Action on hearing loss

By catherine ball catherine.ball@thesentinel.co.uk

LAWYERS are urging residents who worked at five noisy factories to get in touch if they believe they are losing their hearing.

Imperium Law believes former workers from five well-known firms could be entitled to thousands of pounds in compensation because employers did not provide them with any ear protection.

The Macclesfield-based firm wants to hear from people who worked at Brittains Paper Limited, in Cheddleton; Bamfords Limited in Uttoxeter; Courtaulds Textiles, Leek; TM Birkett, Billington and Newton, in Hanley; and Johnson Bros, also in Hanley.

The appeal comes as Hartshill-based Attwood Solicitors held its fifth clinic yesterday for people who fear they may have been affected by industrial deafness.

Legal advisers say they have been inundated with people from Stoke-on-Trent affected by hearing loss since they held their first hearing advice sessions almost two years ago.

And Philip Jackson, a partner at Imperium Law, said people could have a case against firms if they had experienced a loss of hearing and had worked there after 1963.

That was the year a Department of Industry publication warned businesses exposing workers to excessive noise could damage hearing.

Mr Jackson said: "Industry generally did nothing to protect workers' hearing throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s."

Imperium has already made successful claims against the five firms, he said.

Mr Jackson said: "We have already done all the research about these companies, which is why we want to hear from more workers."

But the lawyer warned people wanting compensation had to act quickly as claims were less likely to be successful if not made within three years of the complainant noticing their hearing had been affected.

Mr Jackson, who takes on cases on a no-win, no-fee basis, said people were likely to receive between £4,000 and £6,000 in compensation.

They can also claim for the cost of top-of-the-range hearing aids.

Rachel Hulme, a legal adviser for Attwood, said the firm had taken action against more than 20 companies in the city for industrial deafness.

Last year, the law firm helped more than 100 ex-potters pursue compensation claims.

She said: "I feel very passionately about this cause as people have their lives affected permanently by deafness. It affects their family and social life."

Imperium Law can be contacted on 0800 6335730 and Attwood Solicitors on 01782 416016.