Rank: Forum user
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Late yesterday I was looking at a process where I work. I picked up a very small can of a substance I hadn't seen before.It was aerosol spray paint. The operator said he only used it maybe once a day just to cover a tiny spot of missing paint and said he never used a mask. I didn't think any more about it there and then.
When I came in this morning I decided to look at the MSDS for it and saw that it was H351 'suspected of causing cancer' contained isocyanates, and 'may produce an allergic re-action.'
It seems a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a nut approach to insist he wears a mask for it, but I don't want to find the poor guy or anyone else using it gets cancer.
I understand paint sprayers using isocyanate paints every day for most of the day need to be protected, but how likely is it realistically that he would get cancer for such a minor amount of use? Be good to know your thoughts....
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Rank: Forum user
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Would it be reasonably practicable to provide the user with a suitable level of RPE? Are there any WEL's assosaited with the substance, and do you know how much they are potentially exposed to? Personally, I'd be looking to assess the risk as per COSHH, and put in place the necessary controls. It may only be a small exposure, but the consequences could be very high.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Before considering PPE you need to look at how exposure can be prevented. For example, whether there is another process or material that can be used instead, and whether the task can be done under ventilation (if it is small parts then in a fume cupboard, for example).
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Rank: Super forum user
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Even in the car spaying industry where this used to be a major
problem, many companies are sourcing Isocyanate free paint – can you not substitute
a different product (Hierarchy of controls)
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for all the thoughts folks!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Record your findings in a formal COSHH assessment. Carcinogenic or Sensitising substances have no safe level of exposure, although may have a WEL for various reasons. COSHH requires the "ALARP" approach (reg 7 of COSHH). http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubnS/priced/l5.pdf Think of it a bit like Asbestos; for these classes of subsances be extremely cautious.
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Rank: New forum user
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