Paint-sprayers 'must be more aware of occupational illnesses'

People working in mechanical body shops have been advised to take more care to avoid developing an occupational illness such as asthma.

A report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has suggested that workers in these roles are potentially putting their personal health at risk when paint spraying with two-pack paints containing substances such as isocyanates.

While the HSE stated that practices in the avoidance of such issues has improved greatly in the recent past, it added that vehicle spray painters are 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than the average worker in the UK due to the fact that they fail to take the correct precautions in their jobs.

Louise Rice of the HSE commented that while it is encouraging that mangers are generally now much more aware of the risks of such working practices, it remains "worrying that the message is not getting through to them".

Another example of a respiratory occupational illness is asbestosis, which is caused by over-exposure to asbestos.

Posted by Patrick White
 

20/08/2010 14:08