Ear Defenders Cause £300,000 Compensation Claim
Unsuitable Ear Defenders Cause £300,000 Compensation Claim
A former soldier has been awarded compensation of £300,000 after suffering permanent hearing damage caused by ill-fitting ear defenders.
Unsuitable Ear Defenders Cause £300,000 Compensation Claim
A former soldier has been awarded compensation of £300,000 after suffering permanent hearing damage caused by ill-fitting ear defenders.
Thomas Borely was medically discharged from the army due to hearing loss. He had spent much of his time in the army working on the firing range. To protect his ears from loud noises, the army gave him ear defenders. He claimed that the ear defenders were ill-fitting and incompatible with his other equipment, including his helmet. The ear defenders failed to provide the protection level required to fully protect his hearing.
He was diagnosed with tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and discharged from the army. He claimed compensation from the army which offered £6,000, but he decided to take legal action. In and out-of-court settlement, he was awarded £300,000 by the army. Thomas Borley commented on the result of his compensation claim.
"After being diagnosed with hearing loss and losing my career, I didn't know what to do for a long time. But I've had so much support to help me get my life back on track and I can finally begin to look to the future without uncertainty and worry."
The Ministry of Defence said that they gave priority to the health of people and assess noise levels carefully before hearing protection is provided. They added that it was inappropriate to comment on the individual case of Thomas Borley.
Ear defenders are a necessary accessory in workplaces where loud noises are a familiar part of the environment. Ensuring that this equipment fits well should be a priority for all workplaces of this nature.
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