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Worker wins payout
A FORMER machine operator left with permanent hearing loss after being exposed to excessive noise at work has won a pay out of more than £3,500 from his ex-employer.
John Tomlinson, from Pilsey, Chesterfield, secured the settlement from GKN Sheepbridge Limited - formerly Sheepbridge Equipment Ltd - through his lawyers from Irwin Mitchell.
During his 12 years at the firm he said he was exposed to "excessive levels of noise" from a host of different pieces of equipment including lathes, drilling machines, milling machines, vertical borers and shaping machines.
He said he was not provided with any hearing protection equipment, and has now been left with a permanent loss of hearing which will require him to use hearing aids earlier than would normally have been required.
John, aged 54, said: "My hearing loss has been gradual and my family and friends began to comment that I was having the TV on too loud and that I was deaf. When my problems began I thought they were due to ageing and did not consider at the time they may have been caused by my exposure to noise at work."
Sarah Tagg, part of Irwin Mitchell's specialist industrial illness team who secured a settlement of 3,628.80 for him, said: "Noise-induced deafness can take a number of years to develop and it is quite possible a number of Mr Tomlinson's colleagues, through no fault of their own, will have suffered similar injuries as a result of their exposure to noise.
"They may also be suspecting, as did Mr Tomlinson, that their problems may be due to ageing and not due to their exposure to noise at work.
"A hearing test can be arranged at no cost to help people establish whether or not they may be suffering noise-induced deafness.
"Employers must understand the need to reduce noise a t source and, if not possible, provide protection to their employees.
"Mr Tomlinson's injuries would have easily been avoided if his employer had shown more care for his safety."
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