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Printing Industry |
| Health
and Safety Concerns |
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Many workers are unaware of the potential
hazards in their work environment, which makes them more vulnerable
to injury. The following references aid in recognizing and controlling
some general safety concerns associated with the printing industry.
Ergonomics
- Ergonomic Evaluation of Operations.
OSHA (2003, January) 1.22 MB PDF,
9 pages. This hazard alert letter notes hazards at specific locations along a printing line.
- Ergonomic Risks: Health concerns raised
by new pressroom equipment leads to innovation. Slattery,
T.; Tucker, R. (2002, August). Flexo magazine: 66-69.
- Ergonomic Resource Letter.
OSHA (2001, October) 1.26 MB PDF,
7 pages. This hazard alert letter addresses the
ergonomic problems encountered during an inspection. It lists the
recognized hazards and feasible controls for the workplace in question.
- Success
with Ergonomics. OSHA (1998, October 16), 1 page. This success
story is about a Wisconsin commercial printing and lithography
plant that implemented an ergonomics program, successfully reducing
the total number of lost work days by 60 percent and workers'
compensation costs by 10 percent over four years.
- Control
of Ergonomic Hazards from Squeegee Handles in the Screen-Printing
Industry. National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) Hazard Controls Publication No. 97-137 (1998, March 2), 1 page.
Repetitive use of hand tools (particularly those that compress
the palm of the hand and are held with a pinch or precision grip)
may result in the development of carpal tunnel syndrome and other
musculoskeletal disorders of the hand, wrist, and arm.
Safe Equipment Operation
- FACEWeb.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH),
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program.
The FACE program concentrates on investigations of fatal occupational
injuries. The primary intent of this website is to provide access
to the full text of hundreds of fatality investigation reports.
- Printing
Machine Operator Electrocuted. Indiana FACE 86-16
(2000, May 16), 3 pages. This is a NIOSH investigation
into the death of a 32-year-old gliter operator electrocuted
when he entered an electrical panelboard to reset a
circuit breaker.
- Pressman
Falls from Printing Press. Nebraska FACE Investigation
(1995, June 28), 4 pages. This is a NIOSH investigation
of a 54-year-old male pressman who fell approximately
41 inches from a printing press. He fell face first
to a concrete floor and was taken to a hospital
where he died later in the day from a heart attack.
- Temporary
Worker Dies When Crushed in Screen Printing Press.
Massachusetts FACE 94MA018 (1994, May 6), 4 pages.
This is a NIOSH investigation into the death of a 19-year-old
worker crushed by a screen printing press when the
infrared emergency stop reversed the motion of the
printing frame faster than normal.
- Free
Leaflets - Printing. Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (2002,
October 28). This page contains a list of HTML and PDF printing
information sheets and industry advisory committee leaflets on
the safe operation of several types of printing presses.
Other Concerns
- OSHA
Hazard Awareness Advisor, Version 1.0. OSHA (1999, September).
This software will help businesses (especially small businesses)
identify and understand common occupational safety and health hazards
in their work place.
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31 December 2003 |
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