A Leicester pensioner has secured a £9,000 settlement from Walkers, the renowned crisp manufacturer, after suffering partial hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to noisy working conditions without adequate protection. Petronia Greene, 77, worked at the Walkers factory for nearly two decades, experiencing the toll of noise on her hearing throughout her career.
Ms Greene began her employment at the factory in 1975, seeking to support her two young children. Over her 19.5 years in roles including packing, quality control, and production, she became accustomed to the noisy environment, often struggling to communicate with colleagues. “I did find it to be a very noisy environment. When we were talking at work, sometimes we could barely hear each other; you had to raise your voice,” she recalled. Despite the discomfort, she didn’t initially consider the long-term implications for her hearing.
Without any protective equipment provided by Walkers, Ms Greene became vulnerable to irreversible hearing loss, which has since affected her ability to engage in conversations with family and friends. “Of course I wish they provided protective equipment because this is my hearing. This is not something I’m going to get back,” she said. “I feel the effects the most when I’m in the company of people, and I can’t grasp what they’re saying. That’s when I feel it.”
Years later, Ms Greene began to realise the extent of her hearing impairment. It was only when someone inquired about her past work environment that she learned she could seek compensation for her condition. “I was asked a few years back if I had worked in a noisy environment. When I explained that I had, the person took some details and that was that. Everything just took off from there,” she explained.
Although she has endured years of hearing difficulties, Ms Greene expressed a sense of resilience rather than frustration. “Annoyed is not going to solve the problem. The damage is already done. There are a lot of people who have been through the same thing, some even worse than me. I’m pleased companies are a little bit more careful now because it can impact people’s lives greatly.”
Veritas Solicitors, based in Manchester, successfully represented Ms Greene in her claim, which was initiated in December 2022. Managing partner Faraz Fazal praised the settlement as a significant step towards improving workplace safety standards. “It is essential that claimants receive the damages they deserve. No one should struggle to hear loved ones in conversations because they weren’t protected at work,” he stated. He encouraged others who may have experienced similar issues to seek help, regardless of how long ago their employment ended.
Ms Greene hopes that her story will serve as a lesson to others and prompt companies to take employee safety more seriously. “The claim was worth it in the end. I hope my story can encourage big companies to take employee safety seriously,” she concluded.
As the legal system can often be complex, Ms Greene’s experience serves as a reminder of the importance of workplace safety and the need for protective measures to prevent similar cases in the future.
