Enforcement of ear protection and industrial deafness compensation claims

Employers in the UK have a responsibility to protect their employees from damaging levels of noise, if they do not want to face a deafness compensation claim.

It is not enough merely to supply protective gear, under the terms of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005. If noise is sufficiently loud - the Regulations cite 85 decibels as the relevant level of noise - employers are compelled to enforce the use of protective equipment.

The relevant sections of the Regulations state that the employer "shall ensure" that the area is designated a Hearing Protection Zone, that the area is clearly provided with signs indicating that ear protection must be worn, that access to the noisy area is restricted where this is practicable (and the risk from exposure justifies it), and that they should ensure "so far as is reasonably practicable" that no employee enters that area without wearing personal hearing protectors.

For those people claiming for industrial hearing loss, it is in that "reasonably practicable" that a grey area exists. For a personal injury claim to succeed, it must be shown that the employer could reasonably have done more than was done to protect the company's workers' hearing from being damaged. Often this is determined with respect to previous cases and the precedents that they have set.

Making your own industrial deafness compensation claim
If you find you are suffering with hearing loss or tinnitus as a result of your job, but the sheer number of cases that set a precedent is dissuading you from beginning a claim, you may want to discuss your situation with us.

Here at YouClaim, we have a panel of personal injury solicitors that includes hearing loss specialists. These specialists will be able to take your case forward, if you decide to proceed, in full awareness of the cases that have a bearing on your claim. They will be able to explain the relevant aspects of the law in plain English, and all are prepared to handle such cases on a completely free basis.

Not only do we offer a no win, no fee service, but our claim model allows us to charge our winning fees in a won case (as most are) to the opposing side, or to our insurance, and to protect you from any costs, win or lose.

Contact us now to find out how we can help further. Our UK hotline is available on 0800 10 757 95, and we can also be reached through our online claim form and e-chat services, if telephone usage is difficult. Let us help you take your deafness compensation claim to its best conclusion.