Claiming for Industrial Deafness

Snapelover

My husband worked as a Print Finisher in a printing firm for over 10 years, leaving in 2001. The company later went into liquidation. In the years following his leaving, he noticed that he was having problems with tinnitus but just plodded on. On 16th March 2011 he went to see an ENT Consultant who confirmed that his tinnitus and slight hearing loss was "most likely related to noise exposure".

He has been in contact with a local solicitors who have stated that on the basis of the information they have been given that they could not recommend that they undertake to take his claim on a private basis.

Is there any point in trying elsewhere or would he be wasting his and others' time?

rogerblack

There are unlikely to be any state benefits.
DLA is given for care and mobility needs - which don't occur with slight deafness and tinitus.

Similarly - IIDB - industrial injuries disablement benefit - the hearing loss has to be very severe.

The company going into liquidation means that any claim would have to be against their insurers of the time, not them.

Snapelover

Well I was more asking about whether it would be worth pursuing a claim with a solicitor as opposed to claiming benefits - but thanks for the info.

Savvy_Sue

It may be that it's out of time - would be worth checking this. Because if it is a matter of time, then there is no point going elsewhere.

Was / Is he in a union? If so, they might support him.

Snapelover

[QUOTE=Savvy_Sue;53127555Was_/_Is_he_in_a_union?_If_so,_they_might_support_him.[/QUOTE]

He was in a union when he worked there.

Snapelover

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

It may be that it's out of time - would be worth checking this. Because if it is a matter of time, then there is no point going elsewhere.

Was / Is he in a union? If so, they might support him.

He was in a union when he worked there.

clemmatis

(I am not a lawyer.)

Claims normally need to be brought within 3 years of being injured/becoming aware of the injury. Claims can though be brought out of time.

He'd be suing an insolvent company, and one that disappeared -- it seems -- some while ago.

Still... the TUC has helplines staffed by some very good people. I'm no longer a union member but when I rang them recently on behalf of a non-union member they rang me back and were friendly and helpful. They might at least be able to explain the situation fully.

http://www.tuc.org.uk/

BobEdwards

Hi
clemmatis is right, there is a 3 year limitation but this starts from the point that the noise induced hearing loss was diagnosed, which will be march 2011

Did you get an audiogram?
This will show how much and what frequency of hearing loss there is.
If you haven't had one of these done I still think you have a claim but if you did and the solicitors saw it and declined the case, it is probably a waste following it

leeshawn

hi i suffer with deafness plus sevear tinitus and tried to claim for this but was told my time was out of the 3 yrs by about 3wks is there any other way of claiming for this other than me taking up this case with my own money i dont have i do wear hearing aids and i have been told that i may be able to claim d l a is this true many thanks

colin13

tinitus does not mean industrial deafness,,industroa;; deafness affects the higher note in an ear test that u take,u can have good hearing and still have industrual deafness,,U know this from workjing in the steel works where noise is excessive

The_mangler

Not sure if this is related to your case in any way but my husband received a call yesterday asking if he would like to claim hearing compensation due to his time working in the steel industry - this was 20 years ago! He does have hearing loss, so we're awaiting another call from them to see what if anything can be done.