Abstract
Purpose – Exposure to isocyanates was the leading cause of occupational asthma in the UK. Motor vehicle repair (MVR) bodyshop paint sprayers were at greatest risk, despite widespread use of air-fed breathing apparatus and ventilated booths. Most paint sprayers work in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) project, described in this paper, is to improve exposure control measures in at least 20 per cent of MVR bodyshops, and reduce the risk of occupational asthma. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach – A three-stranded plan consisted of: Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs); workplace inspections; and third-party stakeholder communications. The impact of various parts of the project were evaluated. Findings – Approximately 18 per cent of bodyshops in the UK attended one of 32 SHADs, following which over 90 per cent of delegates expressed an “intention to act” to improve exposure control measures. A local assessment showed that at least 50 per cent of bodyshops improved exposure control measures. An evaluation of 109 inspections found that enforcement action was taken at 40 per cent of visits. Third-party engagement produced a joint HSE-industry designed poster, new agreed guidance on spray booths and dissemination of SHAD material. Knowledge of booth clearance time has become widespread, and 85 per cent of booths now have pressure gauges. Biological monitoring data show that, post-SHAD, exposures were lower. Originality/value – A sustained national project using clear, relevant, tested messages delivered via different routes, had a sector-wide impact in bodyshops. It is probable that the project has improved isocyanate exposure control in at least 20 per cent of bodyshops. The generic lessons could be applied to other widespread SME businesses.
Highlights
Exposure to isocyanates has been the leading cause of occupational asthma in the UK for at least two decades (Bakerly et al, 2008)
Questionnaire responses prior to the Safety and Health Awareness Days (SHADs) event indicated that attendees were overconfident or “unrealistically optimistic” (Weinstein, 1982) about the measures in place to control risks in their workplace compared to their post event responses
13 per cent of companies surveyed undertake regular biological monitoring (25 per cent of medium sized (W 15 employees) and ~5 per cent of micro-businesses. These findings suggest that key messages, focused on exposure control, have been received and acted upon more widely than just SHAD attendees or those inspected
Summary
Exposure to isocyanates has been the leading cause of occupational asthma in the UK for at least two decades (Bakerly et al, 2008). Spray painters, using isocyanate-based paints in the motor vehicle repair (MVR) industry, have been the work-group at greatest risk (HSE, 2010), with 80 times the average UK industry occupational asthma incidence. MVR spray painters were chosen by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a target group for a national awareness project, aimed at reducing the incidence of occupational asthma. The risk to sprayers was reduced, the incidence of occupational asthma remained stubbornly high. As most sprayers worked in specialised enclosing spray booths and wore air-fed breathing apparatus it was not obvious how they were being exposed to isocyanates. This research characterised the flow of air within spray booths and rooms to better understand how exposure might be taking place. In downdraught booths the formation of recirculatory eddies, against the walls and under light fillets determined the clearance time for airborne isocyanate, whereas in spray rooms this was determined by simple dilution
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