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Isocyanates Testing
Everwell offers a convenient and easy to administer Isocyanate exposure testing service. This monitoring is based upon a biological monitoring method developed by the Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL) for analysing the breakdown products of isocyanates in urine. It can measure exposure to HDI, TDI, MDI and IPDI, either separately or as mixed exposures.
Isocyanates are highly reactive chemicals used in manufacture or use of a variety of products, including paints, glues and foam., i.e.
Exposure to isocyanates can cause sensitisation and occupational asthma. Once a person has been sensitised, exposure to even low levels can still cause an asthma attack and the employee will need to be redeployed. Therefore to prevent the risk of developing asthma, exposure to any isocyanate hazard needs to be kept to very low levels, i.e. as low as is reasonably practicable. Isocyanate screening is an integral part of maintaining a safe environment for your employees.
Why screen for isocyanates?
This is the only practical way of measuring a sprayer's (or other employee’s) exposure to isocyanate paint or other source, i.e. by the analysis of isocyanate metabolites in a urine sample.
Reducing exposure to isocyanates usually relies on following processes & physical / engineering controls such as spray booths and respiratory protective equipment. In the "real world" these controls are not always followed correctly... for example exposure could occur by:
- Briefly lifting visors to take a closer look at the job;
- Entering a spray booth soon after spraying without allowing for enough 'clearance time';
- Clean down routine can be rushed;
- Respiratory protective equipment sometimes does not fit properly especially when there is excessive movement required or spraying above head height.
- Entry of unprotected workers into spray areas to "have a quick word" to protected colleagues during spraying.
- Poor equipment maintenance;
- And other similar reasons.
Using Isocyanate Biological Monitoring can demonstrate whether the control measures in place are working and the processes in place are being followed correctly.
The Process
Isocyanate screening is relatively easy to administer. Everwell will send you all the sampling kits and paperwork (instructions, employee information & consent forms) required and you simply need to collect a sample (urine) immediately post-shift or "post-exposure" and pop it into the post to our associate laboratory.
The laboratory sends us through the results which we report through and explain to Management. Results are filed and stored along with any other health surveillance records for those employees.
The Results
Isocyanate urine screening is used to assess exposure by the measurement of the isocyanate breakdown products in the sample. The results are a measure of how much isocyanate entered the person's body rather than how much was in the environment. It gives no indication of any health effects but simply how much exposure there has been.
If controls and process are working correctly it is expected that the results will clear with "none detected". Any positive results would indicate Management action is required.
How Often
Ideally the monitoring should be completed annually. Any positive results should be addressed and further testing carried out until the results reflect that no exposure is occurring.
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