Photocopiers and Laser Printers are safe when used occasionally and serviced regularly. But if they are badly positioned, poorly maintenance and used frequently or for long runs, there are risks to health, ranging from irritated eyes, nose and throat to dermatitis, headaches, premature ageing and reproductive cancer hazards. Proper ventilation and maintenance are essential in eliminating hazards
The chemicals
Ozone and other chemicals can occur above the OEL (occupational exposure limit) when the copying room is small, ventilation is inadequate, and/or the photocopiers is used a lot.
Ozone
Ozone is a gas produced during the high voltage electrical discharge in photocopiers and laser printers. It is sweet smelling and highly toxic with a UK OES of 0.2 ppm (15 minute reference periods) if you can smell ozone the levels are too high. Ozone breaks down in air quite quickly though this can be slowed by high humidity, temperature and some effect of office furnishings. Health effects are eye, nose throat, and lung irritation, dermatitis, headache and nausea, premature ageing and potential reproductive dangers. Pruritus, a kind of itching occurs on the face, neck and areas of skin exposed to ozone. When mixed with nitrogen oxide in certain proportions it can have an effect on the central nervous system.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
VOCs also emitted during photocopying. These can contain traces of decane ( carcinogenic)1,1,1-trichloroethane (can cause skin irritation), iso-octane, toluene( causes fatique, drowsiness, throat and eye irritation, xylene ( can cause menstrual disorder and kidney failure) and benzene (carcinogenic and teratogenic)
Selenium and Cadmium Sulphide
Some copiers used drum impregnated with selenium or cadmium sulphide. The gas emitted from these materials especially when hot can cause throat irritation and sensitization (I,e adverse reaction to very tiny quantities of chemical) to exposed workers. Short term exposure to high levels of selenium by ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, skin rashes and rhinitis. The UK MEL for selenium compounds is 0.1 mg/m3 ( ACGIH is 0.2 mg/m3). This is more a risk to maintenance staff when cleaning or grinding the surface of the drum. Cadmium compounds have a MEL of 0.025 mg/m3 (over a 8 hour reference period) and ACGIH is 0.002 mg/m3.
Nitrogen oxide
Nitrogen oxide may be produced when there is a spark in electrostatic photocopiers. Symptoms are similar to those produced by carbon monoxide. The OEL is 25 ppm
