Joiner secures settlement with support from specialists at Sintons

A man who will need hearing aids for the rest of his life after being exposed to noise while working as an apprentice joiner has secured a settlement with support from specialists at Sintons.

The man worked as a joiner from 2005 to 2009 and worked in very loud environments for prolonged periods during that time.

While hearing protection was provided by his employer, its use was not enforced, so it was not always used.

Having experienced significant hearing problems, the man decided in 2017 – aged 30 – to pursue an industrial deafness claim against his former employer, and turned to Sintons for support.

Represented by Paul Woodford, partner and head of industrial disease at Sintons, the claim was settled for a five-figure sum less than 24 hours before it was due to proceed to trial.

“Paul was a real pleasure to work with, very informative with excellent communication,” said the client.

“I have dealt with solicitors before and to say he was a breath of fresh air would be an understatement.

“I felt in safe and assured hands from start to finish with my best interests a priority at all times.”

Paul Woodford, a specialist in noise-induced hearing loss claims who was hailed by Legal 500 as being a key name in his field, said: “Our client was a teenager when he was first exposed to damaging levels of noise in the course of his work, and the impact of that has been significant and damaging.

“In an environment where safety equipment is essential, such as the ear protection our client was given the option to wear, it is critical that its use is enforced and is mandatory. This is something all employers and workplaces must have as a priority at all times, and hopefully this case will be another reminder of that obligation.

“We are very pleased to have been able to secure a settlement for our client, which we hope will enable him to move on with his life. We wish him the very best for the future.”