Spraying isocyanates paints is the main cause of occupational asthma in the UK. Approximately 50 isocyanate paint sprayers are diagnosed with occupational asthma every year, resulting in most of them having to leave their industry.
Isocyanate Exposure Health Effects
Once someone becomes sensitised, even an extremely low exposure can trigger an asthma attack. Typical early signs that someone is becoming sensitised to isocyanates can include one or more of the following:
• chest tightness, often occurring outside working hours in the evening or early morning
• persistent cough
• recurring blocked or runny nose
• recurring sore or watering eyes
• wheezing
• breathlessness
• flu-like shivers
If isocyanate exposures continue following early symptoms, they may become permanently sensitised with occupational asthma, which has no cure. Once this has happened, asthma can be triggered from other airborne pollutants or even the cold air!
Isocyanate Exposure Monitoring
At Blue Turtle Ltd, we employ experienced Occupational Hygienists who specialise in assessing the current controls in place to check if they are effective, along with providing clear recommendations on what further action should be taken if additional controls are required. Our aim is to ensure that your workforce is protected from work-related ill health and that your business remains or becomes legally compliant with current legislation.
A Workplace Exposure Monitoring Survey for isocyanates should be carried out if:
- If you use products that contain isocyanates (e.g. paint. adhesives, expandable foams) but have never undertaken occupational exposure monitoring to assess isocyanate exposures to personnel.
- You are looking to start using products that contain isocyanates and are looking for advice on what controls should be considered.
- You have had cases of ill-health relating to isocyanate exposures.
- Changes have been made to the process and a survey is required to check that controls are still effective.
- It is also advised if it has been more than 12 months since your last exposure monitoring survey to have this repeated to confirm that controls remain effective.
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The Process
At Blue Turtle Ltd, we provide a professional and friendly service where a trained Occupational Hygienist will visit your place of work to conduct a survey to assess current workplace exposures, practices, current controls and to provide advice on what additional controls should be implemented. A typical flour dust assessment consists of:
- Personal air sampling to check exposures against regulatory limits.
- Prevention – Are there alternative options for carrying out this type of work.
- Engineering Controls – A review of current controls and an analytical assessment of their effectiveness by carrying out personal air monitoring and/or a test and examination of your Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) system.
- Procedural/Organisational Controls – A review of maintenance regimes of engineering controls, current working practices and related procedures against industry standards and recognised good practices.
- PPE/RPE – Review of current provision of Personal Protective Equipment and Respiratory Protective Equipment to ensure that they provide adequate protection against the health hazards.
Every survey is followed by a detailed easy to understand report which clearly identifies the results of any personal exposure monitoring or LEV test results, effectiveness of current control measures, recommendations for further improvements and any gaps in legislative compliance. The report also provides you with a risk ranked actions so that you can focus resources on the higher risk items first. We help businesses of all types manage their workplace health hazards. Our experienced consultants can provide practical advice on how to achieve adequate control through process changes, improvements, or adopting/changing work practices to reduce the risk as low as reasonably practicable.
Whatever your Occupational Hygiene needs are, Blue Turtle Ltd is here to help your business protect your workforce and help you meet your legal obligations.
Give us a call today to discuss your needs or if you prefer, complete the online form with a brief outline of your business needs and/or concerns.
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Northgate Business Centre 38 Northgate, Newark Nottinghamshire, NG24 1EZ
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