The Printing Industry is the 6th largest industry in the UK. Approximately 316,000 workers are employed in over 15,000 printing companies.
Each year, printing companies report approximately 1,200 work related accidents to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Over 200 of these accidents will be classified as major injuries such as fractures and amputations.
The three most common types of accidents reported are: manual handling; slips and trips; and contact with machinery. For more information just click on the links.
Print workers are exposed to a range of hazardous substances, including chemicals during the course of their work. Information on how to reduce exposure to chemical agents is contained in COSHH Essentials for Printers.
Dermatitis is a particular problem in the printing industry. For more information just click on the link.
HSE’s Manufacturing Sector (Printing Group) have produced a progress report [PDF 375kb] 
for Health and Safety in the Printing and Publishing Industries between 2001/2002 and 2005/2006.
Headline figures show a 23% reduction in the overall number of RIDDOR reportable accidents since 2001/2002. This is made up of a:
