At Keenan Solicitors, we recently secured a £12,749.50 settlement for a client who suffered noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and tinnitus as a result of decades of work in excessively noisy environments at Harland & Wolff, Translink, and Shorts/Bombardier.

Although some of his hearing deterioration was attributed to natural age-related changes, we successfully demonstrated the role of workplace noise exposure in his condition and ensured he received fair compensation.

What Happened?

Our client worked as a mechanical engineer fitter across several major employers:

• Harland & Wolff (1980s) – A very noisy environment where ear plugs were rarely available and poorly enforced. He frequently experienced ringing in his ears after finishing shifts.
• Translink (1990–2007) – Again, ear plugs were nominally available, but not routinely issued or enforced. His ears rang after work, and he began noticing hearing difficulties.
• Shorts/Bombardier (from 2007) – Although hearing protection improved over time, he still experienced ringing and difficulty hearing in noisy areas.

Over time, he began to suffer from:

• Difficulty hearing in social settings, especially with background noise.
• Frequent need to ask people to repeat themselves.
• Turning TV and radio volumes to high levels.
• Trouble using telephones.
• Tinnitus, described as a hissing sound most noticeable in quiet environments.

He sought out Keenan Solicitors after being personally recommended to Cormac Keenan for his leading expertise in industrial hearing loss claims.

The Case:

1. Confirming the Diagnosis

Cormac immediately arranged:

• A free audiologist hearing test, which confirmed a pattern consistent with NIHL.
• Collection of the client’s full employment history and relevant medical records.
• A referral to a Consultant ENT Surgeon, who performed a comprehensive examination and prepared a detailed report confirming:
  • Noise-related hearing loss and tinnitus.
  • A proportion of the hearing loss was due to natural ageing, but there was clear evidence of occupational noise exposure.

2. Legal Action & Targeting Multiple Employers

Due to the long span of exposure across several companies, we:

• Issued County Court proceedings against all relevant employers.
• Ensured the client underwent medical review by the Defendant’s ENT specialist as part of the claim process.
• Presented clear evidence of long-term noise exposure, even where partial natural loss was accepted.

3. Settlement Negotiations

As the Contest date approached, we opened negotiations.

The insurers accepted a material contribution of noise to his hearing damage and tinnitus.

We secured a strong settlement of £12,749.50, reflecting both the workplace contribution and residual impact on his life.

The Outcome:

• £12,749.50 compensation secured.
• Claim succeeded despite partial age-related hearing loss.
• No need for court hearing—case settled pre-Contest.
• Multiple employers held jointly accountable.

Our client was very pleased with the outcome and relieved to have his hearing loss formally acknowledged and compensated.

Think Your Hearing Loss Might Be Work-Related?

You may still be entitled to compensation—even if your hearing issues began years ago or across several employers.