Facts about the Safety of Xerox® Products Facts about the Safety of Xerox Products 1
Contents General Information......................................................................3 Xerox® Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability Policy Overview Safety Data Sheets General Safety Practices Equipment Design and Exposure Limits Xerox® Products.............................................................................6 Electromagnetic Compatibility Ergonomics/Human Factors Document Illumination Lasers Xerox® Supplies....................................................................
General Information ® Xerox Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability Policy Xerox Corporation is committed to the protection of the environment and the health and safety of its employees, customers and neighbors. This commitment is applied worldwide.
Safety Data Sheets Xerox prepares two types of data sheets that summarize safety and health information for its equipment and supplies products: • • Product Safety Data Sheets (PSDSs) contain information about the mechanical, electrical and environmental attributes of our equipment as well as product emission data. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) provide information on potential hazards and the safe use of products that may be classified as chemicals.
Equipment Design and Exposure Limits Xerox policy requires that products meet safety standards at least as strict as those generally accepted by approval agencies and government regulations. For each product it brings to market, Xerox has a comprehensive Product Safety Plan that details the specific safety requirements. Assessments are made for all possible hazards: electrical, mechanical, chemical, biological, radiation, heat, emissions and noise. Possible interactions between hazards are also considered.
® Xerox Products Electromagnetic Compatibility ® Xerox products are designed to function properly in the intended electromagnetic environment without ® causing harmful interference to nearby equipment or radio communication services. In this regard, Xerox products comply with all governmental regulations covering Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). Compliance is verified by appropriate product testing. Ergonomics/Human Factors Human factors are an integral part of our design process.
® Xerox Supplies Materials Safety Evaluation Materials used in our products comply with applicable external regulatory requirements as well as Xerox’s more stringent internal safety requirements. During the assessment of any material or product, both its inherent properties (potential hazards) and the potential exposures to customers and service personnel are considered.
Under normal operating conditions, the toners are entirely stable and no significant decomposition occurs. When exposed to the proper combination of heat and pressure, the toner simply flows and adheres to the paper. ® Developers are composed of a carrier material and toner. Xerox carriers are based on special grades of sand, glass, steel or ferrite types of materials. They are generally coated with a small amount of special polymer to achieve the desired functional behavior in the xerographic equipment.
Liquid and Solid Inks Xerox uses liquid and solid inks in some imaging applications such as plotters and printers. The liquid inks are generally based on a solvent and contain various colorants and dispersing agents. Black inks contain specialty grade carbon blacks while colored inks contain dyes or pigments. The various solid inks contain polyethylene, waxes, resins, dyes and pigments. All these materials are subject to the same rigorous safety evaluation as other imaging materials.
Indoor Air Quality and Emissions ® Xerox products are designed to ensure that they can be safely located in typical office areas near employee work spaces. Under normal operating conditions and with proper maintenance, machines meet or exceed legal requirements and current standards for emissions and are in conformance with select internationally recognized voluntary guidelines. Additional information on the emission characteristics of ® Xerox equipment is summarized on the Product Safety Data Sheets.
Particulates and Dust Dust associated with copying and printing consists primarily of paper particles and fibers. Less than 10 percent is toner particles. The levels are significantly below the standard limits for respirable dust. During a product’s operation, very small amounts of paper dust and toner may become airborne. Most dust created inside the machine is drawn through the heat exhausts and trapped by filters. Paper fragments are also generated when paper is handled outside the equipment.
Additional Topics Audible Noise Xerox uses state-of-the-art instrumentation and noise test facilities to optimize product designs for low ® noise and enhanced comfort. Xerox products do not produce noise levels expected to damage human hearing. Noise emission levels meet various ecolabel and ergonomic guidelines, and are well below legally mandated exposure limits established around the world.
Exceptions or special considerations may apply in the following circumstances: Photoreceptors The photoreceptors used in our modern equipment have met all the criteria to be classified ® nonhazardous. Used or damaged Xerox photoreceptors containing arsenic and selenium should be returned to Xerox Corporation or the supplier for disposition.
Additional Information It is a fundamental principle of Xerox Corporation to ensure that its products are safe and do not in any way represent a concern to its customers or employees. If you have questions that have not been answered here or would like additional information on any aspect of environment, health and safety of ® Xerox products, please visit the Xerox Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability website at www.xerox.