As many as 30 million workers in the U.S. are regularly exposed to dangerous levels of workplace noise, according to research conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH).

When workplace noise exposure results in hearing damage and loss, injured workers can rely on Michael P. Dominick to get them the benefits they deserve.

With such workplace noise exposure, workers have a significantly increased risk of developing potentially permanent hearing issues, including (but not necessarily limited to):

• Tinnitis (ringing in the ears or, more generally, hearing noises when there is no outside source creating that noise)
• Hyperacusis (acute sensitivity to sound)
• Psychological and physical stress
• Irreversible hearing loss and deafness.

Facts about Workplace Noise Exposure

Here’s what workers need to know when it comes to being exposed to excessive or constant noise in the workplace:

• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set an 85-decidel maximum for workplace noise exposure. If work environments exceed this noise maximum, they are required to maintain a hearing conservation program.
• As many as 125,000 workers in the U.S. have been estimated to have suffered permanent hearing damage as a result of workplace noise exposure since 2004.
• Wearing ear and noise protection gear can substantially protect workers and prevent them from developing hearing issues when they are regularly exposed to loud noise in their work environments. Specifically, such hearing protective gear may include (but is not necessarily limited to) earmuffs, earplugs, noise-cancelling headphones and canal caps.

As Cara James, the executive director of the American Tinnitus Association, has explained, “cases of work-related tinnitus and hearing loss are on the rise around the country and in almost every industry sector… we will reverse this sobering trend only when both employers and employees prioritize hearing protection and make it part of ‘business as usual.’ Together, we can help thousands of workers each year protect their hearing.”

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick

If you have sustained a hearing loss due to your work environment (or you have sustained any workplace injury) and are considering (or in the process of) filing a workers’ compensation claim, you cannot rely upon your employer or insurance companies to look out for your best interests. In fact, both your employer and insurance companies will be more focused on their own bottom lines instead of your current and future wellbeing. This can make the system adversarial for injured workers and potentially even put them in situations in which their legitimate workers’ compensation claims are undercut or even flat-out denied.

In such cases, it’s essential that injured workers contact the Colorado workers’ compensation lawyers at the Law Office of Michael P. Dominick. Our legal professionals are experienced at going up against corporate lawyers and insurance companies, and we have a proven track record of success when it comes to securing our Clients the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and financial losses. For a thorough evaluation of your case, along with expert advice on the best manner in which to move forward, call us at (303) 447-2644.