Worker safety with solvents

Most industrial coatings contain solvents. The water-borne industrial coatings often also contain a small amount of solvents. The range of solvents can be large, respectively this affects to the health hazards as well.  The product´s safety data sheet tells the solvent content and the hazard statements for each of the used solvent.

The most common solvents in industrial coatings are xylene (ethylbenzene), isobutanol, butyl acetate and other various hydrocarbons. In general, the following can be said about most solvents:

• Long-term exposure to solvents causes insomnia and damage to the central nervous system. In addition, they damage the liver, hearth and kidneys.
• Solvents enter the body with breathing air through the lungs, from where they are absorbed throughout the body. Solvents affect the central and peripheral nervous system, causing sudden nausea, loss of appetite, respiratory tract irritation and, in high concentrations, unconsciousness.
• The smell of the solvent doesn´t indicate its danger. An almost odorless solvent can be much more dangerous than a strong smelling one.
• Solvents dissolve the fat layer that protects the skin´s surface, penetrate the stratum corneum that protects the skin, and enter the bloodstream from there.
• Hands are especially exposed to solvents. Hands should always be protected so that paint splashes do not get on the skin. Protective gloves must be resistant to solvents.
• In order to prevent health hazards, not only in the spraying area, but also in the mixing of components, pre-treatment areas and other areas where solvents are used, ventilation must be arranged so efficiently that no other protective measures are needed. If, despite all measures, the solvent concentrations become too high, respiratory protection must be worn.