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Printing Industry |
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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
- Success
with Ergonomics: New York Times. OSHA Success Stories, (2003, January). Describes the New York Times' sustained success
in tackling ergonomic issues over the course of its ten-year program, reducing workers' compensation claims
and related medical costs.
- Success
with Ergonomics: Quad Graphics Inc. OSHA Success Stories, (2002, September). Reports a Wisconsin commercial printing
and lithography plant' successful implementation of an ergonomics program, which successfully
reduced the total number of lost work days
by 60 percent and workers' compensation costs by 10 percent over four years.
- "Ergonomic Risks: Health concerns raised by new pressroom equipment leads to innovation."
Flexo Magazine (2002, August).
- Control
of Ergonomic Hazards from Squeegee Handles in the Screen-Printing Industry.
US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) Hazard Controls Publication No. 97-137, (1997, June).
- Dow Jones and Company, Inc., Dallas, Texas. National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH) Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA-90-0251-2128, (1991, August), 153 KB
PDF,
12 pages. Concludes that an ergonomic hazard existed in the composing room among printers due
to static standing postures. The author recommends measures to remedy the situation.
- Controlling
Cleaning-Solvent Vapors at Small Printers. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Hazard Controls Publication No. 98-107, (1997,
December).
Safe Equipment Operation
- FACEWeb.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE)
Program. Concentrates on investigations of fatal occupational injuries and provides the full text of hundreds
of fatality investigation reports.
- Printing
Machine Operator Electrocuted in Indiana. Indiana FACE Investigation 86-16, (2000, May 16). Investigates the death of a 32-year-old gilter operator electrocuted when he entered an electrical panelboard to reset a
circuit breaker.
- Pressman
Falls from Printing Press. Nebraska FACE Investigation 95NE016, (1995, June 28). Investigates
the case 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
Investigation 94MA018, (1994, May 6). Investigates 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). Contains a list of printing
information sheets and industry advisory committee leaflets, from the United
Kingdom on the safe operation of several types of printing presses.
Other Concerns
- OSHA
Hazard Awareness Advisor, Version 1.0. OSHA, (1999, September).
Helps businesses (especially small businesses)
identify and understand common occupational safety and health hazards
in their work place.
- For additional information on general safety and health concerns, see OSHA's
Safety and Health Topics Pages on:
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