Hearing Loss Caused At Work ♥

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There are lots of different incidents that can occur in the workplace. In fact, a lot of work-related accidents occur over time, and industrial deafness is one of these.

Needless to say, this can be one of the most upsetting and worrying injuries, especially if you are set to lose your hearing entirely. In this post, we will help you to address your hearing loss issues today and look at this type of injury in further detail.

If you are diagnosed with industrial deafness there is a chance that you will not be making a claim against your current boss, but an old employer instead, this is one of those illnesses that can creep up on you after several years. Thus it is vital to be aware of who is at fault.

There are lots of industries that are associated with a high level of noise, whether you work on a farm, in a factory or in a nightclub. It is your employer’s duty to ensure you are protected from any hearing loss. You should be supplied with the necessary protective equipment. Moreover, you should receive adequate training and information regarding the risks.

If your employer does do this and you then suffer industrial deafness, as a result, you should definitely make an accident claim. After all, they have failed to uphold their legal duty to provide a safe working environment.

If you are making a claim against your current employer you may be worried about any potential repercussions. A lot of people are scared that they will face being sacked if they make a claim. This is not the case. Your employer will have insurance in place to cover what has happened. Moreover, if you were to be sacked, the company could face a further legal battle for unfair dismissal.

One thing you must do however is to make sure you report the incident to your employer. As he or she will need to record the occurrence in the accident book, which they are required to have by law.

Taking legal action - FAQ 

• Will my employer sack me if I make a claim? This is something a lot of people are concerned about. However, your employer will have insurance in place to cover the compensation claim, and they will realise that it is their responsibility to compensate you if they are at fault. If your employer were to fire you, they would only land themselves in deeper water, as you would then have grounds for unfair dismissal.
• Do I need to tell my employer about the incident? Yes – it is vital that you do. All employers are required to have an accident book by law. In this book, they need to record all incidents that occur in the workplace. Failure to inform your employer could only result in more problems later down the line when you come to making a claim. 
• How do I know if I have the basis for a claim? You simply need to be able to prove that your employer is to blame for your suffering. All employers are required to provide a healthy and safe working environment by law. If they have failed to do this, let’s say they didn’t provide the necessary training or PPE, then you may be entitled to compensation. 
• Is there a time limit to make a claim? There is and this time limit is three years. This begins from the date of the incident and court proceedings must be issued within this time frame. Nonetheless, a lot of workplace injuries do actually occur over time, such as vibration white finger and hearing loss. Therefore, if this applies then you will have three years from the date of your diagnosis instead.
• Will I have to go to court? It is extremely unlikely. In fact, less than three per cent of personal injury cases ends up going to trial. We try to ensure that they are resolved over the phone. 

Hopefully, this blog post will have helped you to get a better understanding of hearing loss and how it can happen in a workplace environment. Use the information that has been provided to ensure you take the right action in relation to what has happened to you.