DCN AUGUST Edition 2019

Hxdyl
associated with solvent-based materials in
shipping containers increases the risk of
sick days and staff turnover, WorkCover
claims, increased insurance risk, specialised
risk and safety training and litigation all of
which are indirect costs.
Promoting better practices and training
of staff to recognise and reduce the
impact of residual chemical exposure
from shipping containers must be a high
priority for empty container parks. This
represents minimisation of risk. However,
consideration must be given to eliminating
airborne hazardous chemicals from
solvent-based paints that are widely used to
upgrade the interior of shipping containers.
HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN PAINT
It is a requirement to display notification
of fumigation and a dangerous goods
placard for solvents on the exterior of
shipping containers that alert workers to
potential risks from airborne hazardous
chemicals. It is often overlooked that
the products used to coat the interior of
shipping containers can contribute to off
gassing and subsequent inhalation risks.
Indeed, of the five non-fumigant hazardous
chemicals identified in the Safe Work
Australia research, all are common raw
materials found in solvent based, quick
dry paints used for spraying the interior
walls and ceilings of shipping containers.
Interestingly, it is not required to placard a
container that has had solvent-based paint
sprayed on the interior when the outgassing
of hazardous chemicals from these solvent
based paints, toluene and xylene were the
two most commonly detected airborne
contaminants in shipping containers.
SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS
Over the past decade there has been
increased emphasis on sustainability by the
shipping industry, with a large focus on
emissions reductions and carbon footprint,
for example Maersk Low Carbon Future,
CMA-CGM Corporate Social Responsibility
Policy and IMO 2020. The issues faced by
the shipping industry to make operations
more sustainable and environmentally
friendly are both short-term and longterm
challenges. Long-term challenges
will require significant investment on the
behalf of ship owners, container owners
and port operators. There are some shorterterm
strategies that can be undertaken
affordably to improve sustainability and
worker safety.
WATERBORNE PAINTS
The most immediate strategy is a switch
from solvent-based to waterborne coatings.
The introduction of waterborne coatings
into the container industry first started
back in 2010. Since then the use of
waterborne coatings for the coating of
newbuild containers has been mandatory
from April 2017.
One of the biggest challenges presented
to the container building factories in
switching from solvent-based to waterborne
paints was meeting the application process
criteria, which is more involved for
SAVINGS WITH WATER-BASED PAINTS
There is no significant cost associated with a shift from solvent-based to
water-based coatings. Indeed, initial trials indicate that there are many direct
and indirect cost savings associated with the use of water-based paints for
container maintenance and repair including:
• up to 30% reduction (litreage) in
material used;
• no purchasing of additional solvents
or waste solvent disposal;
• reduced costs for DG transport,
storage and compliance;
•
reduction/elimination in PPE and
health and safety costs;
•
elimination of protected equipment
requirements (flameproof tooling,
hoists, lighting).
Dr Brendan
McAuliffe is
managing director
at Aquio*. He has a
PhD in psychology
from the University
of Queensland
waterborne than for solvent-based.
Solvent-based paints were used in the
container manufacturing industry for a
reason: they are far easier to apply and
more forgiving if there are shortcomings
in the application process and more
tolerant of cold weather. It was noted there
were significant costs associated with
switching from solvent-based to waterborne
application processes for container
manufacturers, including additional
heating, venting and dehumidification,
there was an increase in power
consumption of up to 60% to facilitate the
use of waterborne coatings.
SOLVENT-BASED ENAMEL PAINTS
Trends in the paint industry indicate that
since the early 1990s solvent-based enamel
paints have been banned in Europe in
architectural coatings, however, they are
still used in Australia today. By 2000 low
VOC architectural coatings had become
mainstream. By 2010 the benefits of low
VOC and ultra-low VOC paints are being
recognised in the architectural sector.
While these benefits are applicable to
water-based industrial coatings, like those
that could be used on shipping containers,
this transition has not occurred on a large
scale in Australia with a focus on fast
turnaround which is achieved using fast
evaporating solvents.
The use of water-based coatings
in the Australian shipping container
maintenance and repair industry should
be investigated with priority to improve
health and safety for workers charged
with carrying out upgrades, reducing the
risk of exposure to solvent-based airborne
hazardous chemicals. On top of this
there are the associated environmental
benefits that help shipping lines meet
their environmental policy targets as
well as meeting consumer preferences for
sustainable products and services.
* Dr Brendan McAuliffe has a commercial
interest in water-based coatings.
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