Together, OSHA and the printing industry are committed to providing employers and employees with information and assistance to help them comply with OSHA and industry standards and ensure safe workplaces. Four printing disciplines are addressed in these pages: lithography, flexography, gravure, and screen printing.

This page was developed as a product of OSHA's former Alliance with the Graphic Arts Coalition (GAC).

Printing industry hazards are addressed in specific standards for the general industry.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, Federal Registers (rules, proposed rules, and notices), and standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to the printing industry.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness (29 CFR 1904) [related topic page]

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

Federal Registers

• Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements. Final Rules 67:44037-44048, (2002, July 1). Revises an earlier rule (2001, January) involving the recording criteria for occupational hearing loss cases and work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
  
  
• Search all available Federal Registers.

Standard Interpretations

• Printing Industry: Lock Out/Tag Out and the essential elements of the inch-safe-service technique. (2004, April 7). Responds to a question regarding standards 29 CFR 1910.147, 29 CFR 1910.212, and 29 CFR 1910.219, as they apply to:
  • Binding and finishing equipment that function under two separate modes of operation
  • Cleaning blankets
    
    
• Applicability of the Machine Guarding and Lockout/Tagout standards to printing presses. Includes information on:
  • Printing presses
    • Printing Presses: requirements for normal production and servicing operations. (1992, September 16). Responds to a question regarding standards 29 CFR 1910.147, 29 CFR 1910.212, and 29 CFR 1910.219, as they apply to printing presses that function under two separate modes of operation.
      
  • Binding and finishing equipment
    
    
• Search all available standard interpretations.

Industry Segments

The printing industry can be separated into four main segments and each must comply with all of the general industry standards (29 CFR 1910).

• Lithography
  
  
• Flexography
  
  
• Gravure
  
  
• Screen Printing

Lithography

Lithography is a planographic printing system where the image and non-image areas are chemically differentiated with the image area being oil receptive and non-image area water receptive. Ink film from the lithographic plate is transferred to an intermediary surface called a blanket, which, in turn, transfers the ink film to the substrate. Fountain solution is applied to maintain the hydrophilic properties of the non-image area. Ink drying is divided into heatset and non-heatset. Substrate can be fed into the press either as individual sheets or from a continuous roll or web.

Frequently Cited Standards

To view the most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA for this segment, select one of the SIC codes listed below.

• 2652 - Setup paperboard boxes
  
  
• 2657 - Folding paperboard boxes, including sanitary
  
  
• 2711 - Newspapers: publishing, or publishing and printing
  
  
• 2732 - Book printing
  
  
• 2752 - Commercial printing, lithographic
  
  
• 2761 - Manifold business forms
  
  
• 2771 - Greeting cards
  
  
• 2782 - Blankbooks, looseleaf binders and devices

NAICS Codes

• NAICS 322212
  
  
• NAICS 322213
  
  
• NAICS 323110
  
  
• NAICS 323116
  
  
• NAICS 323117
  
  
• NAICS 323118
  
  
• NAICS 511110
  
  
• NAICS 511191

Flexography

Flexography routinely prints jobs that we all have contact with on a daily basis in the supermarket, at the warehouse store, at the shopping mall, and local newsstands. This printing process uses a flexible printing plate with a raised image mounted on a rotary cylinder. The liquid and fast-drying ink is applied to the printing plate by way of a finely engraved rotary cylinder, called an anilox roll. A flexo press is equipped with one to twelve color stations and can print on virtually any type of substrate, from corrugated board to flexible plastic film or textiles and cloth fabrics.

Frequently Cited Standards

To view the most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA for this segment, see the SIC code listed below.

• 2759 - Commercial printing, not elsewhere classified

NAICS Codes

• NAICS 323112

Gravure

Gravure is an intaglio printing process. Gravure is the simplest of the major printing processes in terms of the number of ink transfers and moving parts. An image carrier has the image cut or etched below the surface of the non-image area. On the gravure image carrier all the images are screened, creating thousands of tiny cells. During printing, the image carrier is immersed in fluid ink. As the image carrier rotates, ink fills the tiny cells that cover the surface of the cylinder. The surface of the cylinder is wiped with a doctor blade, leaving the non-image area clean while ink remains in the recessed cells. Substrate is brought into contact with the image carrier with the help of an impression roll. At the point of contact, ink is drawn out of the cells onto the substrate by capillary action and transferred (printed) on the substrate. The substrate is passed through a dryer where the ink is dried.

