A lorry driver whose hearing was damaged at work has received £8,500 in compensation.

Charles Haswell now suffers from tinnitus, noises in the ears most commonly described as ringing, buzzing or whistling sounds. The condition was caused by injuries he received when he was hit on the side of the head by the door of a lorry.

The accident happened while Mr Haswell, 54, was trying to unload the trailer of the lorry. The door was stiff but, when he pulled hard on the handle, it released unexpectedly, hitting him on the head.

Mr Haswell was left with severe internal bruising as well as permanent damage to his hearing. He was off work for two weeks and has been told that the tinnitus is likely to get worse over time. He already hears a constant ringing sound, which can make it difficult to sleep.

A claim was brought against Mr Haswell’s employer and an out-of-court settlement was agreed.

Regular inspections should be made of all workplace equipment to ensure that it is safe to use. Employers who adopt a cavalier approach to workplace health and safety put employees at risk of injury and lay themselves open to personal injury claims.