Which industries are most at risk from isocyanate exposure?
Sectors like production, building construction, furniture crafting, spray painting and insulation installation face the levels of vulnerability.
Certain sectors face an increased likelihood of being exposed to isocyanates due to their use of products or procedures related to polyurethane substances that isocyanates incorporation into the process or product development stages.
- In the automotive sector isocyanates are commonly employed in the production of car paints, coatings, sealants and adhesives during spray painting and repair tasks where they may produce hazardous fumes and particles.
- The construction sector utilises polyurethane foams and sealants in applications such, as insulation and flooring materials that may contain isocyanates which workers can be exposed to while applying or cutting these materials.
- Manufacturing furniture involves producing foam, for cushions and padding with isocyanates that can pose risks to workers during the production process.
- Using spray paint can expose you to isocyanates found in the paint itself when sprayed onto surfaces as particles that can be inhaled easily due, to the spraying process.
- In the insulation sector using spray techniques to apply polyurethane insulation foams can result in a release of isocyanates when there is insufficient ventilation available.
The risk of inhaling and coming into contact with isocyanate-based products is heightened in industries where processes produce fumes, mists or dust.
