Workplace Illness Lawyers Help Llanelli Man Gain Justice

A former Line Feeder who needed hearing aids after fifteen years of working on a noisy factory floor has secured a four-figure settlement regarding his condition with the help of specialist workplace illness lawyers.

Dewi Thomas, 67, from Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, was fitted with the aids in April 2014 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 ageing, he instructed specialist workplace illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to further investigate the cause after being diagnosed with Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus.

After concluding it was related to his time working at MG Rover, previously Pressed Steel Fisher Ltd and British Leyland UK, between 1970 and 1985, 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.

Sarah Tagg, an industrial illness expert in Irwin Mitchell’s Workplace Illness team who represents Dewi, said: 

Expert Opinion

“From our experience on thousands of cases, we understand the huge impact that noise-induced hearing loss can have.

“Not only can it leave those affected feeling isolated and make it difficult for them to have normal conversations, it can also prove frustrating for friends and family too.

“We are delighted to have helped Dewi secure the financial support he deserves as a result of what he has been through. It is vital his case serves as an important reminder to employers of the need to ensure their staff are always well protected from the risk of hearing damage.” Sarah Tagg - Paralegal

Dewi, who was employed at the MG Rover factory at Llethri Road, Felinfoel, Llanelli, worked in the Plastic Department as a Line Feeder and provided the Plastic Moulding Machines with material. He was exposed to high levels of noise from around 30 moulding machines.

While he has worked in other fields since leaving MG Rover in 1985, he has not been exposed to excessive noise in any of the subsequent jobs.

Dewi 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 when I was out in public. 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.”