UV Ink Safety: Hazards, Protective Gear, First Aid, Spills, Storage and Safe Printer Handling for UV-Curable Inks
This page started as the uvinks.co.za "Safety" page (published October 2021, last changed November 2021). That page lists the hazard and precaution codes for Epson-type UV cyan, magenta, yellow, black and white inks, plus storage and operating conditions, but it uses code numbers without plain explanations and says nothing about cleaners, primers, spills, first aid steps or how to set up a safe work area. This deepened version is a plain-language safety guide for anyone handling UV-curable printer inks (hybrid UV roll-to-roll, UV flatbed and UV-DTF printers). The original 2021 page is kept word for word at the bottom.
Facts come from the original uvinks.co.za page (its hazard and precaution statements come from the ink safety data sheets), the AM.CO.ZA product data behind buythis.co.za (Buythis dump and product JSON on am.im; dump dated up to 2026-10-20) and an AM.CO.ZA YouTube video, each named where it is used. This page is a summary, not a replacement for the safety data sheet (SDS). The original page says SDS information is available from support@am.co.za. Prices change, so this page quotes none: check each linked Buythis page. Stock is not shown here. Sister pages: maintenance and cleaning routines, ink storage, converting a printer to UV ink and the Premium Hybrid UV inks.
Quick answer
- Liquid UV ink is hazardous; cured UV ink is the finished print. The risks on this page are about the wet ink, cleaning liquid and waste before curing.
- Wear gloves, protective clothing and eye protection whenever you fill tanks, change dampers, clean caps or empty waste (precaution P280 on every UV colour).
- Keep it off your skin. The inks are harmful in contact with skin (H312), irritate skin (H315) and may cause an allergic skin reaction (H317). An allergy can build up after repeated small contacts.
- Protect your eyes above all. Every colour carries H318, "Causes serious eye damage". If ink gets in your eyes, rinse with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses if easy, keep rinsing, and call a poison centre or doctor straight away (P305 + P351 + P338 and P310).
- Work in a ventilated room. The inks may cause respiratory irritation (H335).
- Never pour ink, cleaning liquid or waste down a drain. The inks are very toxic to aquatic life (H400) with long-lasting effects (H411). Collect spills (P391).
- Store between +5°C and +35°C, cool, dry, away from direct sunlight and not directly on the floor. Print between +19°C and +28°C at 30% to 80% relative humidity, non-condensing.
What makes UV ink hazardous
UV ink stays liquid until UV light cures it. AM.CO.ZA's FAQ video on hybrid UV printers puts it simply: "UV ink can only be cured with UV light" (FAQ of UV Hybrid Printers, Printing Thickness, Ink Difference, Daily and Holiday Maintenance (2025-01-13)). Before curing, the ink is a mix of reactive acrylate chemicals and a photoinitiator. The original page names the main ingredients on every colour: phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide (the photoinitiator that reacts to UV light), acrylic acid esters, 3-ethenyl-5-methyl-2-oxazolidinone and a proprietary acrylic ester derivative, with propoxylated neopentyl glycol, oxybis(methyl-2,1-ethanediyl) diacrylate and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate named as substances that may produce an allergic reaction.
Acrylates are the reason for the skin warnings. They are the same family of chemicals found in many adhesives and nail products, and skin sensitisation means a person can react more strongly each time they are exposed. That is why gloves matter even for quick jobs.
All five colours on the original page (cyan, magenta, yellow, black and white) carry the signal word "Danger" under the EU classification.
Hazard statements in plain words
Every UV colour on the original page carries the same eight hazard statements:
| Code | What the SDS says | What it means at the printer |
|---|---|---|
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed | No eating, drinking or smoking near the inks. Wash hands before breaks. Never decant ink into drink bottles. |
| H312 | Harmful in contact with skin | Wear gloves. Wash off any ink on skin straight away. |
| H315 | Causes skin irritation | Redness or itching can follow contact. Change ink-soaked clothing. |
| H317 | May cause an allergic skin reaction | Sensitisation can build up over time, so avoid even small repeated contacts. |
| H318 | Causes serious eye damage | Wear eye protection when filling, flushing or cleaning. Splashes from syringes and tubes are the usual cause. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation | Use the printer in a ventilated room and avoid breathing vapour or spray mist. |
| H400 | Very toxic to aquatic life | Keep ink and waste out of drains, soil and water. |
| H411 | Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects | Dispose of waste ink, used wipes and filters as chemical waste. |
Precautions and first aid
The original page lists these precaution statements on every UV colour:
| Code | What the SDS says | In practice |
|---|---|---|
| P264 | Wash face, hands and any exposed skin thoroughly after handling | Soap and water after every ink job, and before eating. |
| P273 | Avoid release to the environment | No ink, flush or waste down sinks or onto the ground. |
| P280 | Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection | Gloves, a work coat or apron and safety glasses at the printer. |
| P305 + P351 + P338 | IF IN EYES: rinse cautiously with water for several minutes; remove contact lenses if present and easy to do; continue rinsing | Know where clean running water is before you start. |
| P310 | Immediately call a poison centre or doctor | Treat any eye splash as urgent, even if it feels fine. |
| P391 | Collect spillage | Wipe up spills at once with cloths and keep the waste for proper disposal. |
| EUH210 | Safety data sheet available on request | Ask support@am.co.za for the SDS. |
If ink gets on skin: remove contaminated clothing, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water (P264), and get medical advice if irritation or a rash appears, since the inks may cause an allergic reaction.
