Rotherham Man Warns Workers over Industrial Deafness

26/09/2008

A Rotherham man has warned other engineers to be wary of the effects of excessive noise after he developed industrial deafness whilst working as a sheet metal worker for E Marsden Fabrications Limited in Sheffield.

Mr Adrian Marr (44) from Kimberworth, Rotherham received £4,500 after he began to lose his hearing because of the noise he was exposed to in his job.

He said: "I worked at E Marsden Fabrications between 1980 and 1990 before its closure about a year later during which time employees were never provided with any form of protection. I suppose everybody just accepted the working conditions as no one wanted to be seen as someone that complained, but it is not until many years later that the effects of noise damage are apparent."

Alison Gregory from law firm Irwin Mitchell’s specialist occupational disease team represented Mr Marr. She said: "Employers are responsible for ensuring that employees are provided with the necessary equipment to protect them from harm.

"There were a number of difficulties faced during this claim as the company is no longer trading. However, we were eventually able to track down the firm’s liability insurers and an offer was received despite no formal admission of liability."

Mr Marr continued: "I am now left with deafness in both ears and hope that through taking this legal action with Irwin Mitchell other companies are warned about the dangers of noise in the workplace, and ensure that other workers are protected from the long term effects of hearing damage."