If you spent years working in a mill, foundry, engineering works or on a production line, and you now find yourself turning the television up, missing words in a busy room, or living with a constant ringing in your ears, you are not imagining it. For many people across the North of England, hearing loss in later life is not simply old age; it is the lasting mark of noise at work.
Can working in a noisy factory really damage my hearing?
Yes. Prolonged exposure to loud machinery can cause permanent, noise-induced hearing loss, and it is far more common than most people realise. The Health and Safety Executive estimates that around 15,000 people in Great Britain have hearing problems caused or made worse by work each year, and that more than 2 million people are still exposed to unacceptable levels of noise at work. Noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common reason for occupational-health insurance claims, and it builds up so slowly that many people only notice it long after leaving the job that caused it.
How loud is too loud at work?
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers must start taking action to protect hearing at a daily average of 80 decibels (the lower action value), and must provide and enforce hearing protection at 85 decibels (the upper action value). There is an absolute exposure limit of 87 decibels. A simple test: if you had to raise your voice to talk to someone standing two metres away, the noise was probably loud enough to cause harm.
What are the signs my hearing was affected by work?
Common signs of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus include:
- A constant ringing, buzzing or hissing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Struggling to follow conversations when there is background noise
- Turning the television or phone volume up more than others need to
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- A muffled, “cotton wool” sensation in the ears
Do I have a claim if a former employer damaged my hearing?
You may have a claim if an employer exposed you to harmful noise without proper protection and your hearing has suffered as a result. Employers have had a legal duty to protect workers from excessive noise for decades, and where they failed to do so, you could be entitled to compensation.
Two points reassure most people. First, you normally have three years to claim, but that clock usually starts from your “date of knowledge”, when you first linked your hearing loss to your work, not the date you were exposed (Limitation Act 1980, sections 11 and 14). Second, even if your former employer has closed down, it is often still possible to trace the insurer who covered them at the time.
Compensation is assessed using the Judicial College Guidelines, which set ranges rather than fixed sums. As a guide, tinnitus with hearing loss ranges from around £14,000 for moderate cases to £45,000 for more severe ones, depending on how much your daily life is affected.
WE Solicitors acts for people with hearing loss across the North of England, including workers from manufacturing, heavy engineering and other noisy trades. As hearing loss claims solicitors based in Greater Manchester, with roots in Oldham, we understand the region’s industrial history and the sectors that put so many at risk.
Frequently asked questions
I am already retired. Is it too late to claim?
Not necessarily. Many successful claims are brought by retired people, because the three-year time limit usually runs from when you connected your hearing loss to your work, not from when you left the job.
Will claiming cost me anything up front?
No. We handle hearing loss claims on a no win, no fee basis, and the first conversation is free with no obligation.
If any of this sounds familiar, we are happy to talk it through, with no pressure. Call WE Solicitors free on 0800 294 3065 or use our online contact form, or read more about hearing loss claims on our site.
Sources: HSE, Noise-induced hearing loss in Great Britain (2026) · HSE, Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 guidance · Limitation Act 1980 · Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases.
