Public Servant Lifestyle

Workers at risk of developing chronic asthma from dangerous chemicals used in vehicle bodywork paint spraying are being given the opportunity to take some career saving health advice.

According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) paint sprayers in vehicle bodyshops are around 80 times more likely to develop work-related asthma than the rest of the working population. Up to 150 'vehicle paint sprayers' contract asthma each year*. Most have to leave the industry and those that stay have problems carrying out normal routines. This figure could potentially be greater, due to under-reporting.

HSE specialist inspector, Dr. Mark Piney said: "Sprayers are more likely to get asthma because of chemicals in the paints they use called isocyanates. When the paint is sprayed, very high concentrations of isocyanates are released into the air.

Isocyanate Paint

"Sprayers can develop asthma rapidly if not properly protected and once the asthma starts that's the end of their life as a sprayer. We need people to come to this free event so they can learn how to control the risk and reduce their chances of getting this serious disease.

"Many local car workers who get occupational asthma end up respiratory disabled. I've met people so badly affected that they can't even walk upstairs without using an inhaler. We want the paint spraying industry to work with us to minimise the suffering that asthma can cause."

The HSE wants to get across some simple messages on the dangers of two-pack isocyanate paints, the causes of the risks and how they can be practically controlled.

An event at Brands Hatch to launch the HSE campaign on isocyanate paint handling was organised in a bid to drive down asthma amongst bodywork paint sprayers.

*Based on the HSE-financed ill-health reporting scheme, run by Manchester University the annual number of occupational asthma2 cases is probably between 1500 and 2000 new cases per year and could be higher. Isocyanates are the biggest single cause of occupational asthma and the most at-risk group using isocyanates are paint sprayers in motor vehicle bodyshops.

More information available in Motor Sport