Sound judgment wins Peter compensation

Peter Sinderby: out-of-court settlement

AN Oldham man whose hearing was damaged after working at a former paper mill in Greenfield has won an out-of-court settlement.

Peter Sinderby (61), of Chelmsford Street, Coppice, worked at Robert Fletcher & Sons from 1965-1974.

Mr Sinderby said the variety of roles he undertook at the factory, which manufactured cigarette paper, were in a noisy environment, but the only safety measures given to workers was a dust mask.

He said: “I worked through all the available roles which included releasing pressure valves from big boiler vats, which used make a high-pitched screeching noise.

“I also used to sit between two rolling machines that dried the paper and you couldn’t have a normal conversation. You’d have to shout or whistle really loudly to get anyone’s attention.

“I never thought it was anything strange, we all talked loudly in the factory.

“I used to have a lot of wax build up in my ears and regularly had them syringed.

“It was only a few years later that friends and family would tell me to keep my voice down because I was talking too loudly without realising it.”

By chance, Mr Sinderby spotted an advertisement from Failsworth-based WE Solicitors in 2007 asking for former employees to have their hearing tested.

Mr Sinderby said: “The tests showed hearing in my right ear was worse than in my left ear, that damage had been done and it was not just down to getting older.”

His solicitors, who represented similar cases over the past four years, took the matter to court.

The insurers, AGF, who represented only a small proportion of the overall insurance history, said Mr Sinderby and a number of other former workers where out of time to bring a claim.

After the matter was heard at Manchester High Court in August last year, it was decided that Mr Sinderby’s case could proceed.

Following the hearing, the solicitors representing AGF made settlement offers for an undisclosed sum, which Mr Sinderby accepted.

He said: “I have to wear a hearing aid in my right ear for the rest of my life and I have to go for check ups every 12 months.

“At first I thought the whole process was a stab in the dark but I’m glad I won the case. I told the truth and stuck to the facts and the judge said I was a genuine case.

“It’s not much money, but it’s important to not give up and to prove a point.

“I’m sure there are many others in Oldham that worked at the factory at the same time and I would urge them to get in contact with the solicitors.”