Compensation has been obtained for a construction worker who developed noise-induced hearing loss after working in noisy environments for many years.
The man had spent his entire career in the construction industry. He was regularly exposed to noise from manual equipment including pneumatic drills and tracker pavers. For a significant part of his career he had worked for the same company as a foreman, being employed there for 33 years. However, he was only provided with hearing protection in the last few years before his retirement.
After he retired, his family noticed that he was struggling to hear and would turn the television to a very high volume. He became concerned about his hearing and subsequently sought legal advice.
Medical evidence was obtained indicating that the exposure to noise had contributed to his hearing loss and was probably responsible for him suffering from tinnitus. A claim was brought against the company he had worked for as a foreman and, following negotiations, the company agreed to pay him £4,700 in damages.