Acoustic Shock Claims - Industrial Disease & Accidents at Work Compensation
Primarily, acoustic shock occurs within a call centre environment in which operatives wear telephone headsets. As call centres have become an increasingly large employment sector, dealing with everything from insurance claims to NHS symptom advice, these attacks on unsuspecting workers have caused grave concern.
What is acoustic shock?
Acoustic shock can occur when unannounced sounds, materially different to normal speech, travel through the telephone line or the web interface quickly (under 16 milliseconds) and into the headset. These sounds may be characterised as having a specific tone (frequency) or a very fast rise in the peak energy of the sound, like a bang or clang, shriek or whistle. The resulting symptoms include pain, tinnitus and hypersensitivity to sounds (hyperacusis) amongst others.
The call handler may feel shocked or startled by the sound immediately following the shock. These “shocks” can cause permanent damage to the hearing and more often tinnitus and hyperacusis.
Know your rights
Call Handlers should be trained to recognise such incidents and how to report them. Employers have a duty under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) to report certain types of work-related injuries, including those which result in a person being unable to carry out their normal work for more than three consecutive days, and those which result in admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours. Such reports should be made to the relevant enforcing authority.
Symptoms
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is the name given to the condition of noise in the ears and/or in the head. The noise is described by sufferers as ringing, whistling, buzzing and humming.
The noise(s) may be heard in one ear, both ears or in the middle of the head. The pitch of the noise varies from low, medium or high-pitched. In more severe cases the noise may be continuous but more often this comes and goes in irregular patterns.
Tinnitus treatment
After a careful evaluation, your doctor may find an identifiable cause, such as exposure to excessive levels of noise and be able to treat or make recommendations to treat the tinnitus. Once you have had a thorough evaluation, an essential part of treatment is your own understanding of the tinnitus (what has caused it, and your options for treatment).
In many cases, there is no specific treatment for tinnitus. It may simply go away on its own, or it may be a permanent disability that the patient will have to "live with." Your doctor may be provide equipment such as a tinnitus masker which is a machine that creates “white noise” which distracts the mind from the noise of the tinnitus, or a sound pillow or even refer you for tinnitus retraining therapy.
Hyperacusis
This is an increased sensitivity to sounds. Often pain or discomfort is felt when sounds that most people are able to tolerate are heard. People with hyperacusis are not all affected by the same type of sounds.
Claim with us today
If you suspect that you have acoustic shock caused by work you should talk to us about a claim for compensation. We can deal with your case and have expert solicitors nationwide ready to act on your behalf.
Let OD-CA assess your situation and, in eligible cases, help you secure the best possible compensation.
- Nothing to pay
- No deductions from your compensation
- An experienced solicitor will handle your claim
- Friendly, professional and supportive staff
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- Talk in plain English, avoiding legal jargon
We help people every day claim compensation following all types of accidents, injuries and illnesses sometimes in the most unusual of circumstances.
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Deafness claim?
Date Posted : 25/03/2010
What did you say?
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Tinnitus help
Date Posted : 27/08/2009
There are a number items your dad could purchase to help him sleep, to make things easier for him to hear the radio or TV and of course, to be actively involved in having a conversation.
It seems that he may be eligible to pursue a claim - but as with all claims, each one needs to be judged on it's own merit. There are certainly no 100% guarantees that he will be successful. BUT, our service is free, we can help with all of his hearing issues and hopefully get him the compensation he deserves.
He really shouldn't be suffering in silence.
Call us today.
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Deafness claim?
Date Posted : 27/08/2009
As with all claim types, there a number of time issues (limitations) involved.
For example: when did you visit your GP? How long did you work in this environment for? and when did you leave?
If you can answer these questions, we'd certainly be able to help you. Remember, our service is free and we may be able to sort you out with hearing aids too!
Call our team today for more advice.
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Deafness claim?
Date Posted : 19/08/2009
I am an ex-prisoner and am suffering from deafness which I think may have been caused by excess noise during my time inside. I have been to my doctor and they say it may well be noise induced hearing loss due to workplace noise. I worked in a light industrial unit while in prison. We used very old and noisy equipment and the noise was excruciating. Do I have a claim?
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Tinnitus help
Date Posted : 18/08/2009
I think Tinnitus is a difficult topic, mainly because there is no cure. I know there are 'masking' products for your dad to purchase. Again, not for a cure but more for respite for his level of Tinnitus-helping him to sleep etc. Good luck.
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Families of Merseyside asbestos victims secure landmark court ruling
Date : 10 Mar 2011
TWO families have won groundbreaking legal claims to compensation for their Merseyside relatives’ exposure to asbestos.
In separate cases, relatives of Huyton mother-of-two Dianne Willmore and Eastham-based Enid Costello were awarded damages after convincing courts their deaths were related to “low level” asbestos exposure.
Last night, legal experts said the Supreme Court ruling could pave the way for similar claims nationwide.
Mrs Willmore, 49, was awarded £240,000 damages after convincing a High Court judge in July, 2009, that her time as a pupil at the former Bowring Comprehensive School, in Huyton, caused her incurable lung cancer.
Source : www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk
Link : http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2011/03/10/families-of-merseyside-asbestos-victims-secure-landmark-court-ruling-92534-28311231/
Virgin lounge masseuses sue airline after developing RSI
Date : 10 Mar 2011
Beauty therapists Jayne Evans, 40, and Michelle Hindmarch, 35, each developed chronic muscular strain – including pain in their shoulders, upper back and wrists – after giving intensive shiatsu massages at the airline’s Terminal 3 “Clubhouse” lounge at Heathrow.
Their barrister, Theodore Huckle, told the High Court that both women were “devastated” at being forced to abandon their careers as a result of their injuries.
Muscular aches and pains mean the women cannot carry out a range of household tasks including peeling carrots or “taking the Sunday roast out of the oven”, the court heard.
Mrs Evans, who still works for Virgin Atlantic on the administrative side, is seeking £327,000 compensation from the airline for exposing her to the risk of injury, while Mrs Hindmarch is claiming £235,000 in damages.
Source : www.telegraph.co.uk
Link : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8366027/Virgin-lounge-masseuses-sue-airline-after-developing-RSI.html
Company fined after exposing workers and the public to asbestos
Date : 08 Mar 2011
A refurbishment company has been fined after workers and the public were exposed to asbestos in a Leicestershire village
Shengxuan Company Ltd was converting a shop in Borough Street, Castle Donington, into a restaurant on 16 June 2010.
Part of the work involved converting an integral garage into a storeroom but in doing so, workers disturbed asbestos-containing materials. This was then put in a skip by the workers, who were unaware of its presence or its risks.
Source : www.hse.gov.uk
Link : http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2011/coi-em-16111.htm