20/08/2010 - Car sprayers unaware of asthma risk
Car sprayers are continuing to put themselves at risk of developing asthma by failing to follow basic safety measures, a report has said.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said vehicle spray painters are 80 times more likely to develop occupational asthma than workers in other industries, fuelling concerns that garage owners are failing to take their responsibilities seriously enough.
A report from the HSE found that a fifth of bodyshop managers do not know their booth clearance times, leaving workers at risk of breathing in invisible isocyanates that can lead to asthma even after the room has apparently been cleared.
While 85% of sprayers wear air-fed breathing apparatus while on the job, many are continuing to lift their visors and exposing themselves to potentially dangerous chemicals.
The HSE visited 30 bodyshops and conducted 500 telephone surveys which found that while practices have improved within the industry, some sprayers and managers still do not know they could be putting themselves and others at risk of developing asthma by failing to implement proper safety measures.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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