A CAMPAIGNING charity is urging Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly residents, who worked in coal mines when hearing protection in noisy working environments was not legally required, to share their views and experiences of seeking support to cope with tinnitus.

Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing ringing, hissing, buzzing, whistling or humming when there is actually no external sound.

Persistent severe forms of tinnitus can significantly impact on people’s sleep, concentration, stress levels and mental health.

The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, which place a duty on employers to reduce the risk to their employees’ health by controlling the noise they are exposed to whilst at work, replaced the 'Noise at work regulations 1989' which previously covered noise in the workplace. The duties set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 were more general in scope and meant that employers needed to take action if noise created a risk to people other than workers.

Action on Hearing Loss Scotland is asking people in Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area who have tinnitus to share details about where they have gone for help at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ScotlandTinnitusSurvey Paper copies of the survey can be requested by emailing scotland@hearingloss.org.uk or calling 07388 227407.

Cowdenbeath residents who worked in coal mines, factories, construction sites, operated agricultural machinery or served in the armed services – at times when hearing protection was not legally required – may now have tinnitus.

We urge people with tinnitus to share their experiences with us about what steps they have taken to get information or support to minimise the impact of the condition, which can be annoying if it’s mild and intermittent or very frustrating and distressing in more severe cases.

TERI DEVINE,

Action on Hearing Loss Scotland.