Regular Maintenance of Printers and Copiers Ensures Users' Health and Safety

Copyright (c) 2010 Alison Withers

The effect on their health of inhaling the fine powder or fumes from the toner and print cartridges used in modern copiers is something many people worry about.

There is a substantial amount of research data and guidance available from the HSE (The UK's Health and Safety Executive) as well as a series of guidance models for risk assessment to help businesses ensure their staff's well being.

The materials used in toner powder are an extremely fine powdered ink, made up of a substance called Carbon Black and a polymer.

When a copy is being made the toner is charged. The image to be copied is converted into and mapped charges of the opposite polarity on a special drum in the printer. The toner is then transferred to the paper and "set", usually by heat acting on the polymer.

There are many different types of toner dependent on their use and in what equipment, so a high speed copier, where the print has to set (or dry) very quickly will use a different carbon black/polymer mix from the mix used in a much slower office printer.

The approved workplace exposure limit (WEL) for airborne carbon black is 3.5 mg/m³.

For businesses that want to ensure that their Health and Safety programmes are effective the HSE provides a guidance checklist.

It defines the hazard, or danger, to be assessed such as the possibility of inhaling solvent vapour from the chemicals used in inkjet printers, the dangers of skin contact with the ink and breathing in emissions from copiers.

It helps define who is at risk, from users of the machine to those responsible for replacing toner cartridges and also gives guidance on any symptoms that might help identify the harm caused.

It also makes clear, however, that it is not harmful to breathe in toner emissions.

According to an analysis by Cambridge University Carbon black is classified as a nuisance dust (a group 2B carcinogen, "possibly carcinogenic to humans"). It reports, however, that animal studies have not revealed any carcinogenic qualities in inhalation tests of carbon black.

However, both sources advise that it is always sensible to make sure that any office copiers and printers are placed in areas where there is adequate ventilation - and, it goes without saying, to ensure there are no trailing wires that could be a trip hazard.

Another aspect of safety is ensuring that electrical equipment is in sound, safe condition with no fraying cables, cables securely tucked into plugs and plugs with covers that are not chipped, broken or showing any tell-dale discolouration that could indicate faulty wiring or ineffective fuses.

The majority of this routine checking and maintenance should be part of the service contract which often comes with the supply of office equipment of this type and can also include making sure that toner cartridges are safely disposed of or recycled.

They are widely available in most parts of the UK, for instance, in the Eastern Region so if you are a business that uses a copier in Cambridge, Norwich, Bury St Edmunds or Ipswich there are plenty of suppliers that can help.


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A reliable supplier and sensible routine maintenance and support is available for East Anglian businesses from Firstcopy in Cambridge. By Ali Withers.