“It's not about fear. It's about keeping your crew safe and your shop running strong.”
In a recent episode of The Shirt Show, host Dylan Gilligan sat down with Gary Jones of Printing United Alliance for an unfiltered conversation about OSHA, safety, and the often-overlooked risks inside a print shop. It’s packed with insight that screen printers of all sizes can learn from — whether you’re just getting started or running a full production floor.
Note: Ryonet isn’t affiliated with The Shirt Show or Printing United Alliance, but this episode offers major value to the screen printing community — and that’s something we’re always down to spotlight.
What They Covered (That You Need to Know)
- OSHA’s biggest shop violations — including machine guarding, unlabeled chemicals, and improper electrical setups.
- Why the word “setup” could cost you — and why “make ready” is the term you should be using instead.
- How employee injuries trigger inspections — especially amputations, which happen more often than you'd think.
- What to do if OSHA walks through your door — hint: don’t panic, don’t overshare, and definitely don’t lie.
- Simple fixes you can make today to improve safety and avoid fines.
Easy Safety Wins for Every Shop
You don’t need to overhaul your shop overnight. But Gary drops a ton of simple tips that can make a difference fast:
- Use color-coded chemical bottles and post a chart nearby.
- Cover foot pedals on automatic presses — it’s a must.
- Use retractable safety knives or blade holders for shipping and trimming.
- Keep cords off the floor — and never daisy chain power strips.
- Label everything — especially breaker boxes, bottles, and emergency switches.
One Line That Says It All
“Usually when someone gets seriously injured, it’s not the first time they did that task. It’s just the first time they didn’t get away with it.”
TL;DR – Safety Isn’t Optional
Ignoring safety doesn’t make it go away — it just makes the eventual fallout worse. Listen to the episode, take notes, and start making improvements where you can. It’s not about perfection. It’s about protecting your people and your future.
Your creativity deserves a safe place to work. Let’s keep building better shops together.