Printing industry

Advice for managers

This information will help managers to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), as amended, to control exposure and protect workers' health. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Manual film and plate development

This sheet describes good practice for manual film development and plate making. Consider using automatic processes to reduce the risk of skin exposure. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Automated film and plate development

This sheet describes good practice for automatic film and litho-plate development. Automatic processors help avoid skin contact. Use extraction for developer fumes. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Ink mixing and cleaning upThis sheet describes good practice for the mixing of conventional inks (vegetable/mineral oil-based), UV-curable inks, cold-set inks and heat-set inks, and cleaning the mixing equipment. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with conventional inks

This sheet provides good practice for litho printing processes using conventional inks with or without isopropanol (IPA) damping. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Manual cleaning of presses (conventional inks)

This sheet describes good practice for manual cleaning of presses using conventional inks, and blanket rejuvenation with cleaning chemicals such as solvent naphtha. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Automated cleaning of press (conventional inks)

This sheet describes good practice for automatic cleaning of presses using conventional inks, with cleaning chemicals such as solvent naphtha. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with UV-curable inks and coatings

This sheet describes good practice for printing with UV-curable inks where the ink-curing lamps generate ozone. Use extraction for any ozone produced. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Manual cleaning of presses (UV-curable inks and coatings)

This sheet describes good practice for manual cleaning of offset presses using UV-curable inks, with cleaning chemicals such as solvent naphtha, high boiling point glycol ethers and water-based products. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Automated cleaning of presses (UV-curable inks and coatings)

This sheet describes good practice for automatic cleaning of presses using UV-curable inks, with cleaning chemicals such as solvent naphtha, high boiling point glycol ethers and water-based products. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with cold-set inks

This sheet describes good practice for litho printing using cold-set inks with or without isopropanol (IPA) damping. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Manual cleaning of presses (cold-set inks)

Description It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Automated cleaning of presses (cold-set inks)

Description It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with heat-set inks

This sheet describes good practice for heat-set printing. Use extraction for solvent vapour. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Manual cleaning of presses (heat-set inks)

This sheet describes good practice for manual cleaning of presses using heat-set inks, and blanket rejuvenation with cleaning chemicals such as solvent naphtha. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Automated cleaning of presses (heat-set inks)

This sheet describes good practice for automatic cleaning of presses using heat-set inks, with cleaning chemicals such as solvent naphtha. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Using isocyanate-based adhesives in frame-making

This sheet describes good practice for using isocyanate-based adhesives in frame-making. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Stencil generation

This sheet describes good practice for making screen printing stencils. Sheet P16 covers the task of attaching the screen to its frame. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Ink mixing and colour matching

This sheet provides good practice for ink mixing, thinning, retarding and colour matching. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with lower-volatility inks and rack drying

This sheet provides good practice for using lower-volatility inks with a minimum boiling point above 150°C. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with higher-volatility inks and extracted rack drying

This sheet describes good practice for using higher-volatility inks with a minimum boiling point below 150°C, and for all longer print runs. Use extraction on the rack drier. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

High-volume printing with oven drying

This sheet describes good practice for oven or tunnel drying of long print runs or large prints. Use extraction for solvent vapour. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with UV-curable inks

This sheet provides good practice for using UV-curable inks and coatings. Use extraction for any ozone produced. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with isocyanate-based inks

This sheet describes good practice for using isocyanate-based inks. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Manual screen reclamation

This sheet provides good practice for ink removal and screen reclamation in an extracted wash-out booth. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Automated screen reclamation

This sheet provides good practice for automated screen cleaning in an enclosed extracted washer. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Mixing solvent-based inks

This sheet provides good practice for mixing and diluting solvent-borne inks in smaller-scale printing operations in an extracted booth. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing on packaging Publication

This sheet describes good practice for gravure printing on packaging. Use extraction for solvent vapour. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

On-press cleaning

This sheet describes good practice for on-press cleaning of gravure presses. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Manual off-press cleaning

This sheet describes good practice for off-press cleaning of cylinders, rollers, side panels, splash guards and other removable press components, in an extracted booth. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Automated off-press cleaning

This sheet describes good practice for off-press cleaning of cylinders, rollers, side panels, splash guards and other removable press components, in an enclosed spray washer. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Making and washing photopolymer plates

This sheet describes good practice for developing and washing photopolymer plates and forms in an enclosed unit. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Mixing solvent-borne inks

This sheet describes good practice for mixing and diluting solvent-borne inks in smaller-scale printing operations in an extracted booth. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with solvent-borne inks

Description It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Mixing UV-curable inks

This sheet describes good practice for mixing UV-curable inks used in smaller-scale printing operations. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Printing with UV-curable inks Publication

This sheet describes good practice for printing using UV-curable inks. Use extraction for any ozone produced. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Wide-format printing with solvent-borne inks

This sheet describes good practice for digital (ink-jet) printing on machines up to 3.2 metres wide,using solvent-borne inks. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Wide-format printing with UV-curable inks

This sheet describes good practice for digital (ink-jet) printing on machines up to 3.2 metres wide,using UV-curable inks. Use extraction for any ozone produced. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Grande-format printing

This sheet describes good practice for digital (ink-jet) printing on machines more than 3.2 metres wide, using solvent-borne inks. Use extraction for solvent vapour. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Mixing and transferring isocyanate-based adhesives

This sheet describes good practice for mixing and transferring isocyanate-based products. Enclose the mixing process. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Using isocyanate-based adhesives

This sheet describes good practice for laminating with isocyanate-based products. Use extraction for isocyanate and solvent vapours. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.

Drying and curing isocyanate-based adhesives

This sheet describes good practice for laminating with isocyanate-based products. Use extraction for isocyanate and solvent vapours. It covers the points you need to follow to reduce exposure. It is important to follow all the points, or use equally effective measures.