Hearing Loss Even Partly Due to Workplace Noise Was Compensable

A marine engine technician worked on a number of different vessels for about 37 years, spending most of his time in the ships’ engine rooms. He filed a claim for occupational hearing loss. It was denied because he had hearing loss in only his left ear, which was inconsistent with loss due to exposure from hazardous noise in the workplace. But the Appeals Tribunal ruled that the technician was exposed to excessive workplace noise. There was sufficient evidence that his hearing loss was due’at least in part’to occupational noise. And even if his hearing loss wasn’t entirely due to workplace noise, he was still eligible for medical aid assistance such as a hearing aid for his left ear [2012-575-AD (Re), [2013] CanLII 52885 (NS WCAT), Aug. 15, 2013].