Industrial Deafness

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More about Industrial Deafness
Industrial disease does not always manifest immediately. Sometimes the symptoms may appear only years after you have left the job. If you become sick and believe the illness is related to your employment, you must file a claim within three years of the time you first became aware of the disease.

Common types of industrial disease include Mesothelioma, which is caused by asbestos exposure; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other repetitive strain conditions; industrial deafness; and industrial skin diseases. If you believe your workplace is unsafe, your employer is obligated to listen to your concerns and to takes steps to safeguard all employees. Self-employed workers are also eligible for compensation in cases where someone else was responsible for safety in the related work area.

If you've suffered hearing loss of any kind and feel that your employer is responsible get in touch with us right away. Applebys Solicitors have a department set up specifically for industrial deafness claims. We also work on a no-win, no-fee basis so you have absolutely nothing to lose. Learn more about industrial deafness.

Causes of Industrial Deafness
A work environment that constantly operates loud machinery or has excessive noise places its workers in danger of industrial deafness. A well-known example of a noisy workplace is a nightclub, which plays very loud music for long periods of time. Constant exposure in this environment can result in deafness amongst employees, bar staff and dancers.

The noise in nightclubs, which ranges from 95 to 120 decibels, is comparable to the noise from a pneumatic drill. This is eight times higher than the level that requires ear protection in an industrial environment. Every employer should analyse the risks in their workplace and provide either earplugs or protective headsets to any employee working in a dangerous noise level area.

Many professions expose their workers to the threat of industrial deafness. Construction sites and factories commonly use loud machinery, such as drills. The military constantly has loud explosions, and transport workers are routinely subjected to loud noise from airplanes or trains.

The degree of risk from industrial deafness depends on the decibel level of the noise and the length of exposure time. A good indicator is that if an employee must raise their voice to talk with someone two metres away, then the noise level is too high and there is a risk of industrial deafness.

Symptoms of Industrial Deafness
Symptoms of industrial deafness include temporary hearing loss, inability to hear high-pitched tones, muffled hearing and tinnitus, which is a buzzing or ringing in the ears.

Acoustic trauma, which causes physical damage to the ear, and permanent deafness are the most serious forms of industrial deafness. These are frequently irreversible.

Deafness can be tested for in a number of ways. Applebys will set up a free hearing examination that will verify if you have hearing problems associated with hazardous noise conditions. This will involve some tests which may include the use of an audiometer which is a machine used for calculating hearing loss. The audiometer produces an audiogram which is a way of representing a person’s hearing loss and can tell you which sounds are best heard. Other tests can include a Weber and Rinne tests to help determine what type of hearing loss is present. A tympanogram can be used to see how well the eardrum and other structures in the middle ear are working. Finally, an acoustic reflex test may be performed. By measuring the reflexive contraction of the stapedius muscle this will help assess the hearing threshold the patient has to loud noises.

If you believe that you have a legitimate claim for industrial deafness, contact one of our experienced staff members on the free telephone number or through the online form to the right. We'll call you back for a chat with no obligations.