Worker’s Compensation and hearing loss

Hearing is one of the five senses we rely on to be safe in the workplace and in life. Workplace-related hearing loss is a common matter, mainly as our world becomes increasingly loud.

Many reasons can cause hearing loss. One of the most common is noise, and can be defined as Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. It has a higher percentage of those in manufacturing fields, agriculture, construction, mining, and oil/gas extraction. Many military jobs also run an increased risk of noise damage.

If your hearing becomes compromised due to job conditions, you are entitled to workers’ compensation. However, because hearing loss can develop slowly, it can be hard to know if you should file a claim. Here is what we recommend about how to go through the process from qualifying to making a claim.

Lets Define Workers Compensation

Similar to your cars’ insurance policy that covers your bills if you get into an accident, employers carry workers’ compensation insurance. Because of these policies, your employer can afford to cover medical care costs and potentially lost income due to an accident on the job site.

Simply put, workers comp helps protect businesses and their employees from financial loss when an employee is hurt on the job or gets sick from a work-related cause.

Workers’ Comp Coverage for Oregon:

Oregon workers’ compensation law requires coverage for every employee, whether full- or part-time. Workers’ compensation covers medical benefits, wage loss, and death benefits for a person who’s been injured on the job.

Workers’ comp in hearing loss cases includes medical expenses that cover hearing aids, batteries, servicing, and more, says VP of operations Josh Frantz at Advanced Hearing Providers, which helps both employers and employees handle the claim process.
Most businesses, from bookstores to construction companies, must have some workers’ comp insurance. However, there are exceptions: smaller companies may not be required to purchase this insurance, for example.

How to qualify for workers’ comp due to hearing loss

Often, this process starts with someone recognizing they have a hearing problem—this can happen because of indications (such as a struggle hearing conversation or tinnitus) or be prompted by a friend or family member’s observation of hearing problems. Some people may get a diagnosis before making a claim or claim and then be prompted to visit an audiologist for a backup to the claim.

If you chose to visit an audiologist first, make sure you file a claim before purchasing hearing aids because you may qualify for benefits that will cover those costs. If the injury happened at your current workplace, be sure to let your employer know. They will then provide you with paperwork to file a state-level claim. If your employer does not offer paperwork or have any questions about where to start making a claim, check for guidance with your state-level insurance program, board, or agency.

Generally, the employer should have you fill out forms detailing the injury and events–the documents are then submitted to the employer’s insurance, in addition to an OSHA and state-level safety organizations.
You’ll likely submit medical reports or information from an audiologist, so if you have not visited an audiologist already, now is the time to do so.

If you presume you have job-related hearing loss, it’s best to take action sooner rather than later. That’s important for medical reasons: Immediate intervention and appropriate hearing protection can prevent most cases of permanent occupational hearing issues.

Hearing loss is different from many other workers’ comp claims

With other injuries, the goal is to achieve what’s referred to as the “maximum medical improvement” through treatment. That is, treatment options are depleted. But hearing is a bit different from a back injury when it comes to treatment and potential improvement. Once you lose your hearing, it will never return, so the goal is to equip you with the long-term usage tools needed to increase your hearing levels.

Is your workplace safe?

Your employer should take the hearing conditions at the workplace seriously. The Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) determined levels of safe noise and hearing conservation programs. Along with risking employee injury, safety violations can be expensive for employers. According to the standards, a hearing conservation program is required “whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent. For purposes of the hearing conservation program, there are calculations involved based on data obtained by monitoring and measuring employee exposures

Nevertheless, reporting can be uncomfortable. An employer may hang legally required OSHA signage in the office and have a “Days Since Last Injury” counter up, but still subtly discourage reporting. Just understand, employers are legally prohibited from preventing workers from reporting injuries and are eligible for citations for retaliatory actions, per OSHA.

How we can Help

Salem Audiology Clinic can help you with understanding your workers’ comps rights and handle testing along with consulting. If you have any questions, please reach out to us and schedule a free consultation today by calling us at (971)701-6322