Can You Claim Workers’ Compensation for Hearing Loss?

If you have suffered hearing loss during the course of your work duties, you may be able to collect workers’ compensation for your injuries. The Delaware workplace injury attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman can help you. With offices in Seaford, Newark, and Wilmington, we serve clients throughout the state.

Although not all hearing loss is necessarily permanent, it can become permanent if left untreated. With permanent hearing loss, a worker may suffer significant loss to his or her career path in terms of the types of jobs available. In addition, partial or permanent hearing loss can result in many years of expensive medical treatment.

How work conditions can impact hearing

Sound is measured in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the louder the sound emitted. An individual can sustain hearing loss when exposed to noise that is louder than 85 dbA. Sound levels greater than 140dBA can create damage to a person’s hearing after just a single exposure.

Putting this in perspective, the workplace activities listed below and the accompanying noise exposures all produce decibel levels equal to or greater than 85dBA.

• 85 handsaw
• 90 tractor
• 90 – 115 subway
• 95 electric drill
• 100 factory machinery
• 100 woodworking class
• 105 snow blower
• 110 power saw
• 110 leafblower
• 120 chain saw, hammer on nail
• 120 pneumatic drills, heavy machine
• 120 jet plane (at ramp)
• 120 ambulance siren
• 125 chain saw
• 130 jackhammer, power drill
• 140 airplane taking off
• 150 jet engine taking off
• 150 artillery fire at 500 feet
• 180 rocket launching from pad

Thousands of workers are exposed to these noise levels at close distances and the damage to their ears can be substantial as a result.

Claiming workers’ compensation for hearing loss

If your physician, after an evaluation of your hearing, suspects that your exposure to certain levels of workplace noise over any period of time has resulted in your hearing loss, you may have the right to receive workers’ compensation. If your hearing loss is of sufficient severity, leaving you unable to return to work, you may also qualify to receive Social Security disability benefits.

The workers’ compensation program in Delaware is managed by the Delaware Division of Industrial Affairs. All permanent partial disability benefits issued by the state are based on a percentage of scheduled losses.

An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can provide you with information and guidance on your eligibility to receive certain benefits and also help you with the application process.

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we provide intelligent and vigorous representation to our clients who have suffered injuries in the workplace. We are here to protect your rights and work diligently to help you secure the fair compensation you are owed for any occupational injury or disease you may have sustained. To set up a free consultation, give us a call today at 302-888-2900 or fill out our contact form. We serve clients throughout Delaware from our offices in Wilmington, Seaford, and Newark.