Accident at Work*

Acoustic Shock Claims*

Acoustic Shock is recognised as a work-related illness which can either temporarily or permanently affect your hearing. Acoustic Shock Disorder (ASD) occurs when exposed to a sound that is perceived as traumatic for the ears. These sounds are usually very loud, unexpected and occur close to the ear, for example, a call centre worker exposed to loud noises on a phone or headset. This condition is commonly a work-related accident.

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Most Common Sectors Affected

Acoustic shock injury is caused by exposure to short, unexpected, high-frequency sounds. Symptoms of this condition have been described as numbness, burning sensation in or around the ear. As this condition affects the ears, a range of other conditions can occur, some of which being, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. Factory workers and those who work around loud equipment and machinery are also at risk of acoustic shock as they may be exposed to sudden and unexpected sounds which can cause hearing damage. Call centre workers are commonly affected by this condition due to their prolonged use of telephone headsets. It is important that these workers are wearing the correct protective gear in order to reduce the risk of this happening.

The most common sectors of work in which employees experience symptoms of acoustic shock and industrial deafness are:

  • Manufacturing
  • Construction
  • Mining
  • Transport
  • Communications
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Bars and Restaurants
  • Healthcare
  • Call Centres
  • Office Workers

Types of Acoustic Shock Injuries

Acoustic shock injury is generally divided into three different groups:

Early Onset

This happens just minutes after the event. It is a pain or discomfort in the ear which can cause an impairment and muffled hearing. Common symptoms associated with this group are fatigue, nausea and dizziness.

Medium Onset

This usually develops within the following hours or days of the initial event. This can often lead to tinnitus which is a constant ringing or buzzing in the ears.

Late Onset

This does not develop immediately after the event but a short while later. Common symptoms that have been linked to this are anxiety and depression.

Common Symptoms

It can be difficult to determine symptoms of acoustic shock. In saying this, there are a number of symptoms that are similar throughout all three classifications. Symptoms of acoustic shock injury may include:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Ear Pain
  • Pain in the Neck and Jaw
  • Anxiety and Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Pressure in the Ear
  • Impaired Hearing
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Feeling of Dizziness
  • Tinnitus
  • Difficulty Sleeping

Causes

Common causes of acoustic shock injury include:

  • Sudden high-pitched noises
  • Lack of protective equipment
  • Breach in health and safety regulations
  • An extended period of time using a headset
  • Somebody shouting down the phone

Who is Liable?

If you have developed noise-induced hearing loss as a result of the negligence of another party you may be entitled to make a claim. In order to do this, you will need to determine who has liability for the injury. As acoustic shock is generally associated with workplace accidents and it is often an employer who is shown to be responsible for any injuries sustained. This is not always the case and employees can also act negligently which in turn may lead to accident or injury. There are certain activities that both employers and employees can engage in to ensure the health and safety of each other.

Employers

As an employer, your number one priority should be the health and safety of your employees. In order to do this, there are certain activities you should carry out to ensure this. All employers should carry out frequent risk assessments to identify hazards and eliminate any risks. This should lower the chance of workplace injury and accidents. Employers also have a duty of care to their staff to manage activities in a way which prioritises their safety. They should provide training for all employees so that they are capable of doing the job and will know the correct procedure if something does go wrong. It is important that all employees are provided with the correct protective equipment based on the job they will be carrying out. If an employer fails to do any of these things and an accident or injury occurs then they may be found liable and a claim can be made against them

Employees

Employees also have a duty of care to both their employer and co-workers. They need to ensure that they are not acting in a negligent manner which may lead to an injury. It is important that employees attend any training provided to them and ensure that they wear the protective equipment. If an employee fails to do this then the chance of an accident occurring becomes higher and they may be found liable for this if it is found that they failed to comply with company regulations.

Noise at Work

According to the HSA ‘Control of Noise at Work’ report, noise-induced hearing loss is the most common of industrial diseases reported in the EU. Employees who are exposed to noise levels above 85 dB are at an increased risk of damaging their hearing resulting in noise-induced hearing loss.

Hearing loss at work is usually gradual due to prolonged exposure to noise levels in the environment they are working in. It is only after years of exposure that some people realise how deaf they have become. In instances where a loud noise is sudden, symptoms are more quickly noticeable.

