Workplace Illness Lawyers Help London Man Gain Justice

A former mechanical engineer who needs hearing aids after a decade of working on a noisy shop floor has secured a four-figure settlement regarding his condition with the help of specialist workplace illness lawyers.

Anthony Pillai, 65, from Stepney, East London, was fitted with the aids in 2015 after he sought medical advice following years of struggling with conversations in public places and relying on lip-reading to understand what people were saying to him.

While he originally believed his condition was due to aging, he instructed specialist workplace illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to further investigate the cause.

After concluding it was related to his time working at GEC Diesels (formerly Dorman Diesels) in Stafford between 1968 and 1978, the legal experts helped him secure a settlement from the company’s insurers which compensates him for his hearing loss and contributes towards the cost of his hearing aids.

Mark Allen, the head of Irwin Mitchell’s Workplace Illness team who represents Anthony, said: 

Anthony initially served an apprenticeship upon joining GEC Diesels in 1968, before going on to become a Stress Engineer. The work saw him involved in the creation of diesel engines and he was exposed to noise both on the factory shop floor and during time in the foundry.

While he has worked in other fields since leaving GEC Diesels in 1978, he had not been exposed to excessive noise in any of the subsequent jobs.

Anthony said: “Before I got the hearing aids fitted I’d faced a few years of hearing problems, like struggling to hear what was being said during conferences and meetings. However, I’d just assumed it was part of getting old. 

“It was only after I’d had my hearing aids fitted and I’d contacted Irwin Mitchell that I realised where the problems most likely stemmed from.

“While I’m delighted to have secured the settlement, I know that nothing will ever change what has happened to me. I would urge all employers to always ensure they are providing their workers with adequate hearing protection and taking steps to prevent anyone else facing what I’ve been through.”

If you or a loved one has suffered from heating damage, like acoustic shock, tinnitus, and noise-induced hearing loss caused by conditions at work, our solicitors could help you claim compensation. See our Industrial Disease Claims page for more information.