Industrial Deafness
Conditions such as persistent loud noise, exposure to hazardous substances or stressful situations can lead to industrial deafness and other health problems, if your employer fails to minimise the risks to your safety.
However it happens, occupational illness can have a devastating effect on your physical, mental and financial well-being. We cannot take away the illness, but we can help you get the justice and compensation you deserve. We’ve recovered thousands of pounds for people suffering from industrial deafness, vibration white finger and other occupational illnesses or ‘industrial diseases’.
Act quickly for occupational illness compensation
Your symptoms may not be immediate. In fact, you may not be aware that anything is wrong until years after you leave your job.
We can help you seek compensation as long as you file your claim within three years of first noticing that something is wrong. We ask you a few simple questions and, in most cases, we can tell you within minutes whether or not your claim is likely to be successful and even how much compensation you’re likely to receive. If you decide to go ahead, you don’t have to pay us a single penny unless we win.
Compensation amounts
Pay outs for industrial deafness and other occupational illnesses can be considerable. For example:
Industrial deafness - £5,000 to £25,000
Vibration white finger - £6,000 to £45,000
Carpal tunnel syndrome - £8,000 to £15,000
Mesothelioma - £45,000 to £1 to £2M
In your initial, free consultation, we will talk through your condition and give you an indication of how much compensation you may be able to claim.
Can I claim?
The list of occupational illnesses we can help you claim compensation for is extensive, as is the list of workplaces responsible, from building sites and factories to nightclubs, schools, laboratories and offices. Illnesses include:
Noise induced hearing loss or ‘industrial deafness’
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries
Mesothelioma - caused by asbestos exposure
Vibration White Finger – caused by over exposure to vibration
The important factor is that your employer must have failed to comply with health & safety standards and you must file your initial claim within three years of first noticing that something is wrong. Even if you’re self-employed, you may be eligible for compensation if someone else was responsible for safety in your work area.
• Experienced solicitors
• Clear, sensitive communication
• No up-front fees
• Free initial consultation
• We take on cases others turn away
• Rapid resolution
• Guaranteed no win, no fee – you don’t pay a single penny unless we win
What our clients say
‘First of all I wish to thank-you for representing me in a case that looked almost impossible at times and to let you know I would not hesitate to recommend you and your company to others.’ Mr KSA
‘Thank you for the remaining balance and the professional way you and Appleby's handled my claim’ Mr SB
Other resources can be found at:
Action On Hearing Loss - http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/
British Tinnitus Association - http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/
National Association of Deafened People - http://www.nadp.org.uk/
Information
Q. How can I determine if my hearing damage was caused by excessive noise levels?
A. Applebys will set up a free hearing examination that will verify if you have hearing problems associated with hazardous noise conditions.
Q. Can I still start a claim if the company I worked for doesn't exist any longer?
A. Yes, you still can file a claim.
Q. Do Applebys Solicitors take cases from anywhere in the UK?
A. Yes. Although we are based in Yorkshire, we can and do handle cases from all over England and Wales and can act for you where ever you are. And because we have contacts with medical specialist from all over the UK the quality of service you’ll receive won’t be affected in the slightest.
Q. Who will my claim be made against?
A. Nearly all companies have insurance that dates back into the 1960s that will cover claims like these. The large insurance companies will pay for your damages and costs. Applebys will handle all aspects of the claim from beginning to end.
Q. Will I have to attend Court?
A. No, the vast majority of cases don't go to court.
Q. How much compensation award will I receive?
A. The compensation awards depend on many factors including the seriousness of your hearing loss. Please see here for more details on compensation amounts.
Q. How long does it take?
A. Most cases take 12 months. Some can take a few months longer.
Q. Will it require much of my time?
A. No, Applebys will handle all aspects of the case meaning very little of your time is taken. Applebys will provide you with monthly updates in writing so you know how your case is progressing.
Q. Can I file a claim if I worked for more than one company?
A. You can initiate a claim for each employer where you were exposed to dangerous noise levels.
Q. How much will I have to pay?
A. Nothing. All costs will be covered by Applebys.
Q. Where Can I get more information on industrial deafness?
A. Industrial Deafness Watch is an excellent source of information about industrial deafness.
Q. What's the first step?
A. Contact Applebys Solicitors using the form on the right or call us on 0800 169 1325. We'll ask you a few quick questions and tell you whether you have a legitimate claim, how long it'll take, and how much compensation you could be entitled to.
