A painter recently asked about the health issues and about the systems and regulations around isocyanate. I had lots of knowledge about this already, but the questions prompted me to recap this area. I thought this information this may be of some use to others.
This article will help you make sense of the risks of using isocyanate paints, your responsibilities as an employer and how to reduce the risks in your workplace. It covers the following:
- How isocyanates affect the human body
- Paints that contain Isocyanates
- Why paints contain Isocyanates.
- Definition of Isocyanates.
- How to comply with regulations and keep your workforce safe
- Employer legal obligations (including recently updated requirements)
- Alternatives to isocyanate paints.
How to safely use Isocyanate Paints
Many of you know that painting and spraying with Isocyanate paints can cause risks to health, but did you know it’s the primary cause of occupational asthma in the UK? This puts at risk vehicle paint sprayers working in body shops, with the commercial vehicle refinishers most at risk. Commercial vehicle refinishers are 90 times more likely to contract occupational asthma than any other industrial employees, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Adhering to the correct health and safety procedures at all times prevents risks of occupational asthma, and is a legal requirement under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH) regulations 2002.
What Are Isocyanates in Paint?
(Di)isocyanates are a family of highly reactive, low molecular weight chemicals that react with alcohol-based compounds to create polyurethanes. Isocyanates are the main chemical component of hardeners for 2-pack (2K) and polyurethane coatings.
A couple of examples of what paint contains Isocyanates.
Most paint shops use paints and lacquers that contain isocyanate hardener, and even some water-based paints can contain isocyanates. In automotive, plant manufacturing and marine industries, where durability is essential for product coatings, isocyanate paints and lacquers have historically been the coating of choice.
Why Are Isocyanates Used in Paint?
Paints with isocyanate compounds are used because they adhere well, are hard, have excellent chemical resistance properties and can withstand extreme temperatures and conditions. There are currently no commercially viable alternatives offering the same range of properties.
Isocyanate Paints – is there an Alternative?
A growing number of water-based coatings now offer several of the properties of isocyanate paints without the health and safety risks.
So what affect can Isocyanate have on the Human Body?
Let’s cut straight to it – Isocyanates are very toxic substances that affect the respiratory system when inhaled. Symptoms often include chest pain, breathlessness and asthma. Continued exposure to isocyanates can cause permanent and severe occupational asthma, which necessitates giving up work.
The common symptoms of occupational asthma include:
- Continual problems with sore or watery eyes
- Persistent cough
- Tightness in the chest, which persists outside of working hours.
- Continually blocked or runny nose
- Wheezing and gasping for breath
Application of paint is still the primary cause of Isocyanate exposure, but don’t forget it can also occur from paint curing and the cleaning spray guns.
Employers Legal Obligations
Employers in the UK are required to comply with the following regulations in relation to spraying isocyanates:
This requires employers to control the risks from harmful substances used or produced at work, including isocyanate in paints.
(WEL) in the UK the (WEL) limit of isocyanates of 20 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3 ) of air. Exposure to isocyanate should not exceed this.
Confirmed cases of asthma or dermatitis caused by exposure to Isocyanates at work must be reported – but that’s not all! Back in August 2023 the legal requirements had an update.
Employers will also be subject to the REACH restriction on (Di)isocyanates, which stipulates that employers and the self-employed must ensure that industrial or professional user(s) have successfully completed training on the safe use of (Di)isocyanates prior to the use of the substance(s) or mixture(s).
How To Comply with Regulations and Keep Your Workforce Safe
You can find a wealth of guidance and information about how to comply with COSSH and EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website. Below are some links to key guidance notes for employers of businesses that spray isocyanate paints.
- Isocyanate paint spraying: Safely managing spray booths and rooms HSG276
- Safety in isocyanate paint spraying INDG388(rev2)
- EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits
An alternative way to stay compliant is to follow an e-learning module developed by the manufacturers of di-isocyanates to ensure the downstream users of products are compliant. The E-learning modules can be completed here Safe Use Di-Iscyanates Training but there is a fee. Many industry users will follow this training as it comes directly from the manufacturer along with classroom or even face-to-face options are available.
How to comply with the new REACH restrictions
As stated earlier, from 24 August 2023, the REACH restriction on isocyanates will require that employers and the self-employed must ensure that industrial or professional user(s) have successfully completed training on the safe use of (Di)isocyanates prior to the use of the substance(s) or mixture(s). Here, we break down what that means and what you must do to comply.
Who are “industrial and professional users”?
In the context of REACH, any worker or self-employed worker handling (Di)isocyanates on their own, as a constituent in other substances or in mixtures for industrial and professional use(s) or supervising these tasks are considered to be industrial or professional users.
The most commonly arising industrial uses and users are the following:
- Professionals spraying in a ventilated booth, cleaning and waste
- Application by roller or brush, cleaning and waste (Professional or Other)
- Spraying outside a ventilated booth, cleaning and waste
- Spraying coating outside by professionals
- Professional painting with a brush or roller
What training do I need to provide as an employer?
The REACH requirements stipulate that training shall include instructions for the control of dermal and inhalation exposure to (Di)isocyanates at the workplace.
Training?
REACH states that all Isocyanate training must be conducted by “an expert on occupational safety and health with competence acquired by relevant vocational training”. You can book compliant online training via the Safe Use of Isocyanates website.
But how can you tell which coatings are affected?
Coatings manufacturers are now required to place the following statement on the label of products affected by the REACH isocyanate restrictions: “As from 24 August 2023, adequate training is required before industrial or professional use”.
