Veterans across the UK are joining legal action against American PPE company 3M over hearing loss caused by allegedly defective ear protection.

From 2003 to 2023, 3M supplied an estimated 400,000 sets of Combat Arms Earplugs to the Ministry of Defence.

The Royal British Legion estimates more than 300,000 men and women who served in Britain’s Armed Forces now suffer from life-changing hearing difficulties.

Dave Pettifer is a Royal Marines veteran and one of those joining the legal action. He says he regularly used the earplugs during his three tours of Afghanistan.

He told GB News: “Certainly over the last sort of three or four years now, I've noticed that I can't hear anybody speaking if there's a bit of background noise, even if it's just another conversation going on quite close to me.

“When you can't hear what they're saying and you maybe have to ask them what they've said a second time, or even a third time, it's incredibly embarrassing. Am I going to have to have hearing aids by the time I'm 50?

“I've been asked the question before, ‘What do you want? Do you want them to say sorry?’ What good is that to anybody now? It's absolutely useless.” Now, the first ever UK legal action against 3M has officially begun.

KP Law have issued a pre-action letter to the American company this week, seeking justice and compensation for hearing-impaired British troops.

Dave Pettifer is a Royal Marines veteran and one of those joining the legal action

The case comes after the company agreed to set aside more than $6bn to settle claims from US military personnel in 2023.

3M told GB News this previous litigation did not involve any admission of liability.

Tom Longstaff is Head of Product Liability at KP Law and believes current compensation schemes in the UK for illness or injury caused by service aren’t good enough.

He said: “Individuals have used the Combat Arms earplugs, thinking that they were protected from the very high volume and high levels of noise they were exposed to during their employment, including on active tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dave Pettifer says he regularly used the earplugs during his three tours of Afghanistan

“Sometime late, they have developed debilitating hearing conditions, including hearing loss and including tinnitus.

“It's simply not good enough to say to veterans that they can apply for compensation through a government funded scheme. We've already seen that very few people, in fact, have received any compensation at all.”

In parliament, the MP for Solihull West and Shirley, Neil Shastri-Hurst, has called for a public inquiry into the use of the earplugs.

The Conservative politician says an inquiry would help ensure accountability.

He told GB News: “Those that have taken the king's shilling to defend our national interests deserve to be protected, and when there is equipment that is putting them in harm's way because of the fact that it is potentially defective, I think that asks for questions to be answered by government and by the Ministry of Defence more widely.”

In response a 3M spokesperson said: “3M has great respect for the British Armed Forces. We are proud of our commitment to keeping service members safe through the supply of 3M products and we take the allegations concerning our Combat Arms Earplug Version 2 seriously.

“When used properly, this product was safe and effective for its intended purpose.

“The resolution of previous litigation in the United States did not involve any admission of liability and 3M is prepared to defend itself in any litigation threatened in the English courts regarding that product.”

3M told GB News this previous litigation did not involve any admission of liability

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence added: “We take the health and wellbeing of our personnel seriously and always look at how we can reduce noise levels in their working environment.

“This is alongside providing training, protective equipment and regular hearing tests to detect any early signs of hearing loss, so action can be taken if necessary.

“The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme provides no-fault compensation to Service Personnel and veterans for injuries, illness and death caused by service.”