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Wide-format printing with solvent-borne inks

xecutive

Wide-format

printing with

solvent-borne inks

Digital (ink-jet) printing

COSHH essentials

for printers

P39

Access and premises

? Only allow authorised staff access to the press room.

? Provide good facilities for washing, skin care, and for taking

refreshments.

Equipment

? Provide a good standard of general ventilation. Use powered wall- or

window-mounted fans to supply fresh air - five to ten air changes per

hour, with a through draught.

? Use sealed replacement cartridges where possible.

? Can you use automatic head cleaners?

Maintenance, examination and testing

? Follow the instructions in the maintenance manual and keep equipment

in effective and efficient working order.

? Noisy or vibrating fans indicate a problem. Do repairs as necessary.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE)

? Respiratory protective equipment should not be needed for routine use.

Gloves

? Gloves are not needed for routine use.

Digital (ink-jet) printing P39

Skin management

? Skin contact with the chemicals may cause dermatitis.

Skin care

? Keep hands clean and in good condition.

? Using pre-work creams helps make removing chemicals easier.

However, pre-work creams should not be seen as a substitute for gloves.

? If you need to use hand cleansers to remove inks, ensure that the

cleanser is rinsed off afterwards.

? Provide after-work creams (moisturisers) to replace skin oils.

? Never allow solvents to be used for cleaning skin.

Skin surveillance/checks

? Appoint a responsible person to carry out periodic skin inspections and

record the findings.

? Consider seeking advice from an occupational health professional.

Cleaning and housekeeping

? Keep the work area tidy, clean and free of combustible materials.

? Clean the workroom at least once a week.

? Provide fire-resisting, metal bins with well-fitting lids to hold solventsoaked

cloths.

? Minimise the amount of flammable liquids in use. Use a self-sealing

container or proprietary dispenser.

? Store containers in a safe place, securely closed.

? Clean up spills immediately. Use new nitrile gloves 0.4 mm thick. Throw

away gloves once used.

? Store contaminated cloths, wipes and gloves in fire-resisting, closed,

metal containers. Dispose of them as hazardous waste.

? Dispose of waste solvent, ink and empty containers as hazardous waste.

? Use a contract laundry or a suitable equivalent to wash work clothing.

Don’t do this at home.

Training and supervision

? Working in the right way is important for exposure control. Train and

supervise workers - see details in sheet P0.

Environmental guidelines

Releases into the air may be regulated within the Pollution Prevention

and Control (PPC) framework. Your local authority or the Environment

Agency will tell you if PPC applies to your company, and give advice on

air cleaning and discharging emissions. In Scotland, consult the

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). For more information,

see www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/sectors.

Employee checklist

Is the workroom

ventilation switched on and

working properly?

Look for signs of wear

and damage.

If you find any problems,

tell your supervisor or

safety/employee

representative. Don’t just

carry on working.

Never use solvents to

clean your hands - only use

proprietary skin cleansers.

Check your skin regularly

for dryness or soreness - tell

your supervisor if these

appear.

Use skin creams

provided, as instructed.

Wash your hands before

eating and drinking and

before you leave work.

Don’t smoke in the work

area.

Digital (ink-jet) printing P39

COSHH essentials for printers 11/05 Published by the Health and Safety Executive

Further information

¦ The printer’s guide to health and safety (Second edition) HSE Books

2002 ISBN 0 7176 2267 3

¦ Skin problems in the printing industry Leaflet IACL101(rev1)

HSE Books 2002 (single copy free or priced packs of 15

ISBN 0 7176 2322 X)

¦ General ventilation in the workplace: Guidance for employers HSG202

HSE Books 2000 ISBN 0 7176 1793 9

¦ Fire and explosion: How safe is your workplace? A short guide to the

Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations Leaflet

INDG370 HSE Books 2002 (single copy free or priced packs of 5

ISBN 0 7176 2589 3)

Useful links

Contact the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) on

01332 298101 or at www.bohs.org for lists of qualified hygienists

who can help you.

Look in Yellow Pages under ‘Health and safety consultants’ and

‘Health authorities and services’ for occupational physicians (doctors

and nurses). Also see www.nhsplus.nhs.uk.

This guidance is issued by the Health and Safety Executive. Following

the guidance is not compulsory and you are free to take other action.

But if you do follow the guidance you will normally be doing enough to

comply with the law. Health and safety inspectors seek to secure

compliance with the law and may refer to this guidance as illustrating

good practice.