INDG380 TREAD SAFELY - HSE

health hazards 24
Tread safely health hazards
Section 14 Adhesives and solvents
Adhesives, rubber solutions, tackifiers and
sidewall paints used in the retread industry
contain organic solvents. These are harmful in the
following ways:
■ They evaporate readily and can be breathed in
leading to headaches, nausea and other health
effects. In high concentrations they can lead to
unconsciousness and even death.
■ They can be absorbed through the skin,
entering the body and causing the same
effects as when they are inhaled.
■ They dissolve fats and greases easily, so, if
they make contact with the skin, their defatting
action will remove the skin’s natural protection.
This can lead to dermatitis and other skin
disorders that are often difficult to treat.
How can I protect my workforce?
Step 1 - Elimination
Where possible eliminate the use of solvents
altogether, for example by extruding cushion gum
direct onto the prepared tyre casing.
Step 2 - Substitution
If you cannot eliminate the use of solvents
altogether, consider using a solvent that is not
hazardous to health. For example, convert to waterbased
adhesives instead of
solvent-based ones. Ask
your suppliers and try out
the latest water-based
formulations.
If you cannot use
water-based products, use
solvents that are the least
harmful to health. Ask your
suppliers for advice and
always check the
information in the product
Material Safety Data Sheet
that the supplier must
provide by law. But don’t
ignore the fire hazards and
risks to the environment
when choosing a product.
Step 3 - Enclose the
process
Wherever possible, totally
enclose the process to
prevent the escape of either
liquid or vapour. For example,
if you use substantial quantities of solvent, consider
storing them in fixed tanks and distributing them to the
point of use by a pump and pipeline system. Systems
for degreasing metal components should be totally
enclosed wherever possible.
Step 4 - Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems
Provide well-designed LEV systems, eg spray
booths, to capture solvent vapours at the point at
which they are released and prevent them reaching
a person’s breathing zone or entering the workroom
atmosphere. The tyre being sprayed should fit well
inside the booth. The exhausted air should be
drawn to the back of the booth away from the
operator and be ducted to a safe place outside.
Consult the Local Authority about filtration of
exhausted air. Make sure you maintain a minimum
air velocity of at least 1 to 2 m per second across
the open face of the booth. Use low-pressure or
‘airless’ spray systems.
Step 5 - General ventilation
Make sure you have high standards of general
ventilation wherever solvent vapours are likely to be
present. Maintain a minimum of eight air changes
per hour. Never rely solely on general ventilation in
circumstances in which LEV equipment would be
appropriate. You should always prevent vapours
getting into the general atmosphere of the
workplace in the first place wherever possible.
Figure 11 Exhausted spray booth for controlling solvent mist
and vapours