Product Overview

This Printing Safety SWMS is a comprehensive Safe Work Method Statement designed to identify hazards, assess risks and implement effective controls for printing and finishing operations. It provides detailed, practical guidance to support WHS compliance across a wide range of printing presses, die cutters and large format print machinery in a single, integrated document.

Activities & Specific Tasks Covered

This document includes specific risk controls for:

• Safe setup, operation and shutdown of auto-platen die cutters, including guarding, nip-point controls and emergency stop procedures
• Operation of balloon screen printers, with controls for moving parts, hand and finger protection and safe loading of substrates
• Use of C-screen printing equipment, including frame handling, squeegee use and prevention of crush and entanglement injuries
• Safe running of Condor cylinder die cutters, focusing on in-running nip hazards, interlocks and exclusion zones
• Operation of cylinder printing presses, including web control, tension management and safe clearing of jams
• Manual and powered operation of hand-platen die cutters, with procedures for two-hand controls, guarding and maintenance lock-out
• Use of Heidelberg cylinder die cutters, including setup, make-ready, guarding verification and safe access for cleaning
• Operation of label printing presses, including reel changes, knife and blade safety, and control of noise and chemical exposure
• Safe paper roll manipulation, including manual handling techniques, use of roll trolleys, core shafts and mechanical lifting aids
• Plotter usage for production finishing, covering cutting-head guarding, knife handling, off-cut management and trip prevention
• Silkscreen printing curing processes, including safe use of dryers, UV curing units, heat sources and ventilation controls
• Working with solvent-based printers, including storage and handling of flammable liquids, ventilation, ignition source control and spill response
• Operation of large format digital print machinery, including media loading, carriage movement, pinch-roller hazards and safe maintenance access
• Housekeeping, waste management and recycling of paper, off-cuts, inks and solvents to minimise slip, trip and fire risks
• Lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) procedures for cleaning, fault-finding and maintenance on printing and finishing equipment

Who is this for?

This SWMS is designed for commercial printers, label and packaging manufacturers, sign and display companies, screen printers, large format print providers, and site supervisors overseeing printing and finishing operations.

Specific Job Steps & Hazards Covered

Legislation & References

This document was researched and developed to align with:

• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice: Guidance on ventilation, lighting, amenities and general work environment for printing operations
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice: Requirements for safe storage, handling and use of inks, solvents and cleaning agents
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice: Labelling and identification of solvent-based products, inks and cleaning chemicals
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice: Controls for noise from presses, die cutters and finishing equipment
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice: Framework for hazard identification, risk assessment and implementation of control measures
• Manual Tasks Code of Practice (or equivalent state-based guidance): Risk controls for handling paper rolls, substrates and heavy print components
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2017