Not all injuries people suffer on the job are the result of accidents. Many people suffer cumulative injuries that develop over the course of time. In fact, some reports indicate that hearing loss is one of the most common workplace injuries in California and elsewhere.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has standards in place with the intent of protecting workers from hearing loss. However, some critics claim that these standards are out of date and need revision. Some say that employers need to ensure that workers are informed about the potential harm of noise in the workplace, including informing workers that noise exposure outside of the workplace can add to their cumulative risk.
Those in the mining field are most susceptible to hearing loss, followed by workers in the construction and manufacturing fields. Surprisingly, some who have studied occupational hearing loss have found that those who work in a job with moderate noise levels are more likely to suffer hearing issues in comparison to those who work in occupations with high noise levels. They hypothesize that those who work in a high risk environment are more faithful about wearing safety equipment.
Unfortunately, hearing loss can have serious ramifications on a person’s life with some sufferers claiming they experience pain, dizziness and ringing in their ears as a result of their workplace injuries. Some even argue that their injury deters them from working or leaving their house. As a result, over $200 million is spent each year on workers’ compensation insurance benefits related to hearing loss. Despite being entitled to such compensation, many in California suffering from this and other cumulative injuries often struggle to secure the compensation they deserve. As a result, they ask an experienced attorney to help them seek their rightful benefits.
Source: californiahealthline.org, “Shhh! America’s Most Common Workplace Injury Is Hearing Loss“, Zhai Yun Tan, Sept. 14, 2016
