ABSTRACT
References 869
In the United Kingdom, legislation to protect those exposed to injurious noise at work and
to compensate for a consequent hearing loss has been greatly influenced by economic con-
siderations. The financial implications for industry, the highly concentrated nature of the
problem geographically, and the desire to avoid swamping the limited resources of the
audiologic services of the National Health Service (NHS) must be considered in
framing legislation. The concept of a welfare state, introduced in 1948, has ultimately
allowed a uniform, nationwide system of compensation. In addition, claims against
employers by civil claims or by negotiated agreements between unions and insurance
companies occur widely.
