Print operative - Press Operative

Health and Safety practice and responsibilities: risk assessments, risk control, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), manual handling and ergonomic practice

Health and Safety regulations and procedures: Health and Safety at Work Act, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

Environment and sustainability: Environmental Protection Act, consequences of waste disposal (landfill), energy efficiency

Printing and Graphic Communication Industry and its markets

Print industry: how organisations vary regarding their work, culture, values and production processes

Print industry practices and processes: printing, quality assurance, materials and colour management

The end-to-end production cycle, quality requirements, deadlines and targets, performance rates (efficiency)

Works instructions purpose and requirement: the different variables within materials, colours, machine and wastage

Problem solving techniques: identifying issues and developing solutions for print machinery, digital tools and online services

Data security standards: management of information, data and content in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

Equality & diversity in the workplace

Work area maintenance and efficiency: 5S (sort, set in order (or simplify and straighten), shine, standardise and sustain)

Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Print finishing terminology: fold types and ways of conversion of sheets into products

Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Properties of printing materials, adhesives and chemicals: uses and benefits for paper, adhesive, laminate

Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Print finishing equipment, the various types and what it would be used for including any particular safety aspects

Option 3: Post-Press Operative. The maintenance requirements and risks for finishing equipment

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Output image carrier techniques for onward production: print ready electronic files, plate, cylinders and screens

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Techniques for the receipt, checking and processing of digital files: print ready permanent data files (PDFs), database, colour and ink profile files

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Digital files checks, techniques for solving issues with software and workflow management: colour profiling and data integrity

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Proofs: techniques for creating proofs from client files

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Calibration methods for proof production equipment

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Software packages for pre-press, design or workflow tasks

Option 2: Press Operative. Print presses: methods for the preparation, set up, and shutting down of machinery

Option 2: Press Operative. Properties and structures of materials, inks, toners, blankets, plates, cylinders and the various chemicals required for print operation and maintenance

Option 2: Press Operative. Safe handling, storage and packaging procedures for print materials and chemicals

Option 2: Press Operative. The maintenance requirements and risks for print machinery

Read, interpret and follow information, for example, printing instructions and specifications

Inspect work against specifications and quality standards, for example, works instructions, colour standard, materials or files received

Record information: digital or manual

Follow health and safety regulations, legislation and procedures: PPE, manual handling and ergonomic practice

Follow environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures

Communicate with colleagues: written, verbal or digital. For example, using digital tools such as email, Information technology (IT) telephony, social media, multi-media, video, infographics

Implement solutions as developed by management or supervisors

Identify and report production issues. For example, missing fonts, incorrect materials supplied, wrong adhesive indicated

Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Identify, set up and load finishing equipment with materials. For example, guillotines, stitching-trimming machinery, binding machinery, laminating equipment, die-cutters

Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Conduct and log first line preventative maintenance. For example, clean and lubricate Post Press finishing equipment

Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Inspect the quality of the finishing and report any issues arising during the process. For example, misalignment or gathering

Option 2: Press Operative and Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Prepare print material for the next stage in production. For example, palletising; ensuring all material laid in the same direction, boxing, labelling

Option 2: Press Operative and Option 3: Post-Press Operative. Identify and segregate printed materials into those for use in the next stage of production and those for recycling or disposal

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Select and use software packages for pre-press, design or workflow tasks. For example, MS Office or equivalent, pdf workflow such as ‘Screen True-flow’, ‘Adobe InDesign’, ‘Adobe Illustrator’ and ERP system such as ‘Tharstern’

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Select, check and use equipment for the production of a printed or digital ‘proof’

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Calibrate proof production equipment

Option 1: Pre-Press Operative. Select, check and use equipment for the production of plates, screens, output files and materials

Option 2: Press Operative. Identify and set up printing presses

Option 2: Press Operative. Conduct and log first line preventative maintenance. For example, clean and lubricate printing equipment

Option 2: Press Operative. Inspect the quality of print output during production run. For example, colour management, print resolution and product consistency

Option 2: Press Operative. Follow print press shut down procedures

Committed to continuous professional development

Prioritise health, safety, environment and sustainability at all times

Adapt to changing priorities. For example, working requirements and new technologies

Team focus. Takes responsibility for completing tasks, completes actions within limits of authority without direction and asks for help where required.

Act professionally, for example wears work attire according to the company requirements, respectful, maintains security of business specific and personal data

Self-motivated, manages own time effectively, takes responsibility to complete the task or job