Basic steps in the safe use of solvents and paints
yle="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
Identify the hazards
▪ The hazardous properties of the solvents and paints involved
▪ The reaction and the products when solvents and chemicals are in use,
▪ The effect of the environment Safety measures
▪ Select safer substitutes.
▪ Use engineering control measures.
▪ Wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
▪ Understand and follow safe operating procedures.
▪ Understand contingency measures, and in case of an accident, follow emergency procedures. Safety information and hazard identification
▪ Refer to the material safety data sheet (MSDS).
▪ Obtain information from suppliers/manuals or chemical safety handbooks.
▪ Before use, identify the hazardous properties and the possible hazards involved.
▪ Take appropriate safety measures.
Control measures and personal protective equipment
▪ Use engineering control.
▪ Personal protective equipment, to be used as the last resort.
▪ Keep the work area well-ventilated.
▪ Work under local exhaust ventilation whenever possible.
▪ Prohibit all ignition sources.
Other precautions
▪ Don’t touch solvents and paints with bare hands. Wear protective gloves.
▪ Don’t try to suck solvents and paints with your mouth. Use appropriate liquid delivery tools.
▪ Don’t use a container with narrow opening as it traps heat and/or gases.
▪ Don’t mix oxidizing agents with flammable/ combustible substances.
▪ Don’t eat, drink and smoke while using solvents and paints.
Paint spraying and solvents/paints handling
During spraying, the solvents and paints in aerosol form may enter the human body by inhalation or skin contact. If it is a toxic/harmful/irritating substance, it will be injurious to health. Propellants used in common aerosol cans are flammable substances. If the solvents and paints being sprayed is a combustible substance, the aerosol of the substance may form flammable mixtures with air. The flammable mixtures will catch fire in the presence of an ignition source, which can even lead to an explosion.
Safety precautions
▪ Prohibit all sources of ignition.
▪ Operate under local exhaust ventilation to vent away the hazardous aerosol as far as practicable. If this is not practicable, then work with less hazardous substance for shorter duration and ensure that the place is well-ventilated.
Special hints for maintenance paintwork:
The following key performance factors are:
▪ Compatibility – this avoids stripping in order to change paint systems. Stripping involves large grit usage, often resulting in safety, health, and environmental issues;
▪ Durability – provides good surface adhesion;
▪ Patching – provides a repair mechanism with the best safety, health and environmental profile. Before deciding on the best option, safety, health and
environment factors must be considered.
These include –
▪ Continuing patching with the existing paint, which indefinitely postpones stripping and repainting, leading to much lower emissions not just for VOC
but across a wide range of other environmental impacts;
▪ Compatibility, durability and patch ability are the key factors in identifying the best maintenance paint system for the sake of safety, health and also environment;
▪ stripping and repainting produce a range of safety, health and environmental burdens.
Applying different solvent applications needs specialist knowledge of the process, including weighing complex technical options. Inevitably it must be a balance of
safety, health, performance, quality, cost and environmental concerns.
Special hints for handling spills
Should a spillage of paint or solvents occur, the following procedures should be followed –
▪ If the spill is of a major nature, the relevant government department such as the Environmental Protection Department, the Police and the Fire Services Department should be contacted immediately.
▪ Do not allow the spilt material to enter drains.
▪ Absorb spilled material with sand, earth or other absorbent material. Collect and seal in properly labeled drums for subsequent disposal in an approved facility.
▪ Ventilate area to remove fumes.
Special hints for tank painting:
Most coating products designed for use as tank linings contain flammable organic solvents. Definite safety precautions must be taken whilst applying these coatings in the confined interior of tanks. Attention must be given to –
▪ Danger of explosion or fire
▪ Provision of a suitable breathing environment
▪ Prevention of skin irritation problems
No comments:
Post a Comment