Slitting & Rewinding Cleaning up the print business
With many print processes using potentially hazardous materials, companies are obligated to ensure the safe disposal of chemicals like inks and solvents, but also any cloths that are contaminated during cleaning. Using full-service contract suppliers is one approach that can address the challenge
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any common print processes potentially involve hazardous substances. Almost all of the inks,
solvents, lacquers and adhesives found in lithography, screen printing, flexography and many other print processes contain chemicals that may be harmful. Solvents and solvent vapours can irritate the skin leading to contact dermatitis and can affect the central nervous system, UV inks and the Isocyanates often found in laminating adhesives can cause skin allergies and asthma, some products may even damage internal organs like the liver and kidneys while others are corrosive, potentially causing burns. Vapours and mists may be inhaled and chemicals can be absorbed through the skin. As a result, the vast bulk of industrial and commercial print processes typically fall under health and safety regulations. In the UK, for example, these regulations
are known as the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). They require commercial operators to adequately control exposure to such materials in the workplace. This means identifying which harmful substances may be present, considering exposure mechanisms and looking at any measures necessary to mitigate the risks of exposure and any harm that may result.
ADDRESSING THE HAZARDS OF PRINT PROCESSES Mitigation measures depend on the specifics of the printing processes involved but may include providing information, instruction and training or even monitoring of staff. Factors like good ventilation, enclosing processes where possible and providing personal protection equipment (PPE) like respirators, gloves and eye protection must also be part of this approach. In addition, leaks and spills should be minimised and mopped up as quickly as possible. This not only reduces primary exposure to harmful substances but also reduces the risk of slips and trips, another significant source of injury. Cloths and dirty rags, filters and
absorbents and lubricating fluids from machinery are also potentially hazardous to employees and the environment. As an example, offset lithographic is the most widely used printing process and periodic cleaning of the blanket roller is required to remove build-up of paper debris, dust and printing inks. At the end of each print run, cleaning of the inking rollers and ink
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ducts is carried out typically with cloths, wipes and gloves using various organic solvents. Considering manual cleaning processes
for lithographic printing, the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that these items should be stored in fire- resistant, closed, metal containers and should be treated as hazardous waste. Designated as hazardous waste, it’s clear
these kinds of cleaning materials also fall within health and safety and environmental protection legislation. Disposal of such materials and any other articles that may be contaminated such as clothing or overalls also come under environmental rules that mandate their proper management. For example, in the UK disposal of
clothing, absorbents or wiping cloths contaminated with hazardous substances is covered by Environment Agency rules. Under these regulations company owners and directors have a specific ‘duty of care’ to ensure that any hazardous waste produced or handled by their business causes no harm or environmental damage. These stringent regulations can see companies or their directors fined or even jailed if they fail to discharge these responsibilities. One recent case saw a Somerset printing company lose more than £13,000 in fines and costs for polluting a river with waste ink.
REUSING CLEANING CLOTHS With company owners obligated to ensure safe disposal of cleaning materials like cloths and spill mats, the costs of waste handling can represent a significant burden, especially
for small and medium enterprises. While the costs of not meeting such obligations can be astronomical, printing companies are increasingly looking to more effectively control waste management costs. One approach that is gathering traction is the use of third-party contract suppliers of cleaning cloths and spill mats. Full-service contract suppliers will deliver high quality wipes and mats to commercial premises for use in their printing operations. Once these materials have been soiled, the used cloths are collected, laundered and ultimately returned to printing premises for reuse. One of the leading players in the sector is
MEWA Textile Management which has been producing reusable wipes and cloths at its factory in Immenhausen, Germany, for more than a century. Using high quality cotton, products like
MEWATEX wipes are robust and durable while being highly absorbent. Able to quickly soak up large volumes of solvents, inks or lubricants, such materials can result in considerable time savings during print roller cleaning operations or when addressing spills. Compared to other common approaches such as the use of disposable paper roll, there are a number of other benefits too. For example, the washing and reuse of cleaning materials represents a considerable advantage in terms of sustainability, which is of increasing importance in today’s environmentally aware corporate culture. MEWA recovers oils and other combustible materials from the cleaning process which are subsequently used to heat water during the washing cycle. Heat generated during cleaning is recovered as any wastewater is treated and cleaned to deliver an overall environmentally-friendly process. Furthermore, by using an end-to-end full-
service leasing model, print companies eliminate the need to manage the purchase, delivery and storage of cleaning materials and the final disposal of these hazardous materials. Full-service contract supply companies such
as MEWA also typically provide fixed-cost terms, allowing the print industry to tackle long-term environmental, health and safety issues while gaining clear insight into the cost of their cleaning operations. As a cost-effective and more sustainable
alternative to single-use products, such as paper, reusable cleaning cloths and spill mats are growing in popularity due to their convenience and performance even in the demanding world of print production.
mewa.co.uk convertermag.com
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