Isocyanates are the leading cause of occupational asthma in the UK. Measure, then control.
We sample isocyanate exposure during spraying and curing operations, with MDHS25-validated analysis and a prioritised control review for paint shops, foam manufacturing and coatings applicators.
- UK-wide since 2013
- Independent assessments
- ISO 9001 accredited
- Practical control advice
What this means for you
Evidence you can act on and defend.
Measured exposure evidence
Data suitable for HSE, insurers and audits.
Independent assessment
Occupational hygiene review of real exposure risk.
Practical control recommendations
Prioritised actions based on risk and operational practicality.
Compliance support
Evidence to support COSHH and internal governance.
Speak with a isocyanate specialist
0800 433 7914
sales@sysco-env.co.ukMon–Fri · 08:00–18:00 · Independent advice · Fixed-price scope
Typical response: same working day
What happens next
Most isocyanate surveys are single-shift visits.
We attend during a representative spray cycle, sample operators and surrounding workforce, evaluate booth performance and RPE, and report against the WEL.
No unnecessary disruption. No generic paperwork. No unnecessary complexity.
Whether exposure is controlled
A clear yes or no, backed by measurement.
Where the highest risks are
Locations, tasks and roles ranked by exposure.
What actions matter most
A prioritised plan you can budget and schedule.
What you get
Four answers. One clear plan.
You need to know what your workforce is exposed to, whether your controls are effective, what actions matter most, and how to demonstrate control confidently.
That is exactly what we deliver.
Know what your team breathes
We measure real exposure on the people most at risk, using validated methods for isocyanates — no guesswork.
Know where you stand legally
We compare your measured exposure to the WEL of 0.02 mg/m³ (15-min STEL) and 0.005 mg/m³ (8-h TWA) for all isocyanates.
Know if your controls work
An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, RPE and work practices — what's effective and what isn't.
Get a report you can act on
Clear findings and a prioritised action plan suitable for HSE, insurers and operational management.
Why clients call
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in the right place.
- 01
An auditor is asking
HSE, your insurer or a client wants evidence — not assurances
We provide measured isocyanate data and a clear technical report that resolves the issue quickly.
- 02
Your team is worried
Operatives are reporting concerns or symptoms
We attend site, quantify workforce exposure and provide clear evidence of current risk levels.
- 03
You suspect a problem
You know there's a risk and you want measured data before it becomes a crisis
We quantify exposure, assess it against current limits and provide a prioritised corrective action plan.
What we answer for you
Three questions, settled.
- Where your people are exposed
- We map the tasks, areas and shifts where isocyanate matters, then sample what your team actually breathes — not a generic site average.
- Whether your controls are working
- An independent review of your LEV, ventilation, PPE and work practices — what is effective and what requires improvement.
- What you need to fix first
- A prioritised, costed action list — the smallest set of changes that gets you compliant and measurably safer.
How we work with you
From your first call to your action plan.
- 1
We listen first — your site, your concerns, your deadline.
- 2
We walk the workplace with your team to see exposure as it actually happens.
- 3
We sample on the people most at risk, using validated occupational hygiene methods for isocyanate.
- 4
We assess your existing controls honestly — what's working, what isn't.
- 5
You receive a clear technical report suitable for operational, compliance and regulatory readers.
- 6
We hand you a prioritised action plan you can budget, schedule and defend.
Typical survey outputs
What you receive at the end of the engagement.
- Personal exposure monitoring data
- Isocyanate personal sampling against EH40 limits
- Static / area sampling where required
- LEV and ventilation observations
- RPE suitability review
- Exposure risk mapping by task
- Prioritised corrective actions
- Defensible technical report
Client testimony
“Sysco identified a booth performance issue we hadn't picked up — fixed before it became a sensitised painter.”
— Bodyshop manager
UK accident repair group
Typical environments we assess
Wherever isocyanate risk affects your people.
- Paint spray booths
- Vehicle bodyshops
- Foam production
- Coating lines
- Adhesive mixing
- Composite workshops
Background
Isocyanate exposure, in detail.
What are isocyanates?
Isocyanates are highly reactive low-molecular-weight chemicals used to manufacture polyurethane paints, foams, adhesives and elastomers. The most common are MDI, TDI, HDI and IPDI. They are potent respiratory sensitisers — once a worker is sensitised, even tiny exposures can trigger an asthma attack.
Health effects
Isocyanates are the single most reported cause of occupational asthma in the UK. They also cause contact dermatitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Sensitisation is permanent, so prevention of exposure is the only effective long-term control.
How isocyanate sampling works
We use MDHS 25/4 — a derivatising filter and impinger train that captures both monomeric and oligomeric species, analysed by HPLC. Sampling targets the spray operator's breathing zone during application and the surrounding workforce during cure.
Practical controls
Enclosed and properly extracted spray booths, supplied-air respirators for spray operators, time-controlled re-entry after spraying, exclusion zones during application, and statutory health surveillance with annual lung function testing.
Related services
Often assessed alongside isocyanate.
LEV testing (TExT)
Statutory thorough examination & test of extraction systems under COSHH reg 9.
Explore 02Hazardous substances (COSHH)
Full COSHH exposure assessments across solvents, dusts, fumes and bio-aerosols.
Explore 03Welding fume monitoring
Mn, Cr(VI), Ni and total particulate sampling for fabrication and steelwork.
Explore 04Diesel exhaust (DEEE)
Personal sampling and elemental carbon analysis for diesel-exposed environments.
ExploreCommon questions
Isocyanates — FAQs.
Quick answers to the questions we hear most from operations, HSE and procurement teams.
- What's the WEL for isocyanates?
- 0.02 mg/m³ as a 15-minute STEL and 0.005 mg/m³ as an 8-hour TWA, expressed as -NCO.
- Do all spray paint operators need supplied-air RPE?
- Effectively yes — air-fed equipment is the only RPE that reliably controls residual exposure during 2K spraying.
- How long after spraying is it safe to re-enter?
- Booth re-entry depends on extraction performance and product cure characteristics — we measure and define a site-specific clearance.
- Do you support health surveillance?
- Yes — we coordinate exposure data with occupational health providers running statutory respiratory surveillance.
- Can you assess foam production lines?
- Yes — slabstock, moulded and spray foam operations are routine work for us.
- Where in the UK do you work?
- Nationwide UK coverage.
Speak with a isocyanate specialist
Tell us your spray operation. We'll scope a survey.
Tell us
- the products in use,
- the booth and extraction setup,
- operator numbers and shift pattern,
- and your reporting deadline.
We will provide
- a clear scope,
- fixed quotation,
- proposed attendance strategy,
- and expected reporting timeframe.
Send us a brief
Outline the sites, tasks and timelines of concern — we'll reply with a clear scope and fixed quotation.
From the field
Related case studies & insights
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Assessing Isocyanate Exposure in an Art Studio: Enhancing Safety in a Creative Environment
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Controlling Isocyanate Exposure: A Case Study in Safe Potting Operations
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How a Fabrication Facility Reduced Isocyanate Exposure to Undetectable Levels in Paint Spraying Operations
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