Industrial Deafness Exposed!
It is only in recent years that the level of noise in the workplace was even considered to be a potential hazard. Before the early 1960s, industrial deafness was not recognised or the excessive levels taken for granted and simply ignored, leaving the many who worked in industrial heavy manufacturing and factory environments to be continually exposed to developing serious hearing damage.
With the publication of ‘Noise and the Worker’ in 1963 , which for the first time, openly admitted a noise problem existed, came recognition of the health risks of excessive noise levels in the workplace, and which signalled the urgent need for noise prevention. This was followed in 1974 by the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) which states that , “ It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees” and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Code of Practice.
Another twelve years elapsed before an European Economic Community ruling was published in 1986, called “The protection of workers from risks related to exposure to noise at work”, which was introduced in the UK under the Noise at Work Regulations 1989, aimed at reducing noise induced hearing loss in the workplace and the number of industrial deafness compensation claims.
As a result of the legislation, many companies have taken real and positive action to protect their employees – and guard themselves against compensation claims! However, today a large number of people still seek hearing loss advice in a bid to obtain legal compensation from their employers for failing to provide adequate hearing protection which led to personal injury.
It is estimated that 170,000 people are believed to be suffering hearing loss as a result of their working environment with many more who do not realise their hearing has been damaged or have yet to be diagnosed.