Paint manufacturing industry – the hazardous involved for the workers

  • Take a look around you and it is difficult to find a single object that is untouched from paints and
    coatings. From a simple pen to the mammoth machineries that you will get to see in factories, all
    of them have some or the other type of paint coated on them. Unknowingly, paint and the
    hazardous substances that it is composed of, have become an inevitable part of human life. All
    these painted items in our close vicinity seem to be harmless to us but the case is absolutely the
    opposite for all those who work in the factories producing paint. The one substance that makes
    the object around us pretty is indeed posing great threat to the lives of the makers of this
    product.
    The hazardous nature of paint
    On studying the composition of paint closely, you will find a lot of chemical substances that pose
    a great threat to the lives of those who come in direct contact of the manufacturing process.
    This is also the reason why a lot of companies who are careful about their employees advocate
    the use of safety measures to ensure the health of its employees.
    Talking about the harmful components of paint, volatile organic compounds or VOCs​ top the
    list. These chemicals are generally present in the solvents used to dilute the paints. VOCs are majorly related to the organic solvent syndrome but the proofs are not yet very evident. These
    compounds cause serious health problems like asthma, and other respiratory problems. VOCs
    can be inhaled easily during the manufacturing process and get in contact with the respiratory
    tract, thereafter damaging the entire body slowly.
    Another component in paints that is equally hazardous to VOCs is the presence of heavy metals
    like lead, cadmium, oxides like mercuric oxides and chromium pigments. The health risks that
    these components pose are at times easily detected but they also remain dormant for a long
    time, making the problem even more chronic. Lead and mercury specifically pose serious threat
    to the mental health of children and also to limbs, human foetus and kidneys. They also lead to
    skin and intestinal ulcers, and different kinds of cancers.
    The best way to keep this problem in check is regular testing and analysis of the paint that is
    manufactured in the factory. Various firms like the Paint Inspection Ltd provide services like
    paint sampling which will give you a detailed analysis of the component levels in the paint and
    how hazardous they can prove to be.
    Recommendations for safety of the employees
    Many researches have been made that have confirmed the presence of various hazardous
    chemicals in painting substances. Studies have recommended various preventive measures
    that can help in reducing the harmful effect of these chemicals on the employees.
    Listed below are a few of such recommendations for the benefit of people working in the paint
    manufacturing industry-
    ● Making the workers understand the importance of periodic medical examination to
    ensure their health and to be aware of any health issues. Companies should sponsor
    such medical endeavours so that the workers are not worried about the financial aspect.
    ● Efficient training should be given to workers dealing with solvents to make them aware of
    their safety measures.
    ● In case of any emergency, workers should be able to know how to use first aid and that
    there should be emergency eyewash stations and full body showers installed in a good
    number in the workplace, especially where the solvents are used. First aid training
    should be provided positively.
    ● Emphasis should be laid on good hygiene practices. Proper monitoring should be done
    so that no harmful substances are leaked or pollute the place.
    ● The companies must consider the used of water based paints instead of solvent based
    paints to ensure safety of the workers.

About kamran

I am Kamran Shafqat, a Blogger, a Computer Engineer and an addicted Web Developer.Follow me on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Googleplus - Read more..

View all posts by kamran →

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *