Paper-making involves heavy machinery, steam and chemical processes, so workplace health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 apply. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates in Great Britain and HSENI in Northern Ireland.
Paper-making is also water-intensive and tightly regulated for its discharges, and paper products carry their own market rules for product safety, food-contact materials and packaging.
What you need to do
-
Run a safe mill and employ people
Whatever you make, start with the universal spine. Follow "Set up and run a safe paper mill" for your health and safety, process-chemical COSHH controls, work equipment, manual handling, fire safety, insurance, equality and data protection duties.
-
Manage your environmental permits and water
Paper-making is water-intensive: you are likely to need an environmental permit for the installation, a trade effluent consent for discharges to the sewer, and an abstraction licence if you take water. Follow "Manage environmental permits and water at your paper mill".
-
Place paper products on the market
Meet general product safety, the food-contact materials rules for food packaging, and packaging producer responsibility. Follow "Place paper products on the market".
-
Confirm you have covered everything
Finish with the paper manufacturer compliance checklist to confirm your obligations are met.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Read it on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.uk