RISKS CAUSED BY OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO

PAINTS AND LACQUERS USED IN CIVIL CONSTRUCTIONS

Ph.D. Eng. Tamara MORARIU, labour inspector

Ph.D. Eng. Gelu CONSTANTIN, labour inspector Labour Inspection, Bucharest

PANTED CONSTRUCTION

MATERIALS

• Wood•Plastered surfaces•Wood floor, concrete floor•Fibre board, asbestos cement•Ceramic tile•Metal

Paint Composition by Volume

Rezins

= polimers:

• Natural (plant oils, resins)

• Or synthetic (acrylics, polyesters, vinyls, cellulosics, epoxies, etc.)

Pigments

• Inorganic

Ex. Cr2O3 (O, T, cc1), CdS (T, cc3), PbCrO4 (cc3, rc1 and 3)

• Organic

Ex. Azo dyestuffs (Xi), phtalocyanines componds (Xi)

Extenders

• carbonates (chalk, dolomite);

• sulphates (barium, calcium);

• silicates (kaolin, micelle);

• oxides şi hidroxides (silicon, aluminium, magnezium).

Solvents

• water

• organic– Petroleum hydrocarbon – Chlorinated hydrocarbon– Oxygenated solvents– terpenes

Drying of Emulsion

Waterborne Paint

Coalescence agent and cosolvents

• hidrocarbons or glycols – naphta solvent (carcinogenic 2nd category)– ethylene glycol acetate (carcinogenic 2nd

category)– methylene glycol acetate(carcinogenic 2nd

category)

Aditive Categories

• Antiblok agents• Storage stabilizers• Curing agents• Gloss modifiers• UV stabilizers• Antimicrobial agents• Defoamers

Paint Application

• Brushing

• Rolling

• Compressed air spray painting

• Airless spray painting

Riscuri

Faze Risk source Risk tipe*

Risk evaluation**

Solvent Waterborn

Storage, transport

Raising of temperature Spills (displacement of the lid, damage of the package)Storage of half full cans

I

Tcut

I

M

M

M

N

N

N

Application by:

spraying

brush, roll

Solvents

Tcut, Tinh, I

Tinh, I

R

R

S

S

Drying SolventsAmins

Tinh, I

Tinh

R

N

S

S

Cleaning Solvents Tinh, I R N

Restrictions

• OLE – Annex 31 la GNLP/2002

• Interdictions– Annex 34 la GNLP/2002

• Trading – Annex 2 la HG 347/2002

Firerisk

• p.i. 21oC - very inflammable paints

• 21oC < p.i. 55oC - inflammable paints

• p.i. > 55oC – uninflammable paints but combustible

Hazards in constructions

• Hazardous chemical substances• Manual handling• Ignition sources• Working at heights• Spray painting plant• Noise• The workplace environment• Confined spaces

Occupational illnesses

• Occupational asthma

• Contact dermatitis

• Lung cancer

• Damage to the reproductive system

• Kidney or lived damage

Short term affects

• irritant contact dermatitis

• burns to the skin or eyes

• vomiting and diarrhea

• irritating to the nose, throat and lungs

• headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue

The main steps of the hazardous chemicals

management

Hazards identification

Risks assessment

Measures for reducing the risks

Review the measures

Have the measures eliminated or reduced the risks?

Have the measures induced new hazards?

Is the management system working properly? Could the way it is done be improved?

Hazard identification

When:

• Introducing a new plant

• Using the same produce in different place

• Using a new painting plant or a new plant

• If new information becomes available

Hazard identification

Is assisted by:

• Paints and equipment manufacturers’ instructions and advices;

• A walk through inspection of plant in the workplace and discussion with employers;

• Examination of injury, illness or incidents records and health surveillance records.

Hazard identification Label

Hazard identification Safety data sheet

1. Identification of the substance/preparation and of the company/ undertaking2. Composition/ information on ingredients3. Hazards identification4. First-aid measures5. Fire-fighting measures6. Accidental release measures7. Handling and storage 8. Exposures control/ personal protection9. Physical and chemical properties10. Stability and reacting11. Toxicological information12. Ecological information13. Disposal consideration14. Transport information15. Regulatory information16. Other information

Work place inspection • Static electricity charges • Incorrectly stored flammable materials• Damaged electrical equipment• Ineffective lighting• Working at heights• Temperature• The lack of first aid• Pour cleanliness

Reduced and control the risk measures

• Elimination of hazards

• Substitution with safer alternatives

• Isolation of the dangerous processes

• Engineering controls

• Administrative controls

• Use of PPE

Isolation

• Physical barriers

• Restricted entry of unprotected persons

• Removal of hazardous substances

• Removal of stored wasted

• Removal of electrical and ignitionsources

Reviewing the control measures

• reexaminarea managementului agenţilor chimici periculoşi

• O procedure should include:– Frequency of servicing– Who is responsible– How any defects will be corrected– Performance testing and evolution standards– Records of servicing

Conclusions• High diversity of construction materials• Protective and/ or decorative painting• Paints containing hazardous chemical

substances • Using of water-paints avoid only the risks

caused by organic solvents• Brushing or rolling painting involve less risk

than spraying painting • Air less spraying painting presents less risk

than classic spraying• Chemical risk assessment is necessary for

painting operation

Thank you for your attention

Ph.D. eng. Tamara MORARIU

Ph.D. eng. Ştefan Gelu CONSTANTIN

Labor Inspection

www.inspectmun.ro