Phoenix Construction Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Lawyers
Attorney Representation in Phoenix, Arizona Since 1996
Construction Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
If you are a construction worker diagnosed with a noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), you must seriously consider retaining legal counsel experienced in workers' compensation law and personal injury law to protect your rights. It is an established fact that noise exposure is a causal factor in hearing loss. In the United States alone, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials report that NIHL is one of the most common occupational diseases. The statistics are staggering: occupational hazardous noise affects approximately 30 million people annually. An additional nine million workers exposed to solvents and metals risk hearing loss. Construction is one of the top industrial sectors contributing to industrial noise pollution. Within the construction industry, laborers most at risk for NIHL work in highway and street construction, carpentry and concrete.
OSHA has set standards to minimize occupational noise exposure. Decibels (dB) measure the intensity of sound. The scale runs from the faintest sound the human ear can detect, 0 dB, to more than 180 dB. Continual exposure to more than 85 decibels is dangerous. Unfortunately, past compliance within the construction industry for noise exposure standards was minimal. Employers today must invest in hearing protection measures that correspond to the type of noise and decibel levels in their workplace.
NIHL develops gradually in the early stages. Because it is painless, you may not immediately notice it. You may first lose detection of high-pitched sounds. The volume of sound heard may be unchanged, but the quality lessens. You can hear speech, but not completely understand it. The presence of background noise can make speech hard to understand. The first indication of NIHL you might notice is tinnitus, which is an irritating ringing in the ears from damaged hearing nerves.
There are currently no medical options for treatment of NIHL. Given that, people living with NIHL must look to management options for the condition. Advancements in digital hearing aid technology, such as directional microphones, open-fit hearing aids and more advanced algorithms offer an improvement in management options. With proper amplification, counseling and regular audiological testing to monitor changes, NIHL is still not curable, but manageable.
If you suffer from construction NIHL, you have options for compensation under the law. Workers' compensation laws provide immediate benefits for payment of past, current and future medical bills and wages. If the negligence of a third party contributed to the occupational hazardous noise, you also have the option of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. Responsible third parties include property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, construction managers and suppliers of material and equipment. Third party liability claims allow you to pursue compensation for damages not covered under workers' compensation laws.
Call The Breyer Law Offices for a free case evaluation with a skilled Mesa construction accident attorney. We have successfully represented victims of construction NIHL for well over a decade. Noise-induced hearing loss is a permanent condition, and you deserve an equitable resolution. We can help make that happen.