Noise Levels to Be Aware of

The higher the noise level and the longer you are exposed to it, the more at risk you are of developing a hearing impairment as a result. Here are some common noise levels to be aware of to help you determine the level of noise you have been subject to according to the Health and Safety Authority:

  • 30dB – Quiet library
  • 60dB – Conversation
  • 70dB – Classroom
  • 80dB – Tractor
  • 90dB – Power Drill
  • 100dB – Night Club

The following stats show the percentage of employees in certain sectors that are subject to high noise levels for more than a half hour of their working time according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work:

  • Manufacturing and Mining – 40% of employees
  • Construction – 35%
  • Agriculture, Transport, Communications – 20% 

Preventing Acoustic Shock Syndrome

There are a number of elements that can be put in place to prevent hearing loss in work, some of which the employer should have in place to ensure the health and well-being of their employees:

  • Machines should be designed so that they operate more quietly than they do.
  • Employers should ensure that noise control measures are in place to reduce noise in their working environments and reduce employee’s exposure to noise.
  • In cases where noise cannot be controlled the employer must provide employees with suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) – such as noise cancelling hearing protection.
  • Employees must ensure to use any PPE given to them when carrying out their work.

Employers Responsibilities

According to the HSA, an employer should carry out risk assessments which should identify:

  • The source of the noise.
  • Employees who are exposed to the noise and at risk of injury.
  • Necessary action to take to reduce the risk of injury.
  • Other methods of work that may eliminate the noise exposure.
  • Protective equipment needed to carry out the job safely.
  • Any changes to make to the layout and design of the workplace.
  • Safety training requirements of staff.
  • Whether any noise cancelling tools need to be installed (sound absorbent coverings, shields etc).
  • How work processes need to be organised, i.e. limiting the amount of noise one employee is subjected to.

An employer should take note of the following aspects when carrying out an assessment:

  • Certain work tasks and the level of noise related to the tasks.
  • Make an appropriate assessment of noise levels and risk to employees.
  • Measure the levels of noise the employees are exposed to.
  • Make assessments at regular intervals.
  • Ensure that sampling during assessments is representative of daily exposure to employees.

Pay particular attention to:

  • Level, type and duration of exposure.
  • Effects of exposure to employees at risk.
  • Possible effects of warning noises made by machinery and the possible effects of these on employees.
  • Availability of alternative tools that make less noise.
  • Providing protective equipment to protect employees hearing.
  • Make any adjustments needed as soon as possible after the assessment.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment should be used in cases where it is not possible to reduce the exposure of noise on an employee. In such cases, the employer should provide the employee with this equipment. A person may suffer an injury and the employer may be held liable if protective equipment is:

  • Not provided (ear muffs, ear plugs)
  • Not suitable for the level, type or duration of noise
  • Not fitted correctly to a person – an employee should have a choice to ensure that it fits correctly and is comfortable and as a result works as intended
  • Not properly stored or maintained
  • Training is not provided on the proper use of the protective equipment

What to do if you have developed an Acoustic Shock Injury

If you have developed an acoustic shock injury there are certain things that you should take note of which may be helpful in the future. This includes;

  • The date and time of the event which caused the acoustic shock.
  • The duration of the exposure to the sudden noise.
  • A description of the noise.
  • Details of the protective equipment provided.
  • Symptoms experienced by the injured person.
  • Details on whether the incident was recorded.

What to do after an accident at work*?

Following an accident at work, there are a number of steps you should follow:

  1. Seek medical attention

    Your health is your wealth and should be your first priority. Immediately after an accident at work, take a second to assess yourself to determine if you have any injuries and seek the relevant medical attention. If you have sustained a serious injury ensure that you contact an ambulance to attend the scene.

    For minor injuries, you must remember that minor injuries where you ‘feel fine’ could progress to more serious injuries in the future. In this case it is always better to be safe than sorry and advisable that you go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) or local GP to be checked out.

  2. Report the accident

    It is critical to report the accident to your superior, i.e. a supervisor or manager on site. It doesn’t matter how small you think the accident may be. By law, accidents at work are required to be reported if the person is injured and can’t perform their daily work tasks for more than three days. Make sure to fill out an Accident Report Form. This can be used for reference in any medical examination and will also prevent any similar accidents from happening in the future.

  3. Identify any witnesses

    If possible, try to collect the contact details of anybody that witnessed your accident. This may be of use if you do decide to pursue a workplace accident claim. It is also useful to find out if there is any CCTV in the area where your accident happened.

