Health and Safety

Executive

P2
23 Printing with
isocyanate-based
inks
COSHH essentials
for printers Screen printing

This information is intended Access and premises

to help employers in the
printing industry comply  Only allow staff under health surveillance to work with isocyanates.
with the requirements of  Provide good facilities for washing, skin care, and for taking
the Control of Substances refreshments.
Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
(COSHH), as amended, to control exposure Equipment
to chemicals and protect workers’ health.

It is also useful for trade union safety

 Provide a good standard of general ventilation. Use powered wall- or
window-mounted fans to supply fresh air - five to ten air changes per
representatives.
hour, with a through draught.
This sheet describes good practice for  Provide splash-resistant gloves.
using isocyanate-based inks.
Mixing
It is important to follow all the points or
use equally effective measures.
 Extraction of vapour should not be needed if mixing only small
amounts of ink, eg less than 500 ml per day per workshop.
Isocyanate-based inks can cause  For larger amounts, extraction will be needed. Seek specialist advice -
dermatitis and asthma. Consider using see ‘Useful links’.
isocyanate-free products.  Wipe up dribbles and spills immediately. Decontaminate the wipes -
see ‘Cleaning and housekeeping’.
Prevent exposure to substances that can
cause occupational asthma. If that isn’t
Manual printing with rack drying/curing
reasonably practicable, control exposure to
stop asthma developing.
 Position the drying rack inside an extracted booth.
 Locate the booth away from doors, windows and walkways. Draughts
If a worker develops occupational asthma, may interfere with the extraction.
avoid further exposure.  You need an air flow between 0.5 and 1 metre per second into the booth.

Main points
Semi-automatic printing with oven drying/curing
I Avoid skin contact and inhaling
isocyanate-based products - these can
 You need an air flow between 0.5 and 1 metre per second into the
oven openings.
cause dermatitis and asthma.
I Carry out health surveillance for
 Wire in the extraction with the printing unit. You may need flameproof
fittings.
asthma and dermatitis.
 Make sure the oven is kept below atmospheric pressure when in use.

All extraction
 Fit a manometer, pressure gauge or tell-tale to show that extraction
is working.
 Discharge extracted air to a safe place in the open air, away from
doors, windows and air inlets.
Screen printing P23

Special care
 Avoid products containing HDI, IPDI or TDI - check the safety data
sheet. If you do need to use an isocyanate-based product, choose one
containing MDI, which is less volatile.

Maintenance, examination and testing

 Follow the instructions in the maintenance manual - keep equipment in
effective and efficient working order.
 Noisy or vibrating fans indicate a problem. Do repairs as necessary.
 If the machine extraction stops, or is faulty, get it repaired straight away.
 Don’t alter, add or remove extraction without specialist advice.
 Check transfer hoses and connectors regularly for leaks.
 At least once a week, check that the extraction system and gauges
work properly.
 You need to know the manufacturer’s performance specifications to
know if extraction is working properly.
 If this information isn’t available, hire a competent ventilation engineer
to determine the performance needed for effective control.
 The engineer’s report must show the target extraction rates.
 Keep this information in your testing logbook.
 Get a competent ventilation engineer to examine the extraction
thoroughly and test its performance at least once every 14 months -
see HSE publication HSG54.
 Keep records of all examinations and tests for at least five years.
 Biological monitoring for isocyanates may be required. See sheet P47.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 Provide storage for PPE to prevent damage or contamination when

not in use.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE)

 RPE should not be needed for routine use.
 Air-fed RPE may be needed for use in emergencies, eg cleaning up
spillages. This needs a supply of clean compressed air.
 Provide an LDM2 air-fed half-mask for clearing up spills, blockages,
maintenance, etc. See sheet P49.

Gloves
 Use splash-resistant gloves where there is a risk of skin contact.
Single-use nitrile gloves 0.2 mm thick are acceptable.
 Ensure that workers wear them.
 Tell workers to dispose of single-use gloves every time they take
them off.

Other equipment
 Cotton overalls to minimise clothing contamination.
 Change contaminated overalls immediately and ensure they are
laundered before reuse.
Screen printing P23

Asthma management

 There is a chance of asthma developing, even with good controls in place.

 Health surveillance for occupational asthma is required. See sheet P46.
 Seek advice from an occupational health professional.
 Start surveillance for new workers within six weeks of their starting work.
Then check as advised by your health professional.

Skin management

 Skin contact with isocyanates may cause dermatitis.

Skin care
 Keep hands clean and in a 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 ink, 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
 Health surveillance for dermatitis is required. See sheet P45.
 Seek advice from an occupational health professional in setting up a
health surveillance programme.
 Start surveillance for new workers within six weeks of their starting
work. Then check at monthly intervals or as advised by your health
professional.

Cleaning and housekeeping

 Keep the work area tidy, clean and free of combustible materials.
 Clean the workroom at least once a week.
 Store containers in a safe place, securely closed.
 Handle containers with care and replace caps. Wipe off any liquid on
the outside of the container.
 Clean up spills immediately with absorbent granules or cloths. Use new
nitrile gloves 0.4 mm thick. Throw away gloves once used.

Decontamination
 Store contaminated cloths, wipes and gloves in fire-resisting, closed,
metal containers. Decontaminate promptly.
 Decontaminate empty containers.
 Dispose of waste solvent and decontaminated wipes, containers, etc
as hazardous waste.
 Use a contract laundry or a suitable equivalent to wash work clothing.
Don’t do this at home.
 Ask your supplier, or read the safety data sheet.
 You can use a solution of sodium carbonate (washing soda) in water,
50 g per litre. Mix with the contaminated waste and leave it to stand
for a few days.
Screen printing P23

Training and supervision Employee checklist

Is the workroom
 Working in the right way is important for exposure control. Train and
ventilation switched on and
supervise workers - see details in sheet P0.
working properly?
 Warn about the dermatitis and asthma risks from isocyanates.
Is the machine extraction
Environmental guidelines switched on and working
properly?
Releases into the air may be regulated within the Pollution Prevention
Look for signs of wear
and Control (PPC) framework. Your Local Authority or the Environment
and damage.
Agency will advise you if PPC applies to your company, and about air
cleaning and discharging emissions. In Scotland, consult the Scottish If you find any problems,
Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). For more information, see tell your supervisor or
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/netregs/sectors. safety/employee
representative. Don’t just
Further information carry on working.
I The printer’s guide to health and safety (Second edition) HSE Books
Wear your protective
2002 ISBN 0 7176 2267 3
equipment as directed.
I 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) Throw away single-use
I General ventilation in the workplace: Guidance for employers HSG202 gloves every time you take
HSE Books 2000 ISBN 0 7176 1793 9 them off.
I Maintenance, examination and testing of local exhaust ventilation
Don’t use damaged
HSG54 (Second edition) HSE Books 1998 ISBN 0 7176 1485 9
gloves.
I Preventing asthma at work: How to control respiratory sensitisers L55
HSE Books 1994 ISBN 0 7176 0661 9 Never use solvents to
I Fire and explosion: How safe is your workplace? A short guide to the clean your hands - only use
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations Leaflet proprietary skin cleansers.
INDG370 HSE Books 2002 (single copy free or priced packs of 5
Use skin creams
ISBN 0 7176 2589 3)
provided, as instructed.

Useful links Check your skin regularly

for dryness or soreness - tell
Contact the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) on your supervisor if these
01332 298101 or at www.bohs.org for lists of qualified hygienists appear.
who can help you.
Co-operate with health
surveillance for asthma and
Look in Yellow Pages under ‘Health and safety consultants’ and
dermatitis.
‘Health authorities and services’ for occupational physicians (doctors
and nurses). Also see www.nhsplus.nhs.uk. Wash your hands before
eating and drinking and
Contact the Health and Safety Laboratory at hslinfo@hsl.gov.uk for before you leave work.
help on biological monitoring for isocyanates.
Don’t smoke in the work
area.

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.

COSHH essentials for printers 05/07 Published by the Health and Safety Executive