Health & Safety

Most paints contain inflammable solvents & some contain materials which can herm the skin, or affect the health if inhaled. Two major classes of risk namely, Health risk & fire explosion risk are primarily involved. They must be controlled & necessary precautions should be taken to reduce the risk to acceptable levels.

Danger to Health

Hazards to health comprise of

• Contact with skin and eyes
• Inhalation
• Ingestion

Precaution

• All paint drums must be labeled, sealed & stored properly when not in use. Painting areas must be adequately ventilated.
• Wear goggles & proper respiration masks when mixing paints, spray painting.
• Wear working clothes covering the body to the maximum possible extent. Also use gloves & eye shields.

The best ways of preserving Health poisoning

• Operators applying the paint in confined areas should wear proper personal protective equipments like Air Fed masks, Safety glasses etc.
• Ensure good ventilation in confined areas.

Fire & Explosion Risk

Fire & explosion risk can arise from the following

• Fire risk during storage or transport
• Explosion hazard during application

Most paints & solvents are highly inflammable & extremely dangerous when exposed to open flames, sparks or high temperature.

The best way to prevent the chances of fire is:

• Use flame proof equipment only and maintain efficient earthing.
• Store & use in accordance with petroleum regulation.
• Install appropriate type of fire extinguisher at storage & working areas.