Why Are Safety Measures So Important In The Printing Industry?

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Accuracy, quality, productivity, and timeliness are vital within the printing industry. When an error occurs it creates long delays that can cause serious consequences for a company’s reputation and customer base. With such high demands and pressures, it is easy for the industry to avoid and overlook health and safety hazards. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the printing industry employs around 120,000 workers, predominantly in small to medium businesses. They found that the most common types of accidents within the industry are manual handling (27%), slips and trips (22%), and machinery (22%).

Control Of Substances Hazardous To Health (COSHH)

Health and safety plans are crucial within the printing industry due to the ink production process. Printing ink comprises four main components, pigments, resins, solvents, and additives. All of which can cause serious ill-health if exposed to them such as skin problems, dizziness, drowsiness, and damage to internal organs. These chemicals all contain different forms of gases such as vapour, fumes, dust, gases, and powders. Thus, it is vital that a risk assessment is completed, and the area is clear around the heavy machinery to reduce any potential hazards. As part of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), a company is required to adequately control exposure to materials in the workplace that cause ill health.

Manual Handling

Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling are all examples of manual handling activities across various industries. However, these examples cause the most injuries within the printing industry. Employers by law are required to assess, reduce, provide the appropriate training, and avoid manual handling risks where possible. Risk assessments are important, and it is paramount they are completed correctly. The manual handling assessment charts (the MAC tool) were developed to help individuals identify the high-risk manual handling activities. Designed to help people understand, interpret, and categorise the level of risks.

Reduce The Risks

Once a risk assessment has been completed there are certain steps that can be taken to reduce the risks to employees. Firstly, the use of mechanical aids such as pile turners, scissor lifts, reel conveyor trolleys, cylinder, and roller trolleys, and swing arm hoists and slings. Secondly, reducing the weight and size of a load. This can be done by reorganising or designing the task to decrease the required effort. In addition, improving the layout or the working area by adjusting height, space, and temperature. Lastly, provide your employees with the correct training on topics such as the regulations, how injury can occur, correct use of aids, and appropriate handling techniques.

Lindström Printer Wiper And Mat Rental

Modern printing companies require high-quality standard and superior printer wipers for cleaning printing plates, machinery, toner, and chemicals. Lindström industrial cleaning cloths and wipes are made from 100% cotton and are highly absorbent. They can be washed and reused numerous times, making them an excellent choice for environmentally conscious businesses

With a highly absorbent industrial ink wiper, your print technicians can be confident that they will leave a clean and dry surface wherever they are used. The superb absorbency and low linting characteristics of our cleaning rags will help ensure your business runs smoothly. Preventing expensive re-runs caused by dust or lint.

Additionally, like our industrial wipers, our absorption and spill mats are made from the most cost-effective and highly absorbent materials. They efficiently absorb solvents, powders, chemicals, and other liquids, cutting back on final clean-up.