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.