Company forced to pay personal injury compensation for hearing damage

Posted 20/06/2010

A firm which failed to protect the hearing of its employees has been forced to pay personal injury compensation.

Thomas Keefe was employed as a cook by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for more than 35 years on its Liverpool to the Isle of Man route.

He had to work in a very noisy environment and began to lose his hearing in 2004. Due to the fact that he had never been given personal protective equipment, he launched a claim for compensation against his former employer.

Although he died in 2007 from cancer, his widow Carol Keefe continued the legal battle against the Steam Packet Company on his behalf.

After it was ruled that the company did not check noise levels on its ferries and did not provide ear protection, it was ordered to pay compensation to Mrs Keefe for breaching safety regulations.

Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers are required to provide protective equipment where noise levels reach 80 decibels or above.