Occasional Paper Series No 2 - Isocyanate Use in Spray Painting - National Audit 1997 1998

Occupational Safety and Health ServiceOccasional Paper SeriesIsocyanate Use in Spray PaintingNational Audit 1997-98Project Co-ordinatorsJohan DirkzwagerAndrea EngErrol HodgkinsonPublished by the Occupational Safety and Health ServiceDepartment of LabourWellingtonNew ZealandOctober 1999ISBN 0-477-03626-0ContentsBackground 4Results 5Analysis of the Booth Information Relating to Booth Design and Operation 5Health Surveillance 6Branch Comments 7Discussion 8The Physical Aspects—Booth and Equipment 8Health Surveillance 8Respirators 8Summary of Findings 10Booth Design and Equipment 10Health Surveillance 10Respirators 10Overall 10Recommendations 10Appendix: Isocyanates Audit Sheet 11BackgroundOne of the OSH national initiatives in the area of hazardous substances for 1997-98 focused onthe use of isocyanate-containing paints in spray painting. The objective of the initiative was toensure that where paints were used there was compliance with theApproved Code of Practice For The Safe Use Of Isocyanates. There was particular emphasisplaced on health surveillance, with the isocyanate guidelines from the Approved Code of Practicefor the Management of Substances Hazardous to Health in the Place of Work (MOSHH)being used as the reference.While the was introduced shortlyafter the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, it was suspected that current compliance, atleast with some aspects of the code, was relatively poor. The MOSHH approved ...