employers have a duty to keep you safe at work which includes preventing you working in excessively high levels of noise which could cause work related hearing loss. If your employers failed to protect you from noise at work by supplying ear protection or putting in place noise reduction measures and you have suffered hearing loss as a result, you could be entitled to claim compensation.

It is possible to make a claim even if you have not worked for the employer who exposed you to excessive noise for years and also even if the employer has gone out of business. The law requires employers to have Employers’ Liability Insurance to pay out compensation to workers who have suffered injury or illness at work.

Industrial deafness can take years to become serious so that you consider it be significant and you normally have three years to bring your claim for hearing loss, starting from when it became significant and you thought it might have been caused by your work.

Hull’s Specialist Industrial Hearing Loss Claims Lawyer
Time limits apply so it is important that you have an experienced noise induced hearing loss solicitor handling your claim otherwise you are likely to get nothing or significantly less than you are entitled to. To ensure you receive full compensation for your noise induced hearing loss claim in Hull, get in touch with me by calling 01507 609027 or online for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case. All cases are pursued on a no win no fee basis, with no hidden charges.

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Grimsby workers hearing loss claims

Industrial Deafness is also known as Occupational Deafness or Noise Induced Hearing Loss and is deafness or hearing loss caused by working in excessive levels of noise at work.

In Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire thousands of people have worked and continue to work in high levels of noise in many different industries putting them at risk of suffering work related hearing loss and tinnitus.

Grimsby Industries Exposing Workers To Risk Of Work Related Deafness And Tinnitus
Noisy industries in Grimsby putting workers at risk of hearing loss and tinnitus include noisy factory environments where noisy machinery is used by factory workers in the food, frozen food, fish processing, manufacturing, engineering, metal working, chemical and plastics industries and in the construction, shipping and fishing industries.

Also BT engineers, electricians, mechanics, sheet metal workers, metal castings and foundry workers, body shop workers, welders, platers, fitters, machinists, ferry workers, dockyard workers, road workers and lorry drivers have been exposed to dangerous levels of noise increasing the risk they will suffer from noise induced or industrial hearing loss.

For example it has been reported that a law firm helped a Grimsby widow claim a four figure sum in compensation for her deafness due to noise from work machinery at Icelandic Food’s Coldwater Factory on the Pyewipe, Grimsby. The food processing factory operative was exposed to excessive noise over a 13 year period when she worked next to band saws cutting fish and other noisy work equipment without hearing protection.

Concerned About Hearing Loss?
If you have worked in a noisy environment and have noticed you are suffering from hearing loss or think you are going deaf, there’s a chance you may be suffering from work related hearing loss.

To find out if you are suffering from occupational deafness you need to undergo a hearing test as the results will clearly show if you have suffered noise damage to your hearing. Nigel Askew Solicitor will be pleased to arrange a free hearing test for you.

What Is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is when you can hear noises, commonly ringing and/or buzzing, in your ears or head. If you have an element of noise induced hearing loss the chances are your tinnitus is also work related.

Unfortunately your industrial deafness and tinnitus is permanent and cannot be cured, however, you may benefit from digital hearing aids for your hearing loss and there are forms of tinnitus treatment but no tinnitus cure. Nigel Askew Solicitor will include the cost of private digital hearings aids and tinnitus treatment so you do not have to wait for them on the NHS.

Who Is Responsible For Industrial Deafness?
Employers have a duty to keep workers safe at work and this includes preventing workers from being exposed to high levels of noise which could cause hearing loss. If your employers did not protect you from high levels of noise at work by supplying hearing protection and you now have noise induced hearing loss, you could be entitled to compensation from them.

You can still make a claim even if you no longer work for the employer who exposed you to excessive noise and even if the employer no longer exists. By law employers must have Employers’ Liability Insurance to pay compensation to workers who have been injured or made ill at work.

Noise induced hearing loss can take years to become serious enough to be significant and you would normally have three years to bring your claim for hearing loss, starting from when it became significant and you thought it might have been caused by your work.

Specialist Industrial Hearing Loss Claim Injury Lawyer
Time limits apply so it is important that you have an experienced noise induced hearing loss solicitor handling your claim otherwise you are likely to get nothing or significantly less than you are entitled to. To ensure you receive full compensation for your industrial deafness claim in Grimsby, Lincolnshire get in touch with me by calling 01507 609027 or online for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case. All cases are pursued on a no win no fee basis, with no hidden charges.