Industrial deafness in construction a problem according to new figures

Despite this, new cases are down over the last ten years.

Tranter Cleere Solicitors has released statistics exploring the problem of industrial deafness and construction has been affected more than most annually.

It is certainly an issue that the industry needs to continue to have heightened awareness about because the very nature of the work involved means that many operate heavy duty machinery and generally work in noisy environments.

As well as being a problem in the construction industry, clearly industrial deafness and hearing loss is just as big a concern in other industries and the statistics outline this.

Tranter Cleere Solicitors’ figures are supplemented by statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Action on Hearing Loss, which used to be the RNID.

The last figures of total hearing loss in the UK said that 10.1 million people suffer from hearing loss of some form, with 3.7 million of working age.

Worryingly, the projected figures show that by 2031, that number is expected to have increased by nearly 50% to 14.5 million people.

Hearing loss is in four different brackets; mild, moderate, severe hearing loss, and profound deafness which is the worst.

In terms of industrial deafness, which is also known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), in the UK, the numbers have fluctuated over the years with a three-to-five year period where the figure has increased and fallen.

In general though, over the last five years, the number of cases has gone up, although new cases are on the decline when compared to ten years ago.

There’s also positive news where new cases are concerned; half the level from ten years ago.

Where construction is concerned though, it is one of the sectors that contributes the most new cases, with 1.9 per 100,000 employees – a figure only beaten by manufacturing which has 4.10 new cases per 100,000 employees.

In the ten years between 2003 to 2013, the new cases reported have fallen from 350 to 120 but the industry still needs to be remain vigilant, with an aging population, and both wider support and earlier detection are needed to alleviate these issues in the future.

The figures can be found at http://ift.tt/1LHN0rl.

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