Posted By Robert S Woods Can anyone provide advice/info on working in a spray painting shop. Air monitoring is carried out and LEV is in place. The company supplies bib and brace type overalls (leaving skin exposed),cartrige type RPE (air fed PPE for certain products) no eye protection is worn. About 60 different types of stain/polish are sprayed, which I am in the process of COSHH assessing. The MSDSs almost all say eye protection should be worn for risks from splashes or because the sprayed product irritating to the eyes. Overalls should be worn to protect skin from irritation. I think that the use of air fed RPE with would solve the obvious problems of wearing cartrige type PPE and eye protection. I am also going to reccommend the provision of coveralls. This is not going to go down well with the opereratives or management. Any advice would be welcome.

Posted By Paul Leadbetter Robert All COSHH assessments should involve the people at risk. This is especially important if the result is 'you can't do that job that way any more'. If the employees have been involved and know why the change is necessary, they are more likely to go along with it. Paul

Posted By John Murgatroyd Paper coveralls are available at very reasonable prices, complete with hood. Gloves should also be worn, the pvc type are cheap too. Rpe can be either cartridge or air-fed, but note the ACoP for rpe...rest periods...passive rpe is tiring to wear. Skin problems are very common in paint personnel, especially those who refuse to protect their skin, at the very least a good barrier cream should be worn on exposed areas of skin. For management, point-out that refusing to provide, and insist on the use of, protective equipment will cost them dearly in higher insurance premiums eventually. For the employees, point-out that they could easily have problems with dermatitis, eczma, asthma, a variety of liver function problems, many lung problems and also problems with the nasal passages...largely an increased incidence of tumours.