Suggest you look at this linkhttp://www.hse.gov.uk/se...setmkt%3Den-GB%26q%3Dhse

Hi Decimomal

Is your concern about flippant responses why you've put it in the "Careers" forum?

It will depend on which isocyanates you're concerned about; some have very short lives and others longer. The point being that some will require a more intense regime than others.

I'm assuming that you've already researched the currently available and relevant techniques for this - see HSE website - MDHS [Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances] list?

What was your insurers reason for the urine testing?

I would suggest locating a specialist occ health service that can then demonstrate to you that they have a valid, non-experimental technique to take and process the samples without necessitating frequent or lengthy and intrusive removal of operatives from the process.

Frank Hallett

Decimomal, a very common requirement, and a simple one to fulfil too, you dont need any professional or medical help in my opinion with this one.

Many labs will offer the service, and likely supply the containers, labels and transport boxes too.

HSL may be your best first port of call:

http://www.hsl.gov.uk/on...itoring/isocyanates.aspx

Its not too expensive either ~£50 a sample (well in general terms)

AND they will give you advice on the results of the monitoring and any further requirements you may have.

From experience I would make sure you get both pre + post shift samples. Explain to the employees what it is and why, what you will and wont be measuring. The benefits of identifying any exposures (further risk reduction measures identified needed ec.).

Give the sample pots to the guys, let them go away and fill (the labs will be able to tell if its tap water!). You dont need to watch them do it though.

I can also recommend (but not affiliated with) www.salltd.co.uk

Of course there is also the HSE guidance specifically on this:
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/p47.pdf (P47 - Biological monitoring for isocyanates - HSE)

As well as the general - http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg245.htm

Any other issues or questions just give me a shout.

Des

Thank you for your (not very helpful comment). I have done a little research on the subject and urine testing is clearly one of the recommended / required(?) health checks.

As the public notice board is populated by health and safety professionals I saw no reason not to post it here.

Only one thing to add, and that is (in my limited experience) sometimes folks might be suspicious that their samples will be tested for drugs - a bit of an indication in itself!

It should be noted this was happening even when they were told whether the samples they were providing were for drug (as there was/is routine, random drug testing as well) or for contamination monitoring.

It might be worth showing some of the workers the lab and some of the test results if there is any resistance.

As they say, "there's nothing queerer than folk!"

Hi,

We use an OH supplier for all of our Health surveillance, Urine testing and so on.

We don't work with Isocyanate's, but we do have to monitor for the chemicals we use, which are particularly nasty in there own right.

An OH provider would be able to interpret the results and provide all the help you should need, this isn't the cheapest route. It will ensure that your exposure levels are being carefully monitored though.

'Thank you for your (not very helpful comment). I have done a little research on the subject and urine testing is clearly one of the recommended / required(?) health checks.

As the public notice board is populated by health and safety professionals I saw no reason not to post it here.'


The reason I posted is that H&S people are not usually medically qualified to decide what is the correct health surveillance technique - hence why I suggested that the final advice should be from a medically qualified person. While it may be fairly obvious from guidance literature, that is not the same.