Industrial Deafness and Industrial Disease Claims

Although nowadays most of our manufactured goods are imported, not only does the UK still have a real industrial sector, but we also have, spread throughout society, the residual damage caused by the old industrial giants.

Deafness is a function of age but it is also a function of exposure to constant loud noise (or even sudden loud noise). Often the connection between significant hearing loss and work done twenty or thirty years earlier, may not have been made. However, this is not a bar to bringing a claim.

Perhaps surprisingly, the law recognises that if a person did not know the cause of a disease, including deafness, they can still bring a claim when the link is made (this is called date of knowledge).

Thousands of people worked in noisy factories without any of the health protections that are now deemed necessary. These could be bottling factories, car factories, asbestos manufacturers, iron foundries etc. Any form of constant loud noise can and does cause hearing loss.

Call centres are another area where people may not realise how exposed they are to the risk of damage to their hearing.

Exposure to constant loud noise is only one area neglected by some employers. Another is exposure to asbestos, the consequences of which are, ultimately, fatal. Usually, the exposure was through old style heavy industry. For instance, British Rail faced numerous claims from boiler makers. However, asbestosis still hits people who but for this disease would be completely healthy and fit.

Many people also develop complex and long term threats to their health and livelihood from repetitive labour. An example of this is from vibrating tools like jackhammers. Although employers usually insist that they have effective systems to protect against the risks caused by vibrating tools, sometimes the commercial reality of business results in rules being ignored or a blind eye turned to systemic poor practice.

Whatever the damage to your health, we will investigate and advise you as to the strength of a potential claim.

Legal Solutions Partnership

Making the law work for you.