30th August 2006
Eric Stonier, a butcher from West Yorkshire, was recently awarded £5,000 compensation in a successful personal injury claim against his former employers for noise induced deafness caused by his working conditions.
With the support of Mr Stonier’s union, our lawyers were able to prove that his hearing loss had been caused by exposure to excessive noise during periods of employment with several companies.
He visited his GP after noticing a gradual decline in his hearing and experiencing “seashell” noises in his ear. The problem affects Mr Stonier on a day to day basis, as it can cause delayed sleep and he has difficulty hearing certain sounds.
More than 170,000 people in the UK have been exposed to unacceptable levels of noise at work and suffer industrial deafness or other ear problems as a result.
Mr Stonier worked for various employers in the Wakefield and Manchester areas, working in a very noisy environment around industrial saws, fans and refrigerators.
He and his colleagues at one firm, Britt Broadbent, had complained to the management about the noise levels and the discomfort that this caused, however were not provided with adequate hearing protection.
Medical evidence from the Ear, Nose and Throat department at Clayton Wakefield Hospital supported the case. This included an audiogram, which confirmed Mr Stonier’s condition.
His solicitor commented “We’re pleased with the level of compensation secured as Mr Stonier’s deafness will affect his future employability. His disability means that employers will know he is deaf and may be unwilling to employ someone with an industrial injury.”
If you or a member of your family is suffering from occupational deafness caused by your current or previous working environment, you may be able to claim compensation. Contact The Legal Line today on 0800 0328511 or by completing an online claim form for specialist advice.
Our lawyers have succeeded in claiming compensation for many other victims of industrial diseases.