Derbyshire Man Gains Justice Regarding Tinnitus And Hearing Loss

A former welder who needs a hearing aid after developing noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus at work has revealed he is looking positively to the future after lawyers helped him secure a four-figure settlement regarding his condition.

Steven Literski, 45, from Alfreton in Derbyshire, worked in a noisy environment throughout his time at Mayfly Containers in Derbyshire between 1987 and 2015 but was only provided with ear protection when it became compulsory in 2002.

He started to suffer from hearing problems in late 2014, with a test at work confirming that he was suffering from hearing loss. Following a GP referral, he was fitted with a hearing aid on his left side in June 2015.

Following the emergence of the issues, Steven instructed specialist workplace illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate if more should have been done to protect him, with the legal experts now securing him a settlement of £4,500 in relation to the issues.

Sarah Tagg of the workplace illness team at Irwin Mitchell who represents Steven, said:

Expert Opinion

“This is an extremely worrying case in which a worker has developed very serious hearing problems as a result of an employer failing to provide adequate protection from harm.

“All employers have a responsibility to make health and safety a priority and it is vital that this case stands as a reminder of the need to always provide workers with the protective equipment they require.

“While we are delighted to have helped Steven secure a settlement, it is vital that the issues highlighted in this case are simply never repeated.” Sarah Tagg - Paralegal

Steven joined Mayfly Containers shortly after leaving school and was employed as a skilled multipurpose worker and welder up until his departure in 2015 as a result of redundancy.

Discussing his role, he said: “My job generally involved working inside shipping containers while colleagues would be working on the external side doing hammering and welding. I also used hammers and grinders, while there was a host of noisy equipment like presses, drills and shot blasting equipment on-site too.

“Despite this, and the fact we needed to shout at each other to be heard, we were never given any ear protection until 2002.

“It is very hard to come to terms with the fact that I worked hard for an employer for nearly 30 years yet they failed to properly protect me from the risks I could face in that job. While nothing can change my condition, this settlement means I can continue to get the support I require as I try to get on with life despite these problems.

“I also truly hope that speaking out on my condition will raise awareness and encourage employers to not shirk on the issue of keeping their workers safe from harm.”