Hundreds of thousands of workers risk damage to their hearing every day when they go their workplace. Those employees working in the leisure industry, mining and manufacturing, transportation and jobs involving headsets have exposure to especially noisy environments.
Call Centres
However, contrary to what you might think, not all headsets help with hearing. Professions that use headsets, such as police, couriers, and call centre workers, have the risk of acoustic trauma, which is a form of sudden hearing loss. After research showed that 15% of call centre workers had exposure to dangerously high noise levels, many companies started using limiting devices that reduced the risk of acoustic trauma.
Leisure industry
While not commonly recognised, pleasing noise can cause severe hearing problems. The leisure industry has many employees working in an environment around very loud music. Nightclubs, restaurants and pubs have average noise levels in the range of 95 to 98 dB. All across the UK, many of their workers spend hours in this loud atmosphere and have suffered some degree of industrial deafness. The musicians also have exposure to high noise levels. This is especially important to musicians since being able to hear their music is crucial to their performance and career. Fortunately, band members and DJs now know about the risk of industrial deafness, and they wear either ear plugs or some other form of hearing protection.
Mining and manufacturing
The extraction of raw materials from the ground requires heavy equipment which produces loud noise. Therefore, the quarrying and mining industries pose a significant threat of industrial deafness to their workers. A study conducted in the US found that 49% of male miners had developed hearing loss by the age of 50. Industrial deafness is well-known for workers in printing, wood cutting, stone cutting, textiles, engineering, ship building and metal work in addition to other professions related to these industries. All of these industries use noisy machinery to manufacture the products.
Transporation
Airline pilots have the possibility of developing industrial deafness as a result of the extremely high level of cockpit noise. The acceptable noise level in Europe is 80 dB, but this area of the airline industry is unrequlated in the US, and many pilots have the opinion that their health is being affected as a result. Fortunately, there are some headsets available that can reduce the noise level by up to 50%. Regular usage of these types of headsets has reduced the number of compensation claims for deafness.
When Mr. C approached Applebys Solicitors about making a personal injury compensation claim for industrial deafness, they knew that they didn't have much time. Mr. C's doctors had told him nearly 3 years earlier that he had noise-induced hearing damage and tinnitus as a result of working in noisy environments. Because of the time limitations imposed by law to file a claim, Applebys' expert personal injury solicitors had to act fast. They got Mr. C an award in the amount of £7,125 for his industrial deafness claim. Mr. C thanked the firm saying, "Thank you for all of your hard work that got me a settlement for my damaged hearing. I sincerely appreciate your efforts".
Mr. Wilkinson worked for a Vehicles company from 1974 through 2002. He worked in areas with high noise levels from axles being assembled and the testing of engines. Later, he found out that he had developed noise-induced hearing loss, which doctors believed was due to working in loud environments. Applebys' professional personal injury lawyers negotiated a compensation award in the amount of £9,000. His thank you letter read, "I appreciate your openness and am enormously grateful for all of your hard work on my behalf. While I will always have hearing problems, at least now I can feel comfortable that I will have the money needed to purchase the equipment which will lessen my hearing difficulties in the future".
Mr. G was exposed to dangerous noise levels while employed with Ford Motor Company. As a result, he incurred noise-induced deafness and decided to initiate a claim against the company. Applebys Solicitors worked on his behalf and gained £4,700 in a compensation award. Mr. G was extremely happy with the service from his lawyers, and in his thank you letter he wrote, "I am very satisfied with the results of my claim, and I want to thank you and your firm for the superior service that I received in your handling of my case"
Mr. P had industrial deafness, but he wasn't sure if he could file a claim. He contacted Applebys Solicitors and they agreed to handle his case. In his thank you letter, Mr. P said, "I have received the cheque as final settlement of my claim, and I want to thank you. I appreciate the time and effort from you and your staff for the complex and difficult work that was needed to achieve such a substantial settlement of my claim. When I first approached you, I didn't know if it was worth trying to initiate a claim against my previous employers since they were no longer trading as the same companies. I realise that because of the professional manner of you and your staff and the support of my union, Amicus Union, I was able to receive a settlement amount far beyond my expectations". Mr. P received £10,700.