One of the biggest issues facing Australian workers is occupational hearing loss, particularly for those in the manufacturing or construction sectors. If a worker operates near or in close proximity to noisy machinery or equipment that is continuously subjected to excessive noise, their hearing may be permanently compromised.
Many employees who experience hearing loss symptoms are unaware that, should their work environments cause their hearing to deteriorate, they may be eligible for benefits and compensation under NSW’s workers compensation scheme. You should think about filing a hearing loss claim if, after working in a noisy environment for years, you develop any of the following common symptoms of hearing impairment:
- You have to raise your voice to speak to your coworkers.
- At the end of a shift, your ears are ringing. You discover that the TV or radio in your car needs to be turned up louder than it was before you left for work when you got home from work.
- You find it difficult to follow conversations in noisy crowds or restaurants where there are lots of voices and “battling” sounds.
Types of Compensation for Hearing Loss
There are many types of compensation to which you may be eligible to compensation under the Workers Compensation Act 1987.
- Cost for Hearing Aid
According to workers compensation laws, as long as your medical costs are deemed “reasonably necessary,” you are eligible to receive reimbursement for all of them. A medical expense claim includes the cost of the hearing aids. In order to qualify for this type of claim, you must have a hearing impairment that is related to your job, such as a hearing impairment brought on by exposure to loud noises while working. You should speak with your general practitioner and request a referral to an ENT specialist if you are worried about your hearing.
Next, you would undergo a battery of tests and evaluations conducted by the ENT specialist to determine whether you have a hearing loss, whether it is related to your line of work, and whether hearing aids are a reasonable necessity.
An audiogram and hearing needs assessment report may be provided by the ENT specialist after examinations and tests. After you have your tests, the doctor will then provide the report which will be discussed by us for your case.
- Lump Sum Compensation
You might also be eligible for lump sum compensation if it turns out that your working conditions caused you to lose your hearing permanently. In the event that you are no longer employed in a noisy industry, you should file the claim with the company that hired you there previously.
Depending on when you were last employed in a noisy environment in NSW, there are different thresholds for eligibility and different payment amounts. A minimum of 6% binaural hearing loss must be determined for workers who ceased working in noisy environments prior to January 1, 2002, in order for them to be eligible for such a claim. For each percentile loss in binaural hearing, the compensation ranges from $520 to $650.
In order to claim lump sum compensation, the worker must be assessed at 11% WPI or more for the purposes of claiming lump sum compensation claim. A binaural of 20% equates to 11% WPI. Further to advance the claim for lump sum compensation on permanent hearing loss, your WPI examination must be conducted by the ENT based on the AMA 5 guidelines.
The ENT specialist will provide us with the copy of the medical report and we will then discuss the medical report with you and prepare to lodge your lump sum compensation claim.
