Ref No 1013 (v5)
Management Solutions Hardfacts No 6011); and
Risk Management in
the Printing Industry
Introduction
This Hardfacts provides an overview of the
management of pure, non-financial risk within the
printing industry, and provides guidance primarily
in the areas of safety, health and fire risk
management. Where appropriate, reference is
made to other relevant Hardfacts available via the
Aviva Risk Management Solutions Helpline: tel no
0845 366 66 66 (charged at local call rate).
Health and Safety Management
All companies employing five or more persons in
the printing industry should have an up-to-date
written statement of their health and safety policy,
which outlines the organisation and arrangements
for ensuring continuous improvement in health and
safety at work. (See Aviva Risk Management
Solutions Hardfacts No 1002 - Health and Safety
Policy Document).
In each factory, a competent person should be
appointed to advise directors and management on
the requirements and prohibitions of the health
and safety legislation, i.e. a health and safety
adviser. (See Aviva Risk Management Solutions
Hardfacts N0 5031 - The Management of Health
and Safety at Work Regulations, 1999.)
Written risk assessments should be in place and
should have been communicated to all employees.
These risk assessments - and their commensurate
control measures - should cover all work areas
and tasks. (See Aviva Risk Management Solutions
Hardfacts No 5010 - Conducting Risk
Assessments.)
In addition to the requirements for general risk
assessments, special risk assessments should
also be in place for manual handling (Aviva Risk
Management Solutions Hardfacts No 5020);
control of substances hazardous to health –
COSHH) (Aviva Risk Management Solutions
Hardfacts No 6008); noise at work (Aviva Risk
for machinery, as required by the Provision and
Use of Work Equipment Regulations, 1998 (Aviva
Risk Management Solutions Hardfacts No 5015).
Training
Health and safety training in the legal requirements
and their implications should be given to all
employees, so as to ensure that they are aware of
workplace hazards and their controls. Such
awareness training should cover documented
assessments, systems and procedures, including
permit to work systems that are in place. (Aviva
Risk Management Solutions Hardfacts No 5022 -
Permits to Work). All health and safety training -
both formal and informal - should be recorded.
Specific Industry Hazards
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have
produced a number of publications relating to the
printing industry, which are available from HSE
Books, (telephone 01787 881165). These include:
• Safety at power operated paper-cutting
guillotines (IND G 282).
• Work related upper limb disorders in the
printing industry (IAC L91).
• Dermatitis in printing (IAC L101).
• Control of chemicals in printing – COSHH
essentials for printers (2000).
• The printers guide to health and safety (1998).
• Monitoring for health and safety in print (IAC
L65 rev1).
• Assessing and managing risks at work from
skin exposure to chemical agents (HS G 205).
• Working safely with solvents (IND G 273).
• Safe systems of work for cleaning sheet-fed
offset lithographic printing presses.
• Safe systems of work for cleaning web-fed
offset lithographic printing presses.
• Safe systems of work for cleaning Key Action Steps
flexographic, rotary letter press and gravure
printing presses. • Ensure your health and safety policy is up to
• INDG 392 Recover Paper Safely. date, covers all you do, and has been brought
• INDG 396 Transporting Paper Safely. to the attention of all employees.
• UK printing solvent substitution scheme.
• Skin problems in the Printing Industry. • Ensure that all relevant risk assessments are
• Hand-fed platen presses. in writing, are up to date, and have been
communicated to all employees, together with
Fire Risk Management commensurate control measures.
• Ensure that all health and safety training is
The management of the fire risk within the printing recorded, and that the records are kept up to
industry is best achieved via having an up-to-date date.
fire risk assessment in place, as required by the
Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 (see • Ensure you have access to a competent
Aviva Risk Management Solutions Hardfacts No person to advise on all risk management
2013). aspects of your business.

All premises should have a written fire risk References

assessment for the building, which outlines the
nature and location of possible fire hazards, how In addition to those Aviva Risk Management
fire is detected, how warnings of fire are Solutions Hardfacts mentioned above, the
communicated, what fire fighting equipment is following may also be of use:
provided and where it is located, and how people
can safely evacuate the building - i.e. the means of 1006 Control of Contractors.
escape in case of fire. 5006 First Aid in Workplaces.
Other Aviva Risk Management Solutions Hardfacts 5007 Lone Working.
relevant to fire risk management include: 5013 The Workplace (Health, Safety and
Welfare) Regulations, 1992.
2001 Fire Extinguisher Standards. 5016 The Personal Protective Equipment
2003 Fire Alarms Systems in Buildings. Regulations, 1992.
2005 Storage of Highly Flammable Liquids. 5028 Safe Use of Ladders.
6012 The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases
Additionally the HSE has produced a publication and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations,
entitled: “Fire Safety: An Employer’s Guide” 1995 (RIDDOR).
(1999). This provides advice about preventing 6019 Work Related Upper Limb Disorders.
fires starting and ensuring people’s safety if they 6020 Working with Solvents.
do. It includes information on legislative 6026 Occupational Asthma.
compliance, fire risk assessment, fire precautions
and emergency plans. Ref No 1013 (v5)
Also, the HSE have produced a publication entitled
“Fire Safety in the Printing Industry” (1992) which
gives specific industry guidance.

Aviva Risk Management Solutions

operate a Risk Helpline during normal
business hours for the cost of a local
telephone call. The telephone number is:
0845 366 66 66
www.aviva.co.uk/risksolutions
Hardfacts information sheets are designed to give general information on risk management topics. Readers should take specific advice when dealing with particular situations.
Aviva Risk Management Solutions accepts no responsibility for action taken as a result of information contained in this publication. The information in Hardfacts is correct at the
date of going to press. Printed and published by Aviva Risk Management Solutions, Friars Gate, Stratford Road, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4BN.
Telephone 0845 3016030 Fax 08000 687288 Sales Hotline 0500 55 99 77 e-mail: riskadvice@aviva.co.uk website: www.aviva.co.uk/risksolutions.
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