If ink gets in the eyes: rinse with water for several minutes, remove contact lenses if easy, keep rinsing, and call a poison centre or doctor immediately (P305 + P351 + P338, P310).
If ink is swallowed: it is harmful if swallowed (H302). Get medical help and take the product label or SDS with you.
If someone feels irritation from vapour: move them to fresh air; the inks may cause respiratory irritation (H335).
Setting up a safe UV printing area
- Ventilation. Run the printer in a room with good airflow, because of H335.
- Lighting. Keep the printer out of direct sunlight, reflected sunlight and yellow lighting. The FAQ video advises to "keep this printer away from UV light and rather use the lighting that's provided on the printer" (FAQ of UV Hybrid Printers, Printing Thickness, Ink Difference, Daily and Holiday Maintenance (2025-01-13)). This is mainly about stopping ink curing inside the machine, but it also keeps stray ink from hardening on caps and tubes where it becomes harder to clean.
- Temperature and humidity. The original page and the product data for F2-UV/CLEAN and the FlexiFlow UV inks such as F-UV/FLEX/WHITE give the same operating window: +19°C to +28°C at 30% to 80% relative humidity, non-condensing.
- Light-safe parts. Use black, light-blocking ink tanks such as F-INK/TANK/UV, which "helps protect light-sensitive ink", and UV-resistant tubing, dampers and valves such as F-INK/TUBE4/UV, F-INK/DAMPER/I1600/UV and F-INK/ONE/UV. The damper listing warns that ordinary dampers may deteriorate with UV ink, and a perished part is a leak waiting to happen.
- Cleaning supplies at hand. Keep lint-free cloths such as AM-WIPE/5, static-free printhead wipes such as F-UV/WIPE and swabs such as AM-BUD/50 next to the printer so spills are wiped up straight away.
- Water. Have clean running water or an eyewash bottle close by for eye splashes.
Curing lamps
LED-UV curing lamps such as the water-cooled F2-UV/D kit are what turn liquid ink into a solid print. They emit strong UV light. Do not look directly into a lit lamp, keep the lamp covers and carriage guards in place, and switch the printer off before working near the lamps or the water-cooling lines. Before any work inside the machine, follow the same rule AM.CO.ZA technicians give for power cuts: "make sure that you switch off the machine" (Printhead Emergency Maintenance When Load Shedding and Process to Protect Your Large Format Printer (2023-03-19)).
Cleaning liquid and other chemicals
- UV cleaning liquid. F2-UV/CLEAN is sold "for UV-Curable Inks Only" and "should not be used as a general-purpose cleaner" for other ink types. Treat it with the same care as the ink: gloves, eye protection and ventilation. The FAQ video adds that cleaning liquid "this is used for cleaning purposes only and this can eat or damage other parts so this should not be used longterm or left in the capping area" (FAQ of UV Hybrid Printers, Printing Thickness, Ink Difference, Daily and Holiday Maintenance (2025-01-13)).
- Do not mix chemistries. Eco-solvent cleaner F-ECO/CLEAN is a different product: its listing says it contains gamma butyrolactone, carries H318 "Causes Serious Eye Damage", and that eye or face protection is highly recommended. Never put it into a UV system.
- Primers. UV primers such as F-UV/PRIMER/PLASTIC, F-UV/PRIMER/GLASS and F-UV/PRIMER/METAL are brushed on in a thin layer and left to dry before printing. Apply them in a ventilated area, wear gloves, and ask support@am.co.za for the SDS before first use.
- Combo packs. Ink packs such as F2-UV/COMBO/WHITE/WIPE, F2-UV/COMBO/CMYK/WIPE and H-UVDTF/INK/COMBO/8 include cleaner and wipes; store and use those parts with the same care.
