Employees in danger of developing occupational asthma through the spraying of hazardous chemical

Post By: Shona Innes

An agricultural machinery manufacturer in Lincolnshire has been fined after employees are exposed to chemicals.

After an inspection by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) it was found that Marston Agricultural Services Ltd allowed trailers to be sprayed with isocyanate-containing paint without assessment of dangers and controls.

Isocyanates are organic compounds and are potentially dangerous, causing irritation to the eyes and respiratory tract.

The HSE reports that materials containing isocyanates have been the single biggest cause of occupational asthma in Great Britain and those who are most at risk are workers in Motor Vehicle Repair bodyshops, the commercial vehicle and trailer manufacturing industry.

The risk to these workers is over 80 times greater than the industrial average.

The failings by Marston Agricultural Services Ltd included poorly maintained spray booths (used with the doors open), significant exposure to sprayed vehicles in the workshop and also the provision of unsuitable personal protective equipment.

PPE such as overalls were found to be ripped and the gloves were found to be unsuitable for preventing the breakthrough of chemicals.

Facilities at the site were also understood to be unfit for purpose and were described as ‘extremely unhygienic’ to the point where employees did not want to use them; this included an emergency shower which had been broken for years.

In order to prevent risk, controls must be put in place where they can; PPE should then be used when risks to health and safety cannot be adequately controlled by other means.  Frontline Safety can provide a range of personal protective equipment, including safety glasses, hard hats and face masks and filters.

Half masks or full-face masks with an A2P3 can be used for paint spraying tasks – but only in situations where the spraying task will last up to an hour.  For durations of longer than an hour, a powered (fan-assisted) respirator with a visor should be used.

The Drager X-Plore 3300 Painter Set, comes complete with a half mask and re-useable A2P3 filters, making it suitable for short paint spraying tasks.  This mask is economical and has a low level of maintenance and the A2P3 filter can be used to protect against gases and organic compounds including isocyanates and also particles.

The set can be purchased here, if you require more information please contact Frontline Safety on [email protected].

The HSE found Marston Agricultural Services Ltd guilty of breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £10,000 and order to pay £13,420 in costs.

HSE inspector Emma Madeley reiterated the dangers of the hazardous chemicals and pointed out that information on isocyanates is readily available on the HSE website.

“Marston Agricultural Services failed to adequately control their employees’ exposure to hazardous chemicals over an extended period of time, despite having repeatedly received advice from HSE and others on the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations.”

Posted by Shona Innes