In order to protect workers from exposure to solvents, during spray painting for example, engineering controls, good work practices, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are required by law.
Hazards caused by solvents
Solvents are widely used in different sectors, in products used by craftsmen and in the industrial sector as well. They may also be frequently found in private homes, especially in those being renovated. They are usually mixed with other substances, but can also be used raw. The most commonly used solvents nowadays are:
- solvents containing oxygen
- solvents deriving from oil
- aromatic hydrocarbons
- halogenated solvents
When solvents are inhaled they damage workers respiratory system. Injuries may be slight such as irritation of the throat and lungs, but they can also be serious leading to diseases such as cancer and other lung illnesses. One might think that the biggest hazard associated with solvents lies in their chemical and physical properties, and hence the likelihood of fires and explosions. In fact, the inhalation of solvent fumes is the greatest risk. Solvents are also harmful for the skin as exposure can cause dermatitis. Current regulatory standards require employers to provide their employees with safe and healthful workplaces by applying engineering controls, good work practices and the use of personal protective equipment for the protection of the respiratory system.
Respiratory protective devices
In order to prevent adverse health effects from exposure to solvents, workers need to wear respiratory protective devices. Respirators come equipped with filters which cleanse the environment air. Three different face pieces are available depending on the type of face covering preferred:
- those covering only the mouth and nose (half-masks and filtering face pieces)
- those covering the whole face (full face masks)
- those covering the head, face and neck (hoods or helmets)
Furthermore respirators can be categorized as:
- air purifying respirators – negative pressure (the wearer breathes through the face piece unassisted)
- powered air purifying respirators – positive pressure (a blower unit sends filtered air to the inside of the face piece)
- supplied air respirators – positive pressure (compressed breathable air is supplied to the worker through an airline)
In the case of powered air purifying respirators filtered air is sent to the inside of the face piece through a breathing hose which connects a blower unit to the face piece. The latest models, though, do not require breathing hoses or electric connection cords as both the blower unit and the battery is built into the respirator.
Workers need to pay particular attention when donning face pieces which need to fit the wearer’s face perfectly in order to prevent the leakage of polluted air into the face piece. A FIT TEST checks whether a respirator properly fits the face of the person wearing it and either qualitative or quantitative fit testing needs to be carried out before using respirators. Kasco is equipped with the equipment required to carry our quantitative fit testing and provides this service if requested.
Particular attention must also be paid to the decontamination and storage of respirators and filters in order keep them in proper working conditions. Maintenance and storage instructions may be found in the User Manuals provided with the respirators.
Kasco srl supplies various types of respirators for use when working with solvents and particularly recommends the CleanSpace2 respirator for its compactness and versatility.
Oct 23 2017
Working with solvents – how to protect the respiratory system
Hazards caused by solvents
Solvents are widely used in different sectors, in products used by craftsmen and in the industrial sector as well. They may also be frequently found in private homes, especially in those being renovated. They are usually mixed with other substances, but can also be used raw. The most commonly used solvents nowadays are:
When solvents are inhaled they damage workers respiratory system. Injuries may be slight such as irritation of the throat and lungs, but they can also be serious leading to diseases such as cancer and other lung illnesses. One might think that the biggest hazard associated with solvents lies in their chemical and physical properties, and hence the likelihood of fires and explosions. In fact, the inhalation of solvent fumes is the greatest risk. Solvents are also harmful for the skin as exposure can cause dermatitis. Current regulatory standards require employers to provide their employees with safe and healthful workplaces by applying engineering controls, good work practices and the use of personal protective equipment for the protection of the respiratory system.
Respiratory protective devices
In order to prevent adverse health effects from exposure to solvents, workers need to wear respiratory protective devices. Respirators come equipped with filters which cleanse the environment air. Three different face pieces are available depending on the type of face covering preferred:
Furthermore respirators can be categorized as:
In the case of powered air purifying respirators filtered air is sent to the inside of the face piece through a breathing hose which connects a blower unit to the face piece. The latest models, though, do not require breathing hoses or electric connection cords as both the blower unit and the battery is built into the respirator.
Workers need to pay particular attention when donning face pieces which need to fit the wearer’s face perfectly in order to prevent the leakage of polluted air into the face piece. A FIT TEST checks whether a respirator properly fits the face of the person wearing it and either qualitative or quantitative fit testing needs to be carried out before using respirators. Kasco is equipped with the equipment required to carry our quantitative fit testing and provides this service if requested.
Particular attention must also be paid to the decontamination and storage of respirators and filters in order keep them in proper working conditions. Maintenance and storage instructions may be found in the User Manuals provided with the respirators.
Kasco srl supplies various types of respirators for use when working with solvents and particularly recommends the CleanSpace2 respirator for its compactness and versatility.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •