Offset Printing Press SWMS

For commercial printers and print shops that run offset presses. It covers operating offset printing presses, including nip points, ink and solvents, cleaning on running machines and isolation, from the pre-start check and paper loading through plate changes, running, wash-up, jam clearing and maintenance to shut-down.

Operating a printing press is not construction work by itself. A SWMS is legally required only for high risk construction work (WHS Regulation s 299); otherwise this document works as a written safe work procedure or task risk assessment. If the job is construction work, tick the reg 291 items that apply, such as a fall of more than 2 m or movement of powered mobile plant; none is pre-ticked.

New to SWMS? Read What Is A Safe Work Method Statement?

What Is Covered In Our Offset Printing Press SWMS?

After the standard pre-start checks, the job steps run from “Pre-start press check” to “Shut down, health checks and housekeeping”. The hazards and controls include:

• Drawing-in at roller and cylinder nips
• Press starting while a jam is cleared
• Cleaning rollers on a running press
• Reaching in for samples at the delivery
• Stored energy in air and hydraulic parts
• Ink, fount and wash skin contact
• Solvent vapour and fire from rags
• Crush at the pile lift and feeder
• Strain from paper pallets and plates
• Cuts from plate edges and paper
• Press and compressor noise
• Electric shock during maintenance

High Risk Construction Work

None of the high risk construction work items (WHS Regulation 2011 (Qld) s 291) are pre-ticked, because this job is not high risk construction work by itself. Tick any that apply on your site.

Licences, Training and Competency

• Press operators trained and assessed as competent on the make and model of press, its controls, guarding and emergency stops
• Trained person for plate, blanket and roller changes and for cleaning, who knows the press’s isolation points
• Training in the workplace’s isolation and lock-out procedure for anyone who cleans, clears jams or maintains the press
• Training in reading the label and SDS for inks, fount solution, washes and plate chemicals, and in the hazardous chemicals register
• Training in manual handling of paper pallets, plates and ink containers, and in the lifting aids provided
• Licensed electrical worker for any work on motors, wiring or switchboards (Electrical Safety Act 2002 s 55)
• No high risk work licence class in Schedule 3 applies to offset printing presses; a forklift truck licence applies only where a forklift handles stock
• First aid provided as s 42 of the WHS Regulation requires

Legislation and Codes of Practice Referenced

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 205 to 213 (plant: unauthorised alterations, proper use, plant not in use, guarding, insulation from heat and cold, operational controls, emergency stops, emergency warning devices, maintenance and inspection)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): s 226 (records for plant with a presence-sensing safeguarding system)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): ss 49 and 50 (exposure standards and air monitoring), ss 52 and 53 (ignition sources, flammable material), ss 56 and 57 (noise), s 60 (hazardous manual tasks)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld): Part 7.1 hazardous chemicals, ss 341 and 342 (labelling), 344 (safety data sheets), 346 (register), 351 (managing risks), 355 (ignition sources), 357 (spills) and 368 (health monitoring)
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• Labelling of Workplace Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
• Preparation of Safety Data Sheets for Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice 2021
• Hazardous Manual Tasks Code of Practice 2021
• Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice 2021
• Managing the Work Environment and Facilities Code of Practice 2021
• First Aid in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021
• How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice 2021
• Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld): s 55 (only licensed electrical workers do electrical work)
• Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 (Qld): ss 133 and 134, only where the print work is manufacturing work as s 123 defines it: s 133 covers inspection and testing of specified electrical equipment and a safety switch at the socket-outlet, and s 134 applies only where manufacturing is the primary work at the workplace
• AS 4024 (series) Safety of machinery (as named in the Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace Code of Practice 2021)

What You Get

• An editable Microsoft Word document (15 A4 landscape pages). Type your business, client and job details once and they fill in on every page, with a space for your logo
• 10 job steps for this work, each with its hazards, controls, initial and residual risk scores and the person responsible
• PPE listed for this job: safety boots with toe protection and non-slip soles
• Emergency arrangements for: person drawn into the press, ink or solvent fire and solvent or ink in the eyes or on the skin
• Plus the parts every Work Safety QLD SWMS shares, from the s 291 checklist to the worker sign-on sheet (see the layout in our free SWMS template)

Adjust it for your site, plant and crew, and talk it through with your workers before work starts. Please make sure you read our Disclaimer before downloading this SWMS.

Checked against the Queensland laws and codes of practice listed above. Last reviewed November 2026.