Frequently Cited Standards

To view the most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA for this segment, see the SIC code listed below.

• 2754 - Commercial Printing, Gravure

NAICS Codes

• NAICS 323111

Screen Printing

Screen printing is a printing process in which printing ink, coating, or adhesive material is passed through a taut web or fabric to which a refined form of stencil has been applied. The stencil openings determine the form and dimensions of the imprint.

Frequently Cited Standards

To view the most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA for this segment, select one of the SIC codes listed below.

• 2759 - Commercial printing not elsewhere classified
  
  
• 2396 - Automotive trimmings, apparel findings, and related products
  
  
• 3993 - Signs and advertising specialties

NAICS Codes

• NAICS 323113

Health and Safety Concerns

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 [153 KB PDF, 12 pages]. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA-90-0251-2128, (1991, August). 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

• Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 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:
  • Computer Workstations
  • Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout)
  • Electrical
  • Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Ergonomics
  • Eye and Face Protection
  • Fire Safety
  • Hand and Power Tools
  • Hazard Communication
  • Hazardous and Toxic Substances
  • Injury and Illness Recordkeeping
  • Machine Guarding
  • Occupational Noise Exposure
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Powered Industrial Trucks
  • Ventilation
  • Walking/Working Surfaces

Safety and Health Programs

An effective safety and health program depends on the credibility of management's involvement in the program, inclusion of employees in safety and health decisions, rigorous worksite analysis to identify hazards and potential hazards, including those which could result from a change in worksite conditions or practices, stringent prevention and control measures, and thorough training. It addresses hazards whether or not they are regulated by government standards. The following resources provide information that can help employers develop and implement a safety and health program.

• Ritrama Invests in Safety and Improves Its Bottom Line. OSHA and Ritrama Case Study, (2007, June). Through the OSHA and GAC Alliance, the agency worked with Ritrama, a multi-national corporation, to highlight a safety and health program that the company designed and implemented to educate the managers, supervisors and employees about safe work practices and company-specific procedures at its manufacturing plant in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a result of the program, Ritrama reduced its workers' compensation premiums, increased productivity and product quality, and improved its employee recruitment and retention.
  
  
• Job Hazard Analysis. OSHA Publication 3071, (2002). Also available as a 497 KB PDF, 50 pages. Explains what a job hazard analysis is and offers guidelines to help employers conduct their own step-by-step analysis.
  
  
• Safety and Health Management Systems. OSHA eTool. There are four crucial questions you should be asking when it comes to safety and health programs. The detailed answers are found in the four modules of this eTool.
  
  
• $afety Pays Program. OSHA. Assists employers in estimating the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses and the impact on a company's profitability.
  
  
• Safety and Health Management Program Guidelines; Issuance of Voluntary Guidelines. OSHA Federal Register Notice 54:3904-3916, (1989, January 26). Provides safety and health program management guidelines are for use by employers to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
  • Elements of an Effective Safety and Health Program. OSHA Slide Presentation. Summarizes safety and health program guidelines.
    
    
• Safety and Health Add Value. OSHA Publication 3180. Also available as a 200 KB PDF, 6 pages. Describes how safety and health add value to your business, your workplace, and your life.
  
  
• For additional information, see OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs Safety and Health Topics Page.

Additional Information

Training

• Small Business. OSHA.
  • On-Site Consultation
    • Program Information and Benefits
  • OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP). Recognizes small business employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system. Upon receiving SHARP recognition, your business will be exempt from programmed inspections during the period that your SHARP certification is valid.
    
    
• Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP). OSHA. VPP participants are a select group of facilities that have designed and implemented outstanding health and safety programs.

Other Resources

• Small Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also available as a 260 KB PDF, 56 pages. Helps small business employers meet the legal requirements imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act), and achieve an in-compliance status before an OSHA inspection.
  
  
• Gantly, Tim. "A Safe Beginning." Flexo Magazine (2002, February).
  
  
• Safety in Action: #5 A Practical Guide for Ergonomics [176 KB PDF, 4 pages]. Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA). Provides members of the printing industry guidance on conducting a basic ergonomic evaluation of a job.
  
  
• Ergonomics for the Screen Printing & Graphic Imaging Industry. Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA). Provides information on ergonomic hazards in the printing industry and identifies ergonomic risk factors.
  • The Hidden Secret to Improving Profitability [63 KB PDF, 3 pages]. (2005). Describes how OSHA's cooperative programs, including the Consultation Program, Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), and Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), may help members of the printing industry to improve workplace safety and save money.

Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.