If you spent years working on printing presses, folding machines, or binding equipment and your hearing is not what it used to be, you are not alone. Many former printing industry workers are now realising that the hearing loss or tinnitus they have been living with was caused by decades of noise exposure at work, not simply by getting older.
The printing industry has been classified by the Health and Safety Executive as a high-noise sector. If your employer did not protect your hearing properly, you may have options you are not aware of, including the right to make a hearing loss claim for compensation.
Could Printing Press Noise Have Damaged My Hearing?
It could be. HSE surveys of UK printing sites found that daily noise exposure levels typically ranged from 80 to 94 dB, with some machinery reaching far higher. Older folding machines, particularly models manufactured by Baker Perkins and Crabtree Vickers, historically produced noise levels of 95 to 105 dB. Web-fed tower presses used for newspaper and directory printing were among the loudest, with spot readings reaching 95 dB from air drums, drying fans, and suction systems (HSE Noise in the Printing Industry Survey, 2010-2011).
To put that into context, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to take action at 85 dB and set an absolute legal limit of 87 dB. Many printing environments exceeded both of those thresholds for decades before adequate controls were introduced.
A 2014 HSE study found an “ingrained belief” within the printing industry that noise was no longer a serious problem, despite evidence that workers were still being exposed to damaging levels from legacy equipment (HSE, 2014).
How Do I Know If My Hearing Loss Was Caused by Noise at Work?
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) develops gradually. Many people do not notice the damage until years after the exposure occurred. The signs to look out for include:
- Difficulty hearing conversations clearly, especially in group settings or noisy environments
- Needing the television or radio louder than other people in the room
- A persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears (tinnitus)
- Muffled hearing or a sensation of pressure in the ears
- Struggling to hear high-pitched sounds, such as birdsong, doorbells, or certain consonants like “s” and “f”
Unlike age-related hearing loss, which tends to affect a broad range of frequencies gradually, NIHL produces a characteristic pattern on an audiogram: a distinct dip in hearing ability at around 4,000 Hz. This is one of the key ways an audiologist can confirm that hearing damage was caused by noise exposure rather than natural ageing.
If you worked in a printing environment and are experiencing any of these symptoms, the hearing loss you are living with may not simply be a natural part of getting older. A hearing test can help determine whether workplace noise was a factor.
Which Printing Jobs Put Workers Most at Risk?
Not every role in a print works carried the same level of risk, but several positions involved sustained exposure to noise above the legal safety threshold:
- Press operators working alongside web-fed or sheet-fed printing presses
- Folding machine operators, particularly those working with older mechanical folders
- Bookbinders using stitching, trimming, and binding equipment
- Guillotine operators handling high-speed paper cutting
- Maintenance engineers working in close proximity to running machinery
- Newspaper press hall workers in production environments running overnight shifts
Workers in regional newspaper operations, commercial print houses, packaging printers, and large-scale directory publishers were all routinely exposed to noise levels that required hearing protection. In many cases, adequate protection was never provided.
My Hearing Was Damaged at Work. What Can I Do About It?
Under the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 and the earlier Noise at Work Regulations 1989, employers had a legal duty to assess noise levels, reduce exposure where possible, provide hearing protection, and carry out regular hearing checks for workers in high-noise environments.
If your employer failed to meet these obligations and you have since developed hearing loss or tinnitus, you may be entitled to compensation. Hearing loss claims can be pursued even if the company you worked for has closed down. WE Solicitors has extensive experience tracing former employers and their insurers for claims involving exposure that occurred decades ago.
WE Solicitors is currently representing former printing industry workers from the Plymouth area who have come forward with noise-induced hearing loss after years of working in print production environments. It is an area of growing enquiry, and many of the people contacting WE Solicitors had not previously realised that their hearing loss could be connected to their work.
An important point that many people are not aware of: the three-year time limit for making a claim runs from your “date of knowledge,” meaning the point at which you first became aware that your hearing loss was connected to your work (Limitation Act 1980, Section 11). It does not run from when the noise exposure happened. This means that even if you left the printing industry 20 or 30 years ago, you may still be within time to claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
I left the printing industry years ago. Is it too late to do anything?
Not necessarily. The three-year time limit runs from when you became aware your hearing loss was linked to your work, not from when you were last exposed to noise. Many successful hearing loss claims involve exposure from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
The company I worked for closed down. Can I still do anything?
Yes. Hearing loss claims can still be pursued even if the employer no longer exists. WE Solicitors specialises in tracing dissolved companies and their insurers. The fact that your former employer has closed does not prevent you from claiming.
I think my hearing loss is just my age. How would I know the difference?
An audiologist can carry out a hearing test (audiogram) that identifies patterns consistent with noise-induced damage, specifically a dip in hearing at around 4,000 Hz. This is different from the pattern seen with age-related hearing loss and helps confirm whether workplace noise was a factor.
What kind of compensation are we talking about?
It depends on the severity of your hearing loss. According to the Judicial College Guidelines, awards for hearing loss and tinnitus typically range from around £7,000 to £45,000, with severe cases involving total hearing loss potentially exceeding £100,000. Additional compensation may cover lost earnings, medical costs, and the impact on your quality of life.
Do I have to pay anything to find out if I have a claim?
No. WE Solicitors operates on a No Win, No Fee basis. The initial consultation is free, there is no upfront cost, and if your claim is unsuccessful, you owe nothing.
Get a Free Assessment
If you worked in the printing industry and are now experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, WE Solicitors can help you understand whether you have grounds for a hearing loss claim. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. There is no cost, no obligation, and the call is confidential.
Call free on 0800 294 3065 or use our online contact form to arrange a callback at a time that suits you.
Sources: HSE Noise in the Printing Industry Survey (2010-2011) · HSE Noise at Work Statistics (2023) · Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/1643) · Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 · Limitation Act 1980, Section 11 · Judicial College Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition (2024) · Labour Force Survey, Self-reported Work-related Hearing Problems (2022/23 to 2024/25)
