Noise Induced Deafness

[Shox Dr]

Had a Hearing test yesterday, and I was found to be deficient at 4KHz, classic work related deafness.

Nurse is going to speak to my Dr, today, and see where we go from there.

Has anyone else had this test?
Did you make a claim?

 

[TechnicAl]

What

 

[gavuk]

I've had the test a couple of times,but am ok at moment,not sure about making a claim,wouldn't you have to proove the company negligent in some way?either not providing warning signs or hearing protection?at a place i worked they had a survey ,and determined ,that anyone useing a hammer or grinder should be wearing hearing protection,but with peoples hobbies including shooting ,motorsport,gigs etc etc etc i would expect it to be difficult to proove ,will follow this thread with interest though,do you use plugs or ear defenders at work are they supplied? all the best ......Gav

 

[JayRS4]

I don`t suffer any deafness, but last time I had my hearing checked I was told to look after my hearing, apparently i have a range that extends 8k above normal (gets a tad annoying actually)

 

[Rich.C]

I've got some hearing loss and tinnitus from working with machinery when I was a carpenter.

What used to annoy me was the "macho" attitude of some people I worked with, they thought wearing ear defenders was not the done thing!

 

[gavuk]

whilst my hearing has been checked i still struggle to hear with background noise,i find it difficult to hear voices through the noise ,and my missus always complains i have the tv to loud,i often play her up and answer questions she's not asking

 

[Rich H]

Tinnitus here from working with helecopters and fast jets, even with proper hearing protection most of the time (I used to live on station so hard to wear 100% of the time) Probably mostly from a Tornado F3 taking off at full bore while I was 10' away from it at the end of the runway. Awesome spectacle but I'd rather not have tinnitus...

MOD won't pay out without 20% loss of hear to accompany it though.
Good luck!

Rich

 

[Arsonista]

If you worked in engineering in say, the 70's, I'm afraid it's par for the course. Tinnitus and partial deafness were expected. Riding bikes without earplugs didn't help either. I could just imagine what my old foreman would have said if I'd asked him for a pair of ear defenders. Apart from not knowing what they were, he would probably have called my parentage and sexual orientation into question too. Not right, just the way it was. But at least we could watch the Sweeny on a monday night, so it wasn't all bad.

 

[Sparkey]

Things are starting to change now, we had our whole factory checked out recently, a specialised company was mesuring the decibels everywhere...We had classes about it too, now everyone can have special ear protection (those silicone thinghy's that are made for you personally)
But it always feels as a relief when you step outside the factory after your shift, how calm it is outside...aaaaaaahhhh!!!

 

[Arsonista]

When we had our factory checked with a decibel meter, the worst offender was the radio. It kept getting turned up to compete with the machines!

 

[Sparkey]

When we had our factory checked with a decibel meter, the worst offender was the radio. It kept getting turned up to compete with the machines!

lol! we don't even have a radio!
Most of the problems are caused by the fume extraction, and the latest new toy a 630 tonne press... can't even remember the decibels that thing produces... it makes you bounce up and down when you stand besides it...

 

[Wozzaaah]

Our place is hearing protection in all production areas and steel to caps everywhere on site. It's a lot quieter now we have a new conveyor system installed but it's still above the noise threshold. I haven't had my hearing tested for years, I don't think they do it now the wearing of hearing protection is enforced.

Regarding claiming, in this day and age there are so many companies willing to take on your case on a no-win-no-fee basis that you have absoulutely nothing to lose by trying.

 

[gavuk]

We were told the reason for our hearing tests were to show a baseline to dispute any future claims as there is hearing protection freely available and signs saying wear it .i must confess to hateing the foam type you roll up and put in the ear ,makes um itch like hell,and before Wozz says anything ,my ears are not that big

 

[Psymon]

I've got some hearing loss and tinnitus from working with machinery when I was a carpenter.

What used to annoy me was the "macho" attitude of some people I worked with, they thought wearing ear defenders was not the done thing!

Eh?
Never given ear defenders in my line of work.
I have that tinnitus whistle, worked for York International (Air Conditioners) and MK Electric - both times in the computer room. So much forced air movement in a confined space. While at York International the fire alarm went off (while I was in the computer room) and I didn't hear it because the massive air conditioners were louder than the alarm! Do you think I will ever get a payout? Or just laughed at because I didn't make the claim same day I worked there?

 

[Arsonista]

They'll say, EH?, speak up son, I can't hear you.

 

[Psymon]

Thought so Arsonista...

 

[Sparkey]

We were told the reason for our hearing tests were to show a baseline to dispute any future claims as there is hearing protection freely available and signs saying wear it .i must confess to hateing the foam type you roll up and put in the ear ,makes um itch like hell,and before Wozz says anything ,my ears are not that big

Oh yeah! those yellow "tampax" thingy's are horrible!!! they make your ears hurt! and noooo, i don't have big ears either...

ps: woz? what's a steel to?toe maybe???

 

[Shox Dr]

Do you think I will ever get a payout? Or just laughed at because I didn't make the claim same day I worked there?

You have 3yrs from the date of the accidentto make a claim, however with some illnesses, conditions there is no time limit

 

[madkayaker]

i hate the foam in ear plugs make my ears block up and make me feel sick. Carried out measurements last year in workshop during students doing metal work and we got 120+DB. Interesting thing is the scale is non liner so a rise of 3DB is a doubling of volume also the presure wave can be damaging

 

[Hitch]

Centre punching is one of the worst, grinders and radio were pretty bad aswell

I tend to wear plugs or defenders, if im doing something noisey like using a mag drill or lots of grinding, some jobs are a lot noisier than others to grind on.

I tend to prefer the rubbery ones with the three ridge things. Of course, dont forget to pull your ear out when you insert most type of plugs. A lot of people dont seem to bother.

A lot of places are goggles and ear protection all the time nowadays.

Did some work in the roof space of a weave room, probably 30+ big looms all going flat out, that was noisey! Ear plugs, and defenders together, still deafening.