How Can You Claim Compensation For Hearing Damage From Excessive Noise At Work?
Find out in our Q&A when you can claim compensation for exposure to excessive noise at work leading to hearing loss.
Noise At Work Exposure Description
I have worked for many years in a noisy work environment and over the last year noticed my hearing deteriorate. I was referred by GP to the hospital to have my hearing tested and have been diagnosed with hearing loss and tinnitus (a continuous sound in my ears).
FAQ / Q&A
If you suffer noise induced hearing loss from exposure to excessive noise at work – it is possible you will be entitled to claim compensation from your employer. You must however be able to prove that noise exposure was excessive and that you are still within time to make a claim.
The following steps will be taken by your solicitor to support your claim.
- Obtain your medical records.
- Instruct an audiologist to give you a hearing test.
- Thereafter, the audiologist will produce an audiogram. In essence, a graph showing your hearing levels for both ears,
- An ENT (Ear Nose And Throat Specialist) will examine the audiogram to see if the shape is such as to support hearing loss from excessive noise exposure at work.
The time period you have to make a claim against your employer (before it is too late to claim) is known as the statutory limitation period. In simple terms – this are three years from date of injury or date of knowledge of hearing damage.
However, interpretation of the date of knowledge will depend on when your work noise exposure stopped and when the law considers it reasonable that you knew that you had hearing loss from noise. There are also some notable exceptions. For example. time starts to run differently for those who lack mental capacity. See our industrial deafness time limit article for more details.
It is therefore extremely important you speak with an industrial deafness solicitor to determine if you are still within time to make a claim.
Your solicitor must prove that the noise levels at work were above the safe levels. Such levels are set out by government requirements in health and safety laws applicable at the time of your noise exposure.
We have described in detail the full process of claiming for hearing loss and tinnitus from excessive noise in our industrial deafness guide.
FREE – Speak to a specialist solicitor about your noise at work exposure
Can I claim compensation for my hearing damage from the excessive noise at work?
We offer a number of specialist solicitor free help options.
| Assessing A Noise Induced Hearing Loss Claim |
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| Watch out!! Noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus can be difficult to assess online. We will typically require a detailed conversation to establish if your noise at work exposure might still lead to a potential claim. |
You can arrange a solicitor callback, call our solicitors direct, have your claim assessed or discuss your noise exposure online.
