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Posted By M MacDonald
Hello,
I am looking for advice. I am temporarily the H & S Officer and one of the employees is complaining that paint fumes are causing an allergic reaction - her face has swollen up. The premises are being redecorated currently so every so often the Technician is painting in the production area where she works. The last time painting was being carried out she also had a similar reaction.
What should I do? Should I advise her to visit her GP?
Many thanks,
Michelle
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Michelle
The first thing is to keep the affected employee out of the area when the paint is being used. If the situation is temporary, due to the redecoration, then that should be enough in the short-term. However, in the longer-term, you should try to find out what is causing the problem; it may turn out not to be work-related, after all. In my experience, most GPs are an unreliable source of information on alleged work-related problems so make sure that you seek specialist advice from a dermatologist.
Paul
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Posted By M MacDonald
Thank you. I'll go and remove her from the area now.
Michelle
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Posted By Neil Pearson
Just to add to Paul's good advice...approach the paint manufacturers for material safety data sheets for the paints. These will help the experts. If you have trouble getting hold of a dermatologist, look for any occupational health service, just as a starting point.
I'd be interested to know what sort of paint is causing the trouble. If there's just one main type, post the ingredients here when you get the data sheets. We may be able to pick out the likely culprits.
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Posted By M MacDonald
Thanks Neil.
I am trying to obtain the material data sheet as we speak.
I will keep you up-to-date.
Michelle
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Posted By Kate Graham
If the symptoms take a while to die down it would be worth seeing a doctor or pharmacist as there are treatments for allergic rashes that can bring them down quicker (although they are NOT cures).
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Posted By colin
I've been a professional painter for 20 years and never came across someones face being affected, usually its just headaches and stinging eyes from the fumes from oil based paints.
Go and ask the painters if they are using water based or oil based paints, oil based eggshell "stinks" and is usually the culprit that causes the problems with those affected.
I'd like to hear the result when you've found out.
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Posted By M MacDonald
Hi,
The facilities Tech doing the painting has said he has never seen this in 17 yrs of painting. The paint he is using this time is a water based white emulsion. The last time she had a reaction he was using an oil based gloss.
It may just be a coincidence and the employee is quite aware of this. The last time her doctor tested her for food sensitivity - she is seeing the doc again this afternoon.
Will keep you posted.
Thanks,
Michelle
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Posted By Kevin Walker
we had a similiar situation recently where a staff member who was exposed to paint fume (hypoallergenic, low odour suitable for kids paint) for a period of a couple of hours developed all forms of asthma type symptoms and headaches. In the end had several days off over a 3 week period all blamed on the paint.
Never had it before, her doctor said you have asthma get used to it. Real or not who knows.
kevin
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Posted By Bill Bircham
Just caught up with this thread, now this is impressive.
Someone has a problem, posts it, and within a matter of hours someone who was coming to harm is now removed from the situation, and things are being to sort it out.
Very impressed, and a good reflection on both IOSH and the individuals who got involved.
Well done to you all
Bill
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Posted By Karen Todd
Michelle,
This person may have a latex allergy.
I say this, because I heard from a fellow H&S officer who has 2 people with latex allergies who but who are also allergic to paint (which I thought very odd), and they also carry an epi-pen.
I think perhaps paint and adhesive tape (e.g. masking tape) can contain latex?
Regards,
Karen
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Posted By Mark R. Devlin
Hi,
Check out that the affected person is not decorating their house or have a hobby that may be causing this reaction.
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Posted By M MacDonald
Thanks everyone. I promised an update....
The employee visited her Doctor who has advised that it is possibly a food allergy so she has been reffered for food sensitivity tests, but the doc is not ruling out an allergy to something in the factory.
When her house is painted she does not have this type of reaction so the other possibility is that she is allergic to something that is being disturbed by the painting.
No painting has been happening since the other day so the employee's swelling has gone down.
Thanks again everyone for your advice with this. I have been in this job 3 weeks and have had something new to deal with everyday!
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Posted By M MacDonald
Hello again,
I just thought I would let you all know that the lady in question has had the results back of her allergy testing and is allergic to NICKEL.
Can anyone please advise what nickel might be found in in a manufacturing environment - we manufacture switches and safety devices for cars (i.e. volume control switches on steering wheels, airbag connectors, horns etc).
Many thanks,
Michelle
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Posted By Roger the Dodger
Possibly nickel coating on the switches etc for a good electrical contact?
Maybe as part of the 'bright' bits on the outside of trim etc to make it look more attractive?
General anti-corrosion surface protection.
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Posted By Robin B
According to COSHH you should refer the matter to an Occupational Health provider, most likely not a GP, unless an exceptioanly well informed/trained one
Robin
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Posted By Stephen_S_Edwards
I had a guy who was allergic to Nickel.....it turns out that Nickel is in just about everything metal that we use.....door handles, belt buckles, switches, cutlery, coins, it's everywhere. We had to place him in a hermetically sealed bubble for the rest of his natural existence.....not really. But he had to carry out a stringent hygiene regime every day and was removed from the process he was working on (Plasma spraying)
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Posted By Julie P
An allergy to nickel is not uncommon - can vouch for that as I am one of the many sufferers (don't worry guys, don't expect sympathy!).
Your employee may well want to check any new jewellery she had at the time the swelling started. I find I have to be really careful with necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches - the unseen hazards of fashion!
Seeing as this started in January - Christmas cracker jewellery is definitely a no no!
Hope the swelling's gone down!
Julie
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