Alan Pashley Who Suffers From Significant Hearing Loss is speaking out During Tinnitus Awareness Week

A former Birmingham City Council worker who suffers tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss as a result of working on council-operated vehicles has urged companies to ensure workers are provided with the necessary protection to prevent other people going through the same as he has.

Alan Pashley, 61, from Birmingham has joined forces with his specialist workplace illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to speak out to raise awareness during Tinnitus Awareness Week (Feb 6-12).

Tinnitus is the hearing of sound when no external sound is present. While often described as a ringing, it may also sound like a clicking, buzzing, hissing or roaring.

Tinnitus is not a disease but a symptom that can result from a number of underlying causes one of which is noise-induced hearing loss – something Alan suffered due to his work as a HGV fitter and mechanic for the local council.

In his role he was required to remove wheels from vehicles using a large compressed air gun and re-align brakes and clutches, as well as changing engines and gear boxes and undertaking general repairs to vehicles using noisy tools.

As a result of the excessive noise he experienced at work he has been told his need for hearing aids will be accelerated by ten years as his hearing will continue to deteriorate as a result of the noise he was exposed to in the 37 years he worked for Birmingham City Council.

Alan instructed specialist workplace illness lawyers to investigate his condition and they have now secured him a five-figure settlement from his former employers after the council admitted liability for the noise-induced hearing loss Alan suffered.

During his employment Alan was exposed to high levels of noise from the equipment he used, including grinders, chisels and vehicle compressors. He was not provided with ear protection during his employment and has suffered permanent hearing damage. The settlement will be used to contribute to the cost of hearing aids he will need for the rest of his life.

Most people have experienced short periods of tinnitus after being exposed to loud noises, such as after a music concert, after using loud machinery at work. But the effects are most often temporary, lasting just a number of hours.

In the UK, more persistent tinnitus is estimated to affect around six million people – 10 per cent of the population - to some degree, with about 600,000 suffering to such a severity that it affects their quality of life.

Tinnitus can affect people of all ages, including children, but is more common in people aged over 65.

Alan, a father-of-three and grandfather-of-six, said: “Poor hearing and tinnitus are extremely difficult and frustrating to deal with and they have a huge impact on my day-to-day life. They affect simple things like following a conversation to hearing the TV.

“I was really shocked to find out the noise at work caused the hearing loss I was suffering and I think it is important that employers do everything they can to prevent people’s hearing being negatively impacted by noisy work environments.

“The only thing I can hope is that cases like mine are a reminder to improve workplace safety, particularly for people who spend a lot of time in a noisy environment. I hope Tinnitus Awareness Week can be the trigger for employers to re-evaluate safety measures within their organisations and make the necessary changes to protect their staff.”

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.