It is not safe for workers to do a quick spot job in Where can I find more help?

the booth without turning it on, or to stand on the

downdraft side of the job without respiratory ISOCYANATE
protection. Ensure spot spraying is only done in
well ventilated areas with adequate air flow.
WORKPLACE PAINTS
It may not be necessary to install a fume S E R V I C E S
cupboard if the published exposure limits for
isocyanates are not exceeded*. However,
atmospheric monitoring would be required to
Call us on
1300 365 255

Chemical
ensure that these standards are not exceeded.
Records of this monitoring, which has to be
conducted by a competent person, would need to
be kept for 30 years. If the exposure limits were Adelaide Office

Use

MAJOR WORKPLACE HAZARDS

exceeded at any time, it indicates that the workers Level 3, 1 Richmond Road
may be significantly exposed to isocyanate. That KESWICK SA 5035
being the case, the employer would be required
to institute appropriate controls and to organise
for the workers to undergo a health surveillance Visit our website
program. These records would need to be kept
for 30 years.
www. .sa.gov.au
*The present time weighted average for
isocyanates is 0.02mg per cubic metre of clean
air averaged over eight hours. A short term 15 Statewide Emergency
mins exposure of up to 0.07 mg is permitted Serious accidents and incidents report number
so long as there are no more than four such 1800 777 209 (24 hour service)
departures per day and there is one hour
between them.

WORKPLACE SERVICES
Department for Administrative Government
Re-printed Sept 2001 and Information Services of South Australia
CASE STUDY:
This Is Not The Way To Do It
Like similar spray shops, this workplace occasionally
uses a two-pack paint containing hexamethylene
diisocyanate (HDI). The spraying is carried out in a
booth.
Alongside the booth is a mixing and colour matching
area that is ventilated only by the open door to the
workplace. When spraying, the workers wear gloves,
full overalls and a half face-piece respirator with a paint
spray cartridge that is replaced every day. They do not
wear any respiratory protection during mixing and
matching or clean up.
The employer, who also does some spraying during
busy periods and his employees, have a good working
relationship. Each believes that they are being
responsible, they are complying with the law and that
nobodys health is at risk.
In fact there could be a substantial health risk to those
using HDI in this manner. This business is also not
complying with occupational health and safety
legislation.
So why are they at risk?
Any spray painting can be a health risk. This is because
it is possible to breathe in solvent vapours and tiny
airborne paint solids. Skin contact with the solvents
may also cause dermatitis. However, isocyanates
present a special risk.
Isocyanates are known sensitisers. Although there may
be no immediate health symptoms, it is probable that
workers will become allergic to the isocyanate
containing products and suffer worsening breathing
difficulties or skin complaints.
Eventually they may be unable to work with
isocyanates, even in tiny concentrations. They may
have to resign for health reasons.
Occupational health and safety laws specify that
isocyanates shall only be sprayed in a booth and that an
airline respirator must be worn when spraying them.
So What can they do about it?
This business must obtain the Material Safety Data
sheet (MSDS) for the paint and ensure that all those
workers who could be exposed have access to the
MSDS.
The MSDS should be placed in a folder with other
MSDS for each of the hazardous substances used in
that workplace eg paint strippers, cutting compounds
and solvents. (This folder we will call the Hazardous
Substances Register.)
Together, the employer and employees must determine
who could be exposed to the isocyanate containing
paint. How much they are exposed to; how long they
are exposed; how often they are exposed and what
controls are in place. They must ask if safe operating
procedures are in place and are they being followed?
What are the potential outcomes of present exposure?
Are any workers suffering health effects referred to in
the MSDS?
This process is referred to in Occupational Health
Safety & Welfare legislation as a risk assessment.
We are not concerned with the reacted and dried paint.
It is only the free isocyanate, solvent vapours and paint
particulates that cause a health risk.
The above risk assessment for this workplace would
show that:
workers mixing and matching are exposed to
vapours and mists
paint patches can be seen all around the mixing
area where test patches have been sprayed
workers breathe in mists, vapours and particulates
there is also skin contact when gloves are not worn
non paint sprayers are also exposed as the only
ventilation is air flow from the open door
spray painters are wearing inadequate
respiratory protection, it may be adequate for
enamel paint but not for isocyanates
respiratory and skin exposure is possible during
the clean up process particularly when blowing
solvent through the gun
cotton waste and cleaning rags are thrown into
an open bin by the gun wash recovery drum.
There is always a strong smell in the area.
(It should be noted that although strong smells are
not a reliable guide to health risk, they are a guide to
exposure and indicate that controls may not be
adequate.)
Control Options
The half face piece cartridge respirators should be
replaced by an air supplied respirator, in line with
the requirements of the OHS&W Regulations. The
supplied air must be filtered and comply with the
standards stipulated in the Regulations. Approval
should be sought from the Director of Workplace
Services for using any other type of respirator in a
booth. However, it should be noted that no such
approval has yet been given.
The mixing and matching area, if it cannot be
fitted in the booth, could be supplied with a fume
cupboard. Workers should also be instructed to
wear personal protective equipment at all times
when handling isocyanates. Workers not
complying with this requirement are in breach of
the Regulations.
Clean up should be done within the booth or the
fume cupboard to avoid excessive exposure. Any
waste should be placed in a covered bin.
Make sure that all workers are aware of the
health risks associated with isocyanates, have
been trained to use the equipment provided and
are adequately supervised to ensure compliance
with safe operating procedures.