Damage to the ears, tinnitus
Millions of people in the UK have tinnitus, many of whom through medication or advanced age, yet a high percentage of sufferers contracted tinnitus from working in a noisy environment. Luckily, some people only suffer damage to the ears through tinnitus for a short time, but millions of people in the UK have the condition for life. The sufferer should be due compensation if ear protection was not provided by the employer in a noisy workplace.
While the responsibility of ensuring their employees have adequate ear protection in a noisy environment at work to prevent damage to the ears and tinnitus, it is ultimately up to the employee to keep the ear protection on at all times. An employer will be liable to pay compensation to an employee if they contracted tinnitus at work and didn't have adequate ear protection.
Tinnitus can be caused by an injury to the head or neck from a road accident, for instance, as well as from certain medications or through old age, but being exposed to loud noises for any length of time may also cause damage to the ears or even tinnitus. The hair cells of the inner ear become damaged and the brain receives electrical impulses from the ear as a result, which leads to the ringing or buzzing.
Personal injury solicitors deal with cases of damage to the ears and tinnitus through exposure to loud noises at work very frequently and if it is proven that your employer did not provide you with adequate ear protection you have grounds to receive a substantial compensation pay out. Speaking with such a solicitor if this is the case is your next step to winning compensation.