Central Ink's Health & Safety FAQs |
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MSDS
Q: What is an MSDS? A: OSHA's hazard communication standard requires employers to maintain a material safety data sheet (MSDS) for each hazardous chemical and to make the MSDS available to employees.
• The manufacturer
Transportation, Toxicological or Special Precautions OSHA 300 Log
Q: What is the OSHA 300 Log? A: The OSHA 300 log is used for recording and classifying occupational injuries and illnesses and for noting the extent of medical care provided. If you need more information regarding the OSHA 300 log, please follow the link below: http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/OSHArecordkeepingforms.pdf
UV Ink Safety and Handling
Q: What are the unique characteristics of UV Inks? A: UV inks cures only by exposure to ultraviolet light - not evaporation - and are 100% solid (solvent and water-based inks are approximately 50% solid and 50% solvent or water).
A: UV inks contain acrylates which may cause: Q: What precautions should be taken when using UV Ink? A: Wear impervious gloves and protective glasses. Wear impervious aprons and shoes (Press operators).
A: 1. Immediately flush eyes with large amounts of cool water (15 minutes) and seek medical attention. A MSDS of the product should be taken to the doctor. 2. Immediately wash skin with large amounts of water. Use soap and water or other skin cleaning compounds to remove ink. 3. Never try to remove UV ink from the skin by using solvent or thinners. Such action is likely to increase the possibility of undesirable effects. 4. The presence or consumption of food, beverages or smoking materials should be banned from the work environment. Operators should wash their hands thoroughly prior to eating, drinking or smoking to eliminate accidental ingestion of UV curable materials. 5. All garments and protective clothing, soiled with even small amounts of UV materials, should be discarded or laundered in hot water and detergent, separately from other garments. 6. Housekeeping should emphasize the necessity of cleaning up spills, cleaning utensils such as measuring equipment, knives and stirrers. Because UV ink will not dry unless exposed to intense UV light, it is easily spread from one area to another without anyone realizing it. The most important item in UV safety is proper training in the correct use and housekeeping of ultraviolet curable inks. If the above steps are followed, UV ink will provide excellent results with minimal health and safety problems.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Q: What is a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)? A: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are defined by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as organic compounds which participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. In terms that we can all understand, a VOC is anything that evaporates and causes air pollution.
• Water: Evaporates but doesn't cause harmful air pollution. • Resin: Doesn't have the ability to evaporate. • Pigment: Dry powder, therefore doesn't evaporate. Solvents used in inks and associated products are the main concern to the coating industry. Solvents have the ability to evaporate and meet the criteria of an air pollutant. (Examples of VOCs are xylene and toluene.)
A: The amount of VOCs in products are determined by calculating the amount of solvent present in a gallon or liter of ink, excluding water and EPA-exempt solvents, and expressed in either pounds per gallon, or grams per liter. Knowing the weight per gallon (WPG) and the weight solids of a solvent-based ink, the VOCs can be calculated according to the following equation: VOC = WPG x (100% minus % solids in product) For example, a solvent based ink weighing 10.0 pounds per gallon and having a weight solids of 70% would have the following VOC amount: VOC = 10.0 WPG x (100% - 70%) VOC = 10.0 WPG x (30%) VOC = 3.0 WPG (3.0 pounds of VOCs exist in each gallon of ink) To convert pounds per gallon to grams per liter (g/L) use the following conversion factor: Lb/Gal to g/L....multiply by 119.84 g/L to Lb/Gal....divide by 119.84 In the example above, to convert 3.0 Lb/Gal of VOCs to g/L, perform the following: 3.0 X 119.84 = 359.5 g/L (359.5 grams of VOCs exist in each liter of ink)
Hazardous Waste
Q: What is Waste? A: Any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material that is no longer useable and is either recycled, thrown away or stored until enough has been generated to treat or dispose. A non-hazardous waste mixed with either a characteristic or listed waste will be considered hazardous waste.
A: There are two ways a waste may be identified as HAZARDOUS:
A waste that exhibits any of the following characteristics:
A waste is considered hazardous if it appears on any one of the four lists of hazardous waste contained in EPA regulations. These wastes have been listed because they either exhibit one of the characteristics described above or contain any number of toxic constituents that have been shown to be harmful to health and the environment. The regulations list over 400 hazardous wastes, including waste derived from manufacturing processes and discarded commercial chemical products.
Generator Categories
Important : These categories may vary by state. The categories below dictate the amount of regulations that will be applicable to the generator. A smaller amount of waste generated means a smaller amount of applicable regulations.
Generates less than 220 lbs/month of a hazardous waste
Generates between 220 - 2200 lbs/month of a hazardous waste
Generates 2200 lbs/month or more of a hazardous waste A printer will commonly generate wastes that can be identified as hazardous. Processes that can generate wastes are screen cleaning, screen reclaiming, color matching and outdated/unusable materials.
If waste ink is accumulated that has a flash point less than 140°F or contains enough lead to be regulated, then this waste will be considered hazardous.
If a screen wash is accumulated that has a flash point greater than 140°F, but contains a material that is considered toxic (e.g. Methyl Ethyl Ketone) or contains a listed waste (e.g. Xylene, Toluene), then this waste is considered hazardous. |
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