From experience - Painting/Isocyanates (2-pack)
- When workers in a large bodyshop complained of paint smells and tight
chests, HSE measured their isocyanate exposure by biological monitoring.
It was found that everyone in the bodyshop was exposed to isocyanate.
The most highly exposed person being the receptionist. The downdraft spray
booth filters were clogged and the over-pressure sensor had failed. The
booths were becoming pressurised, especially during baking, and were leaking
badly. They had never been thoroughly examined or tested.
- An MVR paint sprayer worked for 10 years painting commercial vehicle
bodies. He worked in a spray space and wore air-fed breathing apparatus.
However, after spraying he would routinely flip up his visor to check
on paint coverage, quality etc allowing no time for the fine (invisible)
overspray mist to clear. The first indications that something was wrong
were tight chests at night. Neither the sprayer nor his GP made the connection
between his asthma and exposure to isocyanates at work. He soldered on
until he could work no longer. By this time, he was unable to walk more
than 20 yards before resting and was unemployed.
- A motor mechanic wore an ori-nasal filtering half-mask respirator when
he started using 2-pack isocyanate paints in a spray space. Within a few
months he found he was wheezing in the evenings after work and had a cough.
He thought he was getting flu. After two years he had an acute asthma
attack and was hospitalised. He is now registered disabled and is a respiratory
cripple. He gets asthma attacks triggered by non-specific air contaminants
such as the smell of gloss paint or diesel fume or even just cold air.
- A small bodyshop spraying isocyanate paints constructed its own spray
room without help or advice from a specialist, such as a ventilation engineer.
Not only did the sprayroom leak into the adjacent vehicle preparation
areas, it also contaminated the air in the factory unit next door. HSE
prohibited the process. The business ceased to trade.
