We have had a couple of cases where employees have cited printers as the
cause of an asthmatic problem. One case related to an exacerbation of a
condition the employee already had. The other retated to possible new
onset. However, the claim in both cases was that it related to ozone, which
can be given off by printers and photocopiers. The scientific or medical
basis of both cases was never tested as we asked our facilities department
to service the printers and they were soon moved to somewhere else in the
office. This seemed to resolve both problems - fortunately
Thanks
Lindsey Hall
National OH Manager
Environment Agency
.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chloe Coleridge" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2003 11:21 AM
Subject: desktop printer inks
> Hi All
>
> has anyone come across an employee who has identified desktop printer ink
as a respiratory sensitiser? I know industrial printing ink can be.
>
> I am seeing a lady who has identified this as a problem. The employer
can't relocate her to an area where there is no printer as they do not have
any spare offices ( this is an NHS trust) and she has to share her office
with a secretary who uses the printer on a regular basis. Have explored
option of secretary batching her print requests and printing them off when
the lady in question is not in the office, but this has proved unworkable.
>
> COSHH would presumably apply, although going onto the new HSE asthma
website, printer ink is not listed as a resp sensitiser, but maybe there are
isocyanates in the printer ink.
>
> Am trying to get info from manufacturers of the ink.
>
> Lady is an nurse specialist who used to work with Hiclear disinfectant on
ITU, so possibility of sensitisation following previous exposure to
substance if it was in Hi clear and also the printing ink.
>
> Problem being: is she fit for work (work is respiratory clinical nurse
specialist, exposed to TB patients and therefore reluctant to take oral
steroids if asthma exacerbated by printer ink exposure)
> if there is no other office for her to work in, or the secretary who uses
the printer ( and they claim there isn't), what else can the employer do?
>
> look forward to your responses
>
> Chloe
>
>
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