Lawyers Urge Businesses To Put Worker Safety First

Workplace illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are urging employers in all industries to mark this year’s Tinnitus Awareness Week by ensuring they are providing adequate hearing protection to workers.

Running from February 6th to 12th, the national campaign is organised by the British Tinnitus Association to raise awareness of the long-term problems which noise-induced hearing problems can cause. This year’s theme is ‘Together For Tinnitus’, which is based around encouraging more discussion regarding the impact of the condition.

Irwin Mitchell’s workplace illness specialists have successfully acted on behalf of thousands of people affected by tinnitus and similar conditions, seeing first-hand the frustrations and difficult that they face as a result of the problems.

They are now calling on all employers to do everything they can to ensure workers are not unnecessarily exposed to the risk of developing such conditions.

Among those affected by the condition is Tim White, from Harrogate.

Expert workplace illness lawyers at Irwin Mitchell secured Tim a four-figure settlement and an admission of liability from BT after he developed hearing loss and tinnitus during his time working at the company between 1971 and 2016. He believes the problems primarily developed when he was regularly using oscillators and amplifiers during his time as a lineman in a role he held up until 1981.

The father-of-three recalls: “When the problems first emerged I would struggle to hold a conversation in busy or noisy places, often needing to rely on lip-reading to see what people were saying.

“Eventually my wife booked me a hearing test and it was confirmed that I needed aids for both ears. Initially, I thought the issues were simply related to getting older, so was shocked to discover the true cause.

“Tinnitus and hearing loss have affected my life so much and it has been equally frustrating for my wife when the TV is loud or she has had to repeat herself in conversations. It also affects my concentration when it is quiet.

“While it is too late to change what has happened to me, it is important that employers recognise the importance of properly protecting workers from the risks that noisy environments can pose.”

If you or a loved one has suffered from heating damage such as 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.