A Leicester woman who spent nearly 20 years working at Walkers has won a £9,000 settlement for partial hearing loss after years of exposure to high noise levels without adequate protection.

Petronia Greene, now 77, began working at the crisp factory in 1975 to support her two young children. After nearly two decades in various roles, including packing, quality control, and on the production line, Ms. Greene has opened up about the personal toll that working in such a noisy environment took on her hearing.

Her claim, handled by Manchester-based Veritas Solicitors, was successfully settled in June this year, following legal proceedings.

Reflecting on her time at Walkers, Petronia shared, “It was always a very noisy place. Sometimes, we had to shout to be heard. At the time, I didn’t think much of it; you just did your job.”

Walkers did not provide any hearing protection, leaving Ms. Greene susceptible to hearing damage. She now faces difficulties in holding conversations with her family.

“I wish they had given us protective equipment,” she said. “This is my hearing, and it’s something I can never get back. It’s especially hard when I’m with others and can’t follow the conversation.”

Ms. Greene became aware of the possibility of compensation only after someone asked her about her working conditions. “I was asked if I’d worked in a noisy environment, and after explaining my situation, things moved forward from there,” she recalled.

Despite the years of hearing loss, Ms. Greene remains pragmatic. “Getting angry won’t change anything. The damage is done. I know others who have suffered, some even worse than me. But I’m glad companies are becoming more cautious about employee safety.”

Ms. Greene also expressed her gratitude to Veritas Solicitors for their support, noting that they had been instrumental since taking on her case in December 2022.

“The claim was worth it in the end,” she said. “I hope my story encourages other people and pushes big companies to prioritize worker safety.”

Faraz Fazal, managing partner at Veritas Solicitors, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “It’s vital that claimants receive the compensation they deserve. No one should have to suffer hearing loss due to lack of protection at work.”

“We’re proud to help individuals like Ms. Greene get justice, and we encourage anyone in a similar situation to come forward, even if it’s been decades since they worked in those conditions,” Mr. Fazal added.