An estimated 80,000 industrial deafness claims were filed last year—causing some insurers to label the injury as the ‘new whiplash’. As an owner or manager of an engineering, construction or manufacturing firm, you still need to implement an effective industrial deafness risk management scheme. This guidance will protect not only your workers, but your investments as well.
Risks Associated With Industrial Deafness
High production of noise is inevitable in an engineering, construction or manufacturing firm—yet the associated risks are not. If, as the owner or manager, you fail to properly assess the potential risks or provide adequate hearing protection for your workers, you risk the following:
For your workers:
For your organisation:
Guarding Against Industrial Deafness Risks
A significant portion of the industrial deafness claims made in recent years are not being filed by current employees, but by individuals that were employed 20, 30 or even 40 years ago. While it is difficult to retroactively protect your organisation and employees, there are several strategies you can adopt to mitigate retroactive industrial deafness claims.
High Quality Without The High Decibels
To ensure that both your workers and investments are protected, perform regular noise level inspections and maintain well-organised records. For more risk management guidance, contact the insurance professionals at Willis IRM who together with their Health & Safety division can advise on your current position. Contact Jonathan Gilmartin on jonathang@willisinsurance.co.uk or call 028 9032 9042