Standox offers bodyshop health tips
Thanks to the international VOC directive, many potentially harmful substances have either been completely eliminated from modern paint products or have dramatically diminished.
Nonetheless, personal protective equipment is mandatory for all paintwork. In fact, wearing it should be a matter of course in the interest of health as it offers protection against harmful substances entering the body via the airways, skin or eyes. Kevin Welling, Training Academy Manager for Axalta Coatings Systems in the UK and Ireland, offers a few tips.
Tip 1: Be aware of the chemicals.
Even experienced professional refinishers frequently underestimate the health risks associated with the use of paint products. Many may even still remember the days when wearing protective equipment in the spray booth was not strictly enforced. But refinishers should be aware that they are handling chemical substances that shouldn’t really come into contact with the body. Don’t take these health risks lightly.
Tip 2: Always wear the recommended, complete equipment.
Personal protection equipment – overalls, gloves, safety glasses, safety boots and respiratory protection – offers protection against particles, organic gases and fumes during the preparation and finishing phases, while mixing and, of course, while painting. Ear protection should also be worn when using pneumatically or electrically operated machines. Always follow the user information and safety advice for every product. Wear all the required protective gear at all times, even if under time pressure.
Tip 3: Protection starts outside the spraybooth.
Many refinishers associate health hazards with work in the spray booth, which is understandable, but wrong. Refinishers should protect themselves even during the preparation phase and it is especially important to wear appropriate respiratory protection when sanding, to stop the inhalation of microscopic dust particles which are created during the process. Respiratory protection is also recommended when mixing paint.
Tip 4: Protective face masks offer the best protection.
Respiratory protection is of particular importance for refinishers, so for work in the spray booth, Standox recommends face masks that cover the entire face and are force-ventilated. This means the face masks that refinishers wear are supplied with oxygen via a tube. This type of face mask has the advantage of being light and offers wearers no resistance when breathing, so they can be worn without any time limit. Face masks not only protect the airways, but also eyes, facial skin and hair. Half masks are practical, but offer less protection. Don’t forget to wear safety glasses as well, depending on the job.
Tip 5: Make sure equipment is in perfect condition.
Refinishers should always ensure protective equipment is in perfect condition. As soon as any damage, such as holes or defective fastenings, are noticed, repair or fully replace damaged or worn parts. Activated carbon filters must be changed regularly. It is also important to be careful when storing personal protective equipment. Masks in particular should be stored somewhere clean that is free of dust and protected from solvent fumes. Do not leave them lying around exposed near waste water basins or in the mixing room, otherwise the activated carbon filters will become saturated with pollutants contained in the ambient air and will only offer limited protection.
Tip 6: Set an example.
Set an example for safety at work and raise awareness among colleagues. Nothing leads to dangerous negligence more quickly than a colleague who does not adhere to the rules. That is why it should be common practice in every bodyshop to discuss safety at work at regular intervals and to systematically prevent violations of the safety rules.
The Standox Standothek guide entitled Helpful tips for your Health and Safety, contains even more advice and information for bodyshops on this subject. It is available to order free of charge from the Standox webshop, www.standoshop.co.uk, where health and safety equipment such as Standox overalls and gloves can also be purchased.
