Safeguarding cutting machines in printing

The guidance in the following tables describes commonly accepted and practicable safeguards for the significant hazards on some cutting machines prior to the requirements of European Standard BS EN 1010 Safety of machinery –Safety requirements for the design and construction of printing and paper converting machines.  

For some machines, manufactured or refurbished after March 2002, the requirements of European Standard BS EN 1010-3:2002 Safety of machinery – Safety requirements for the design and construction of printing and paper converting machines: Cutting machines apply. See also general safeguarding guidance on machinery safety in the printing industry.

Manually fed three-knife trimmers

Hazards

Cutting/crushing/ trapping injuries from contact with knives on feed and delivery side

Safeguards

Label punching machines

Hazards

Access to punching knives at in-feed on manually fed machines

Safeguards

Discharge area access to danger zones

Safeguards

Guards with openings/ safety distances to comply with BS EN ISO 13857

Round cornering machines

Hazards

Access to trimming knife or saw

Safeguards

Loose knife punching machines

Hazards

Manually operated punching machines - Crush injuries from Stroking platen

Safeguards

Automatic machines - Crush injuries from Stroking platen

Safeguards

Flat-bed cutting and creasing machines

Hazards

Purpose-designed machines- Feed-end (similar to sheet-fed printing presses)  crush injuries from descending pallets and in-running nips/ shear points

Safeguards

Purpose-designed machines- Cutting /creasing and stripping areas - crush/shear

Safeguards

Purpose-designed machines- Delivery-end pallets - crush/shear

Safeguards

Converted printing presses – eg the Heidelberg Original Cylinder Access to forme (machines with infeed/delivery at same end) crush/shear

Safeguards

Interlocking guards provided over the forme to facilitate changeover of dies

Converted printing presses – Inking rollers in-running nips

Safeguards

Remove inking rollers from presses dedicated to cutting and creasing  

Converted printing presses – Cylinder gap and machine fixed parts - shear trap

Safeguards

Converted printing presses – Oscillating delivery fingers - shear trap

Safeguards

 

Autoplatens – original and converted machines

Hazards

Inking rollers – where still used - in-running nips

Safeguards

Inking rollers must be guarded

Access to moving parts eg reciprocating platen, piston, linkages, windmill or rotating grab bar – crush / shear

Safeguards

Converted machines eg to hot foil or similar

Safeguards

Cost of conversion combined with the increased life span of the machine may mean that it becomes reasonably practicable to install front interlocking gates/panels

Updated: 2023-02-21