  4. Document the incident

    It is important that you collect all the relevant information in connection with your accident:

    •  How the accident happened
    •  Details of any witnesses
    •  If there are any CCTV recordings of your accident
    • Take pictures of where the accident happened and what caused your accident
  5. Speak to a workplace accident solicitor

    If you are considering moving forward with a workplace accident claim for any personal injuries sustained, it is advisable that you speak with a workplace accident claims solicitor as soon as possible. If you are proceeding with a claim, the first step will be submitting your claim to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) for assessment. A workplace accident solicitor can help you in preparing your application to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) and ensure that you follow the process in the correct format, meaning that you can move forward with your claim quickly without unnecessary delays.

    It is important to remember to keep copies of any expenses that you have incurred as a result of the accident. It is also imperative to retain copies of medical reports or incident report forms where possible as you will need them when making a claim.

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How do I make a claim?

Once you have gathered all the relevant information in relation to your injury it is then time to move forward with your claim. It is important to use a specialist workplace accident solicitor to help you with this.

  1. Prepare information for a solicitor

    When you decide you want to move forward with your workplace accident claim it is important to have all the relevant information to hand when contacting a solicitor. Important information to have on hand at this point is:

    • Date of the accident
    • Location of the accident
    • Details of who/what caused the accident
    • Specifics of what happened
    • Who did you report the accident to?
    • Is there CCTV that may have captured the accident?
    • Details of your injuries
    • Details of hospital or GP attended
    • Any pictures you may have taken of the scene of the accident and/or your injuries
  2. Solicitor becomes your trusted advisor

    Solicitors are aware of the workplace accident claim process and can avoid any legal bumps in the road you might encounter if you did this process yourself. It is their job to be your trusted advisor on all legal matters throughout your case.

  3. Solicitor obtains a medical report

    One of the most important documents in your case is a medical report. Your solicitor will ask for your doctor’s or hospital details so they can obtain a report on your injuries.

  4. Solicitor prepares the Personal Injuries Assessment Board application

    As soon as your solicitor has gathered all the information, your workplace accident claim will be submitted to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board for assessment. Your solicitor will do this for you. Once the Injuries Board assess your claim your solicitor will revert with a suggested settlement amount. At this stage you have a choice to accept the Injuries Board assessment or reject it and move the next step.

    At this point one of two scenarios will unfold:

    a. If both you and your employer accept the Injuries Board assessment, your case is settled and the person at fault will be ordered to pay settlement to you.

    b. If either you or your employer reject the Injuries Board assessment, then you move to the next stage and your solicitor will issue legal proceedings.

  5. Possible case outcomes

    Before you start to concern yourself with court and everything that comes with it, it’s important to understand that only a very small percentage of cases actually make it to a courtroom.

    Settlement meetings will be arranged where a settlement can be negotiated. Most cases are settled at this point without ever having to step foot into a courtroom and remember it’s your solicitor’s job to be with you every step of the way, right beside you to ensure that your best interests are met at all stages. Your solicitor is to be your trusted advisor throughout the process and to let you focus on your recovery, as they focus on settling your case.

At Tracey’s we make law accessible to all — regardless of your knowledge or experience with the claims process. For more information and a confidential discussion on your workplace accident, phone 01 649 9900 where you can speak with a member of our team straight away, or email ask@traceysolicitors.ie to tell us about your case.

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Case Settlement

If you are to proceed with a workplace accident claim you may be entitled to claim compensation for the accident and added expenses you may have incurred. These claims are called damages.

General Damages

General damages are non-financial damages such as pain and suffering and/or physical and emotional injuries following a workplace accident.

Special Damages

Special damages are out of pocket expenses incurred as a result of the workplace accident, for example, loss of earnings (if you are out of work), medical bills, and added travel costs as a result of the accident (for example, travel to and from the hospital). Learn more about Special Damages.

What are the Legal Time Limits?

The statute of limitations are the legal time limits on how long you have to make a claim — these vary depending on the situation. The general rule for most personal injury cases is that the person has two years from the date of the accident or date of knowledge of the accident to make a claim for compensation. Contacting a solicitor to discuss your case will help you in determining how long you have left to make a claim.

Learn more about Time Limits

About Tracey Solicitors LLP

We draw on more than 35 years of experience in personal injury law to provide you with expert advice and legal services.

We’re here to help you with your claim, and will work with you to ensure you understand every step of your legal journey.

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