Handling ink safely
- Put on gloves and eye protection before opening a bottle.
- Shake the bottle. The product data says to shake well before pouring, and the FAQ video says to "give that bottle a good bloody shake before you add it to your printer". Close the cap tightly first; the original page also says to agitate every two weeks while in use.
- Pour slowly into the tank over a cloth, with no splashing. Close the tank lid.
- Wipe drips at once with a lint-free cloth.
- Keep white moving. White pigment settles, so "if you have white ink you want to leave your printer on so that the agitator keeps stirring that white ink" (FAQ of UV Hybrid Printers, Printing Thickness, Ink Difference, Daily and Holiday Maintenance (2025-01-13)).
- Wash your hands when done, even if you wore gloves (P264).
Spills, waste and disposal
- Wipe up spills immediately with cloths or paper towel (P391). Do not wash spills into a drain (P273).
- Keep the room dark or dim while cleaning a large spill, so the ink does not cure onto the floor or machine before you remove it.
- Put used wipes, swabs, gloves, old filters and waste ink in a closed container. Because of H400 and H411, dispose of it as chemical waste, not with ordinary rubbish or down a drain.
- Empty the waste bottle before it overfills, wearing gloves and eye protection.
Storage and transport
The original page and current product data agree:
- Storage and transit temperature: +5°C to +35°C.
- Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, and not directly on the floor.
- Agitate before use, and agitate every two weeks while in use (original page); the newer product data says to agitate the ink tank once a day and before printing.
- Keep bottles closed, labelled and out of reach of children and pets. Never store ink in food or drink containers.
See the ink storage page for more.
Ink choice, warranty and SDS
AM.CO.ZA sells UV inks and cleaners matched to its printers. The FAQ video notes there is "no warranty claim on ink that isn't AMS" (FAQ of UV Hybrid Printers, Printing Thickness, Ink Difference, Daily and Holiday Maintenance (2025-01-13)), and the product terms for consumables such as F2-UV/CLEAN state there is no warranty on consumables. Using the matching ink also means the SDS you get from support@am.co.za matches what is actually in your machine.
Data notes
- The original page links SDS PDFs for black, magenta and yellow only; the cyan and white "Download PDF" links have no file listed in the source.
- The original page writes "Oxybis(methyl-2,1-ethanediyl diacylate"; this is the usual spelling of oxybis(methyl-2,1-ethanediyl) diacrylate, also called dipropylene glycol diacrylate.
- The white ink entry ends with a raw template code (TCODE and COMP numbers) instead of the EUH208 sensitiser names. It is kept as found in the original section below; ask support@am.co.za for the current white SDS.
- The original page says to agitate every two weeks; the newer product data says once a day and before printing. Follow the more frequent instruction, especially for white.
- The hazard codes are for the 2021 Epson-type UV inks named on the original page. Newer FlexiFlow UV inks are also acrylate-based UV-curable inks, but always check the SDS for the exact product you use.
FAQ
Is a cured UV print safe to touch? The hazards on the SDS apply to the liquid ink. Make sure prints are fully cured; under-cured ink can still feel tacky and should be handled with gloves.
Do I really need gloves for a quick refill? Yes. The inks may cause an allergic skin reaction (H317), and that can build up over repeated small contacts.
What eye protection should I use? Safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield when flushing lines with a syringe. Every UV colour carries H318, serious eye damage.
Can I pour old ink or flush down the sink? No. The inks are very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. Collect it and dispose of it as chemical waste.
Where do I get the safety data sheet? Email support@am.co.za, as the original page says.
Videos used on this page
- FAQ of UV Hybrid Printers, Printing Thickness, Ink Difference, Daily and Holiday Maintenance (2025-01-13)
- Printhead Emergency Maintenance When Load Shedding and Process to Protect Your Large Format Printer (2023-03-19)
Original uvinks.co.za page
Source: https://uvinks.co.za/safety
- published: 2021-10-27 13:01:33
- modified: 2021-11-05 10:14:07
General Safety Information
INFORMATION AND SDS: support@am.co.za or Visit am.co.za SHIPPING AND STORAGE: Storage & transit temperatures +5°C to +35°C; Store in a cool, dry area, not directly on the floor and away from direct sunlight OPERATING SPECIFICATIONS: Temperature +19°C to +28°C; Relative Humidity 30% to 80% Non-condensing
AGITATE BEFORE USE! Best practice: Agitate every TWO weeks while in use.
