Creative and Technical Services - UK Compliance

COSHH Assessment for Printing and Reprographics Businesses - Completed for Your Business

A completed COSHH assessment for printing businesses covering inks, press solvents and all chemical products used in professional printing and reprographics. Generated from your product list.

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Compliance documents for your business
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8 documents included
HSE compliant
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Every self-employed person in the UK needs this

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every self-employed person whose work could pose a risk to themselves or others is legally required to have health and safety documentation in place.

This is not a large-business requirement. It applies to sole traders, one-person businesses, home studios, and mobile workers equally. The size of your business does not change the legal obligation.

Sole traders and one-person businesses Working alone does not exempt you. If you use chemicals or see clients, the obligations apply in full.
Mobile and home-based workers Working from home or visiting clients does not reduce your compliance requirements - it often adds to them.
Chair renters and freelancers Renting a chair or working as a freelancer through a third party does not transfer your compliance obligations to them.
New businesses and established ones Whether you started last month or have been trading for years, you need documentation in place.
Your legal obligation

Why printing businesses need a thorough COSHH assessment

The HSE specifically identifies printing as a high-risk sector for occupational contact dermatitis. Printing inks, particularly oil-based litho inks, contain compounds that cause skin sensitisation and dermatitis with repeated contact. Press cleaning solvents present inhalation and skin contact risks in press rooms without adequate ventilation. UV-curable inks contain photoinitiators that are potent skin sensitisers. Plate chemicals and screen-making chemicals also present COSHH hazards. || The assessment needs to address every chemical used in the printing process - inks, solvents, plate chemicals, cleaning agents, and finishing products - at their actual hazard level. || CompliantDocs generates your COSHH assessment from the specific products you tell us you use in your printing work.
Health and safety compliance documents
The real problem

Printing COSHH assessments often focus only on inks and miss the full range of press chemicals

A complete printing COSHH assessment covers inks, press cleaning solvents, plate chemicals, UV compounds, and cleaning agents. Covering only the primary ink while omitting other regularly used chemicals leaves the assessment incomplete. CompliantDocs generates documentation from your complete chemical range.
2 hours
What it takes to produce a thorough printing COSHH assessment. Our service does it in minutes.
Your trade, specifically

The risks and requirements specific to your work

Printing and reprographics operations involve daily exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from solvent-based inks, particularly in offset lithography and screen printing processes. Staff handle isopropyl alcohol used in dampening solutions, which presents skin absorption and inhalation hazards. Toner dust from photocopiers and laser printers accumulates in high-volume production environments, requiring respiratory protection assessment. Printing plates contain chromium compounds and other sensitising agents during plate-making operations. UV curing systems used in modern digital presses emit ozone and require enclosed ventilation systems. Cleanup operations expose workers to mineral spirits, toluene, and xylene in screen reclamation processes. Metal components in binding and cutting machinery create sharp edge hazards. Staff operating guillotine cutters, folders, and collating machines face crush and laceration risks. Ink transfer through hand contact to face and food represents a significant dermal absorption route. Noise levels from printing presses and finishing equipment frequently exceed 85 decibels. Storage of flammable inks, solvents, and adhesives requires specific fire safety controls. The COSHH Assessment pack identifies every chemical substance present, stipulates control measures for each process, and provides staff training protocols tailored to your specific equipment and production methods, delivered complete within minutes rather than requiring weeks of consultant engagement.
The cost of getting it wrong

What happens without proper documentation

Without proper COSHH Assessment documentation, a printing and reprographics business faces serious legal and financial consequences. The HSE can issue Improvement Notices requiring immediate remedial action, or Prohibition Notices halting operations entirely if risks to health are deemed serious. Prosecution can result in unlimited fines under COSHH Regulations, with individual directors held personally liable. Your public liability and employer liability insurance may be invalidated if you cannot demonstrate compliance with COSHH requirements, leaving you personally exposed to claims from staff who develop solvent-related dermatitis, respiratory conditions, or other occupational illnesses. Clients may refuse to work with your business if you lack evidence of proper chemical safety management. Staff morale and retention suffer when team members perceive inadequate protection from hazardous substances. The reputational damage within the printing industry can be significant. CompliantDocs eliminates this risk entirely by providing fully completed, business-specific COSHH Assessment documents that demonstrate genuine compliance to inspectors, insurers, and clients—at just 47.99 GBP and delivered within minutes, a fraction of the cost of consultant engagement.
What you get

