Squealing Pigs Render Farm Worker Deaf, France Orders Piggery To Pay For Work Hazard

French Farm Worker Goes Deaf From Squealing Pigs
Corsica, France
Corsica, France

A French court Wednesday ordered a piggery to compensate a former worker who became deaf partly as a result of the incessant squeals of the animals in his charge.

A court in the western town of Lons-le-Saunier in the Jura region ruled that the Pelizzari group had committed an "inexcusable error" by failing to protect Serge Personeni from a work hazard.

The amount to be paid to the 59-year-old Personeni, who worked there from September 2001 until February 2008, will be decided later after he is inspected by a doctor.

Personeni was in charge of feeding and looking after nearly 4,000 pigs.

Deafness was recognised as a work hazard in France in 2012. It was then decided that those working in places with decibel levels higher than 85 should receive protective equipment.

During a hearing in June, the court said Personeni was made to "work in conditions incompatible with human dignity."

Copyright (2013) AFP. All rights reserved.

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