Specific Safety Information
Epson UV Cyan - Download PDF
EU_EN - Danger - Contains: phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide; Acrylic Acid Ester; 2-Oxazolidinone; 3-ethenyl-5-methyl; Proprietary Acrylic Ester Derivative. H302 - Harmful if swallowed; H312 - Harmful in contact with skin; H315 - Causes skin irritation; H317 - May cause an allergic skin reaction; H318 - Causes serious eye damage; H335 - May cause respiratory irritation; H400 - Very toxic to aquatic life; H411 - Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. P264 - Wash face, hands and any exposed skin thoroughly after handling; P273 - Avoid release to the environment; P280 - Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection; P305 + P351 + P338 - IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing; P310
Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor; P391 - Collect spillage. EUH210 - Safety data sheet available on request; May produce an allergic reaction; Contains, Oxybis(methyl-2,1-ethanediyl diacylate, Propoxylated neopentyl glycol, 1,6-Hexanediol diacrylate
Epson UV Magenta - Download PDF
EU_EN - Danger- Contains: phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide; Proprietary Acrylic Ester Derivative ; Acrylic Acid Ester; 2-Oxazolidinone; 3-ethenyl-5-methyl. H302 - Harmful if swallowed; H312 - Harmful in contact with skin; H315 - Causes skin irritation; H317 - May cause an allergic skin reaction; H318 - Causes serious eye damage; H335 - May cause respiratory irritation; H400 - Very toxic to aquatic life; H411 - Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. P264 - Wash face, hands and any exposed skin thoroughly after handling; P273 - Avoid release to the environment; P280 - Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection; P305 + P351 + P338 - IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing; P310
Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor; P391 - Collect spillage. EUH210 - Safety data sheet available on request; May produce an allergic reaction; Contains, Propoxylated neopentyl glycol, Oxybis(methyl-2,1-ethanediyl diacylate, 1,6-Hexanediol diacrylate
Epson UV Yellow - Download PDF
EU_EN - Danger -Contains: phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide; Proprietary Acrylic Ester Derivative ; Acrylic Acid Ester; 2-Oxazolidinone; 3-ethenyl-5-methyl. H302 - Harmful if swallowed; H312 - Harmful in contact with skin; H315 - Causes skin irritation; H317 - May cause an allergic skin reaction; H318 - Causes serious eye damage; H335 - May cause respiratory irritation; H400 - Very toxic to aquatic life; H411 - Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. P264 - Wash face, hands and any exposed skin thoroughly after handling; P273 - Avoid release to the environment; P280 - Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection; P305 + P351 + P338 - IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing; P310
Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor; P391 - Collect spillage. EUH210 - Safety data sheet available on request; May produce an allergic reaction; Contains, Propoxylated neopentyl glycol, Oxybis(methyl-2,1-ethanediyl diacylate, 1,6-Hexanediol diacrylate
Epson UV Black - Download PDF
EU_EN - Danger - Contains: phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide; Proprietary Acrylic Ester Derivative ; Acrylic Acid Ester; 2-Oxazolidinone; 3-ethenyl-5-methyl. H302 - Harmful if swallowed; H312 - Harmful in contact with skin; H315 - Causes skin irritation; H317 - May cause an allergic skin reaction; H318 - Causes serious eye damage; H335 - May cause respiratory irritation; H400 - Very toxic to aquatic life; H411 - Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. P264 - Wash face, hands and any exposed skin thoroughly after handling; P273 - Avoid release to the environment; P280 - Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection; P305 + P351 + P338 - IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing; P310
Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor; P391 - Collect spillage. EUH210 - Safety data sheet available on request; May produce an allergic reaction; Contains, Propoxylated neopentyl glycol, Oxybis-methyl-2,1-ethanediyl diacylate, 1,6-Hexanediol diacrylate
Epson UV White - Download PDF
EU_EN - Danger - Contains: Acrylic Acid Ester; phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide; 2-Oxazolidinone; 3-ethenyl-5-methyl; Proprietary Acrylic Ester Derivative. H302 - Harmful if swallowed; H312 - Harmful in contact with skin; H315 - Causes skin irritation; H317 - May cause an allergic skin reaction; H318 - Causes serious eye damage; H335 - May cause respiratory irritation; H400 - Very toxic to aquatic life; H411 - Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. P264 - Wash face, hands and any exposed skin thoroughly after handling; P273 - Avoid release to the environment; P280 - Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection; P305 + P351 + P338 - IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing; P310
Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor; P391 - Collect spillage. EUH210 - Safety data sheet available on request; May produce an allergic reaction; EUH208 - {TCODE="EGCTA"}: {COMP="'84170-74-1','RM315755'"}, {COMP="'57472-68-1','RM315772'"}, {COMP="'13048-33-4','RM1000763'"}.