MP demands public inquiry into faulty 3M earplugs supplied to British troops
The Government is being urged to stage an independent inquiry into “defective” combat earplugs supplied to British troops for more than 20 years by American PPE giant 3M.
At a defence questions session in the House of Commons this week, Neil Shastri-Hurst, MP for Solihull West & Shirley, asked Veterans Minister Al Carns to use his “arts of persuasion” on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to formally investigate “the extent” of the scandal and learn “how we can prevent it happening again.”
“Hidden scars of service”
He described hearing damage suffered by an estimated 300,000 UK armed services personnel as the “hidden scars of service,” explaining many cases were linked to British troops’ use of 3M Combat Arms Earplugs V2 that did not work.
“For many veterans hearing loss is one of the hidden scars of service. In a number of cases that has been linked with defective 3M hearing equipment,” Mr Shrastri Hurst, who served in the British Army Medical Corps from 2006 to 2024, told the House.
“Will the Minister use their arts of persuasion on the Prime Minister to have an independent inquiry to see the extent of this, whether any other equipment is involved and how we can prevent it happening again?”
Al Carns, Veterans and People Minister, who served 24 years in the Royal Marines, responded: “Any issue with hearing loss, or any hearing loss from equipment, can absolutely apply for compensation through the War Pensions Scheme or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, and I know there is broader work going on with those specific bits of capacity outside this place.”
KP Law is bringing a group action lawsuit against 3M
The exchange took place as KP Law, UK group action specialists, ramps up its campaign for affected British military personnel to join its claim against 3M to secure justice and compensation.
This is the first action against 3M in the UK courts. It comes after 3M agreed in 2023 to pay more than $6bn to settle lawsuits from US military personnel.
3M supplied at least 400,000 sets of Combat Arms Earplugs to the UK’s Military of Defence (MoD) between 2003 and 2023.
It is estimated that more than 300,000 men and women who have served in Britain’s Army, Navy and Air Force are suffering from hearing difficulties.
Many of these men and women now suffer with ongoing hearing loss and damage including tinnitus.
Rikki Drury is one of up to 300,000 affected men and women
Among them is Lance Corporal Rikki Drury, 40, a businessman and TikToker, who used 3M combat earplugs during his 12 years as a driver and a bomb disposal specialist in the Army’s Royal Logistics Corps, including on operational tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Ever since training and serving in the Army, I have always had problems with the hearing in my right ear. I also get high-pitched ringing in my ears,” he said.
“I’ve had it that long I just thought it was normal. When you’re in high-stakes situations in Iraq or Afghanistan, the last thing you think about is your hearing. It’s only later on you think: ‘The MoD spent so much money on body armour, so why did they give us earplugs that didn’t work?’
“The truth is, the MoD will have trusted 3M, but 3M just saw dollar signs – and they didn’t really care about the troops using their faulty earplugs. It’s a real kick in the guts.”
Justice and compensation
Tom Longstaff, partner and head of product liability at KP Law, said: “One of the British military’s core values is integrity. By supplying earplugs that were defective, 3M showed no integrity. This is another example of a large corporate taking advantage of the British public, this time at the expense of members of the Armed Forces. It is only right that the men and women whose lives have been impacted receive justice and compensation.”
Individuals who meet the following criteria are eligible to join KP Law’s class action lawsuit:
- Served in the armed forces
- Suffer from or suspect they suffer from hearing loss
- Used 3M Combat Arms Earplugs V2.
Some UK military personnel have already received compensation from the MoD after having suffered hearing loss or hearing damage while serving. Having previously received compensation from the MoD does not preclude someone from joining KP Law’s group action to seek justice from 3M. The two claims are entirely separate.
Veterans can sign up to the claim by going to www.3mclaims.co.uk
