Pictured above: (l-r) Dr Grant Charlesworth Jones, Ashley
Attwood, Principal Solicitor, and John Farrow, solicitor, who will
head up Attwood's Burslem office
Industrial deafness experts Attwood Solicitors are to hold a
free hearing advice day at their new Burslem office.
And the forward thinking solicitors' practice is creating a one
stop shop hearing centre at the St John's Square office.
The office will be the company's hearing headquarters, with
audiologists Hear4U working alongside solicitors and regular
surgeries with GP and industrial injury expert Dr Grant
Charlesworth Jones.
Principal Solicitor Ashley Attwood said: "This is an exciting
venture for the company - we are investing in our home city and
bringing around 15 jobs to Burslem with further expansion planned
in the next 12 months."
Attwood Solicitors, which also has an office in Hartshill Road,
Stoke, has built a national reputation fighting for workers whose
hearing has been damaged at work.
The firm has a nationwide portfolio of cases from ship builders
in Plymouth and Barrow in Furness to pottery workers in their home
city of Stoke-on-Trent.
Former welder Stephen Rothwell received £12,000 in 2010
after action was taken against a Winsford factory who did not
provide adequate hearing protection.
Audiologists, solicitors and Dr Charlesworth Jones will be on
hand for a hearing advice day at the St John's Square offices on
Friday, 3 June.
Mr Attwood, said: "We are taking action in more than 500 cases,
many involving pottery workers from Stoke-on-Trent.
"Statements from former pottery workers show that there was a
repeated failure to provide protective equipment during the 1970s
and 1980s.
"Many workers have paid the price and are now suffering from
Tinnitus and other hearing conditions."
Dr Charlesworth Jones said: "Our work with Attwood Solicitors is
raising awareness of a major issue. For many years workers had
their hearing damaged because employers failed to provide adequate
protection.
"However, people have tended to just put up with hearing loss
and put it down to getting older.
"In my experience people are reticent about coming forward - but
they should be compensated and the law provides for
that."
The Burslem hearing event will run from 10am until 4pm on
Friday, 3 May. To book an appointment telephone Attwood
Solicitors on 0800 587 3231, or 01782 823384.