Technical information

Ozone emission
Ozone gas is emitted by almost all laser printers and photocopiers. The
printer technology allows it to emit practically no ozone gas (less than .002
parts of ozone per million parts of air). The current OSHA permissible
exposure limit for ozone is 0.1 parts of ozone per million parts of air (ppm).
The ozone emissions from the printer comply with Underwriters Laboratory
(UL) safety limits.
Depending on the levels of concentration, ozone can be a mild to severe
irritant with known effects ranging from dry throat and nose, headache, and
sore eyes to nausea, vomiting, and pulmonary congestion. For this reason
various regulatory agencies have established limits regarding the amount of
ozone to which employees may be exposed. The employer is responsible for
providing a work environment that meets these standards.
You can usually identify ozone by its characteristic odor, even in
concentrations well below the permissible exposure limit. However, as the
concentration of ozone or the duration of exposure increases, your ability to
smell it may decrease.
To mi n imize ozone exposure, install the printer in a well-ventilated area and
keep the equipment properly maintained. If there are other laser printers or
photocopying machines in the same area, additional air circulation may be
required. Do not place the printer in a small, enclosed space that lacks
adequate ventilation. Position the printer so that the fan exhaust does not
blow directly into a person’s face. Finally, maintain the relative humidity
between 30 and 70 percent. Extremely low humidity can slow the natural
breakdown of ozone in the air.
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Appendix D