Oil Workers Win Suit Over Hearing Loss

March 2010

Editor: If memory serves me, we recently saw a case in which firemen also won a suit over noise-induced hearing loss. Here's the press release on the oil worker's case from the winning lawyers.

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Attorneys with Baron & Budd, P.C. and the Mumphrey Law Firm, LLC, have announced a judgment in favor of a group of former Murphy Oil Corp. employees who suffered noise-induced hearing loss from decades of work at Murphy Oil. This is believed to be the first such judgment for Louisiana workers who suffer occupational hearing loss.

Judge Manuel A. Fernandez, of the 34th Judicial District Court in St. Bernard Parish, found that Murphy Oil violated its duty to its employees by failing to provide:
* a safe place to work-free from excessive noise;
* an effective hearing conservation program for its employees;
* regular and periodic hearing tests; and
* warnings to employees of the dangers associated with long-term chronic occupational noise exposure.

"Murphy Oil knew that the noise at its plant was harmful, but the company decided it didn't make financial sense to protect the workers," said Renee Melancon, Baron & Budd shareholder. "Unless we hold employers responsible for decisions like this, there's simply not enough incentive to keep workplaces safe."

The court specifically noted Murphy Oil's decision not to spend $110,000 for noise control equipment during a $35 million plant expansion in the late 1970s, concluding that "Murphy's corporate decisions seem to rank economic frugality over hearing protection."

"Murphy Oil put profits over people for decades," said Wayne Mumphrey, local attorney for the plaintiffs. "We're gratified to see the court take so seriously the wrong that was done to these workers."

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