Isocyanates control measures
Essential steps to protect workers from isocyanate exposure
Proper control measures are the foundation of protecting your workers from the serious health risks of isocyanate exposure. These four essential areas must be managed correctly to prevent occupational asthma and other health problems.
Spray facilities
All isocyanate spraying must be done in proper spray booths or rooms with adequate extraction and slight negative pressure to contain paint mist within the designated area.
Never allow spraying of two-pack (2K) paints in open workshop areas.
Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE)
Always provide visor-type air-fed breathing apparatus certified to BS EN 14594:2018 with a minimum assigned protection factor of 20x. The equipment must include a low-flow warning device, be properly maintained and should be tested at least every 3 months.
Filtering respirators are not suitable for spraying isocyanate paints.
Common mistake: Many sprayers lift their visor to check work quality immediately after spraying, not realising they’re still surrounded by dangerous paint mist.
Clearance Times
Know your booth’s clearance time and display it clearly
Your spray booth or room needs time to clear isocyanate mist after spraying stops. This clearance time must be measured using a smoke generator and should be clearly displayed on all entrance doors.
Workers must stay masked until outside spray area and the clearance time has passed.
Maintenance and testing checklist
- Thorough examination and testing of spray booth extraction at least every 14 months
- Regular inspection and testing of breathing apparatus at suitable intervals
- Daily and weekly checks of booth/room performance with recorded findings
- Air quality testing for breathing apparatus every 3 months