Eight documents, all filled in for your business

Your COSHH assessment is part of an eight-document compliance pack for your printing business.
Health and Safety Policy Generated
Written for your business, covering your responsibilities and the measures you have in place
Risk Assessment Generated
Identifying the specific hazards in your work and the controls you have in place
COSHH Assessment Generated
Specific to the chemicals and products you use, with proper hazard and control information
Fire Safety Risk Assessment Generated
Documenting fire hazards, escape routes, and fire safety measures for your premises
Skin Exposure and Dermatitis Prevention Policy Generated
A legal requirement under COSHH for chemical skin exposure risk
Client Consultation Record Word
Ready-to-use editable template for client records and allergy documentation
PAT Testing Checklist Word
For logging PAT tests on all your professional electrical equipment
Accident and Near Miss Log Word
Ready-to-use log for recording any incidents in your working environment
How it works

Four simple steps to full compliance

1

Pay once

Secure checkout via Stripe. One-off payment. No subscription, no renewal fees.

2

Tell us about your business

A short form about your working environment and setup. Takes two minutes.

3

We fill in your documents

Compliance documents completed specifically for your business from your answers.

4

Delivered to your inbox

All documents arrive via secure download link within minutes. Save them, print them, done.

What inspectors check

What an HSE inspector looks for when they visit

When an HSE inspector arrives at a printing and reprographics business, they immediately request your COSHH Assessment document and examine whether it identifies every chemical substance in use: inks, solvents, toner, plate-making chemicals, adhesives, and cleaning agents. They will cross-reference your assessment against Safety Data Sheets from each supplier, checking that you possess current SDS documents for every product. The inspector physically inspects your ventilation systems and local exhaust ventilation equipment to verify it is operational, maintained, and adequate for your specific printing processes. They examine your staff training records and ask team members directly about hazard recognition, correct PPE usage, and emergency procedures. They review your accident log for patterns of skin irritation, respiratory complaints, or chemical exposures. The inspector checks your storage arrangements for flammable inks and solvents, verifies that hazard symbols are correctly displayed, and observes actual work practices to see whether staff follow assessed control measures. They ask specific questions about how you manage skin contact risks when handling isopropyl alcohol and solvent-based inks. CompliantDocs documents mean you can produce a comprehensive, legally-aligned COSHH Assessment immediately, answer every inspector question confidently, and demonstrate genuine compliance.
Common errors

The mistakes most people in your trade make

First, many printing businesses fail to include all hazardous substances in their assessment, overlooking cleaning solvents, toner, and plate-making chemicals because these are not primary production inputs. They focus only on printing inks and neglect the cumulative exposure from multiple chemical sources across the working day. Second, businesses do not conduct meaningful risk assessment of skin contact routes; they assume inhalation is the only concern and fail to implement glove protocols or skin surveillance measures for solvent-related dermatitis. Staff develop contact dermatitis unrecognised, leading to unrecorded occupational illness and potential HSE investigation. Third, many printing operations do not adequately document their control measures or staff training. They may have ventilation systems in place but cannot evidence that LEV equipment is serviced and maintained annually, or produce training records showing staff understand the hazard controls. Fourth, businesses underestimate the hazards from toner dust in high-volume photocopier and laser printer environments, failing to assess whether respiratory protection or improved ventilation is necessary. CompliantDocs eliminates these mistakes entirely because documents are generated specifically for your printing business, including every chemical substance you actually use, with control measures proportionate to your specific processes and equipment.
Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions

Is this right for you?

Who this pack is not designed for

This pack is not designed for printing and reprographics operations with 10 or more employees, as larger teams typically require bespoke assessment by an occupational health consultant who can conduct site-specific surveys. Businesses already working with a retained H&S consultant should continue with that professional relationship. Large commercial printers operating multiple shifts across different locations need customised documentation reflecting each site and shift pattern. However, if you are a sole trader or micro-business (under 10 staff) running a small printing studio, reprographics bureau, or in-house print room, this done-for-you pack is precisely your solution—providing full legal compliance at a fraction of consultant costs.

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Documents filled in for your business, delivered in minutes.

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