SECTOR WIDE BUSINESS SUPPORT
• The volume of organic solvents purchased by the industry
decreased by 6%, although VOC emissions increased over
the year
The annual Coatings Care Awards continued with the Progress
Award for the site showing most improvement over the
previous 12 months going to Firwood Paints in Bolton and the
main Coatings Care Award for Overall Best Performer going to
Pulse Printing Products.
Public Affairs
Given the increase in public affairs activity at the BCF over
recent years, a Public Affairs Committee was established, holding
its inaugural meeting in January 2019. The aim of the Committee
is to give BCF members more of a say in the direction of the
Federation’s lobbying strategy.
• Members were enthusiastic about the group, which
Operations Management Group
This group is open to all members and comprises works and
production managers. Last year the group enjoyed a tour of
the Mini plant at Oxford and in March 2019 had a session
on digitisation at the Siemens ‘Factory of the Future’. Other
topics included in discussions comprised chemical supply
issues, apprenticeships, health and safety, customer audits and
compliance.
•
•
Publications – Guidance and Info
provided a forum for all things public affairs to be discussed,
not just Brexit, although this formed part of the meeting
agenda
It was noted that it would be interesting to do an analysis
of cost of compliance for members. This led to a discussion
on the link between regulation and enforcement, and that
it would be useful to tell the story of consumer safety, and
what the industry has done to promote this
Poison centres and a level playing field on a global scale
were identified as key topics for the future
Associate Technical Committee
• PaintSafe Leaflet for industrial applicators of isocyanate-
•
•
•
•
•
•
based paints and how to avoid exposure
PaintSafe Leaflet promoting the safe use of paint and related
products and providing best practice for decorators and
other applicators during preparation, application and drying
of decorative paints
Legislation Compliance Register and Timetable keeping
member updated with new relevant regulations
The safe use of isocyanate-containing paints, updating
previous guidance for applicators
Work in Confined Spaces
DO
Preventing Falls from Tankers
Storage and Handling of Industrial
Nitrocellulose
Noise at Work
Management of Change
Guidance on waste coatings and
packaging
Coatings Manufacturing Plant: Best
Practice Guide on Environmental
Protection
PLAN YOUR WORK TO AVOID RISKS
Health checks
•
•
•
•
Employers should provide health surveillance
for paint sprayers. Biological monitoring may be
required.
Further information
More information is available at the following websites:
BCF website - www.coatings.org.uk/Publications/
Health_and_Safety_ Publications.aspx - see ‘The BCF
Guide to the Safe Use of Isocyanates,’ HS 024
HSE website - www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/
isocyanates.htm and www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/vehicle.
Presentations from four of the BCF
team were provided. Ellen Daniels
provided a summary of the focus on
non-technical issues including Brexit,
lobbying, training and the new BCF
Apprenticeship Management Service.
Trevor Fielding explained how the BCF
inform members of substance issues
outlining the sources of information
and how these were communicated
to members. Nine different key
substances and materials with current
issues were briefly referred to – TiO 2 ,
isocyanates, BPA, chromates, butyl glycol, MEKO and cobalt,
biocides, UV photo-initiators and microplastics. Wayne Smith
introduced key regulatory issues including information on nano
materials, safety data sheet requirements, SWEDs and SUMIs,
endocrine disruptor concerns, poison centres and REACH and
polymers, and Ali Brown provided a summary of the benefits of
Associate membership.
SAFE USE OF ISOCYANATES
Training
Employees should be instructed about the risks
to health arising from exposure to any hazardous
substances and informed of the precautions to be
taken. They should be trained in the use and care of
PPE.
The first meeting of this new Committee met in December
2019, with representatives from the raw material supply chain,
packaging manufacturers and associate organisations. The
objective of the Committee was to provide a “bridge” between
Full and Associate members as to what technical and regulatory
issues were of the greatest concern to both groups, and to
identify any actions the BCF may be able to take to address
these issues.
Read the safety data sheet and label to
determine the hazard
Carry out a risk assessment
Avoid the use of isocyanate-containing coatings
if possible
Ensure adequate extraction and filtration by
proper design and use of spray rooms, if applied
in an installation
Check efficiency of any extraction system and
know the clearance time for the booth/room
Follow correct working practices
Use air-fed breathing apparatus when spray
applying
Keep all bystanders well away from any spraying
operation
Wear appropriate PPE – RPE, gloves, eye
protection, overalls
Ensure workers are informed of the hazards of
working with isocyanates - that they can cause
asthma and dermatitis
Ensure all personnel involved in handling
isocyanate-containing coatings are trained and
fully aware of the risks
A best practice guide to ensure the
safe use of isocyanate-containing
coatings
PaintSafe is brought to you by:
www.paintsafe.org.uk
It was agreed that it would be useful to continue meeting as a
group twice a year, the next meeting taking place on 25th June
2019.
BCF ANNUAL HANDBOOK 2019/20
67