£34,500 Compensation Secured for Long-Term Noise Exposure and Tinnitus at TK-ECC/Fisherbody and NI Water

At Keenan Solicitors, we recently secured a £34,500 settlement for a client who suffered from noise-induced hearing loss and moderate tinnitus, following decades of work in noisy factory and engineering environments.

This case involved prolonged exposure to industrial noise without proper hearing protection, and the client’s severe and persistent tinnitus had a major impact on his quality of life. Through comprehensive medical evidence and firm legal strategy, we ensured that his condition was acknowledged and that he received maximum compensation.

What Happened?

Our client worked in TK-ECC/Fisherbody from the early 1980s to 2004, where he was involved in:
Fabrication, injection moulding, and work near the press shop — all within an extremely noisy factory.

• No ear protection was provided for most of his employment.
• Towards the end, ear plugs became available, but their use was never enforced.
• He frequently experienced dullness in his ears after finishing shifts.

Later, he worked at NI Water as a maintenance engineer, where:

• Noise exposure occurred around 10% of the time.
• Ear plugs were initially available, but their use only became mandatory in later years.

Symptoms and Impact:

Our client began noticing problems around 10 years ago, including:

• Difficulty hearing in social situations, especially with background noise.
• Frequent need to ask people to repeat themselves.
• TV and radio volumes at high levels.
• Struggles using telephones.

Most significantly, he suffered from:

• Constant tinnitus, described as a ringing noise.
• Sleep disruption 3–4 nights a week, often needing the TV on for distraction.
• Tinnitus was particularly loud in the morning, affecting his mental wellbeing.
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The Case:

1. Medical Investigation & Diagnosis

Our client contacted Keenan Solicitors on the recommendation of a friend and instructed Cormac Keenan, known for his industry-leading expertise in NIHL cases.

Cormac immediately:

• Arranged a free audiologist hearing test, which showed a pattern consistent with NIHL.
• Gathered all relevant employment history and medical records.
• Referred our client to a Consultant ENT Surgeon, who confirmed:
  • Slight hearing loss.
  • Moderate, permanent tinnitus, significantly affecting quality of life.

2. Legal Action

Due to the severity of symptoms and involvement of multiple employers, we:

• Issued High Court proceedings against all relevant parties.
• The client also underwent an examination with the Defendant’s ENT expert, who accepted the diagnosis of hearing loss and moderate tinnitus.

3. Negotiation and Resolution

Once all court procedures were completed and a Contest date was set, we entered negotiations with the Defendants’ legal team.

• Backed by compelling medical evidence and clear employment exposure, we secured a substantial settlement of £34,500.
• No need for a trial—claim resolved efficiently with an excellent result.