During one of our routine annual health surveillance medical appointments with a customer in the print industry, a member of their staff was found to have isocyanate levels above normal limits.
Isocyanate is a hazardous chemical which is used in many industries, including motor vehicle, furniture manufacture, printing, and paint and adhesive manufacturing. Exposure can lead to serious long-term health effects, including occupational asthma.
Swift action is not only a regulatory requirement – it is a critical step in protecting employee health and preventing further exposure.
Once the isocyanate result had been flagged up by our Occupational Health Technician, our Health & Safety team, together with the customer, moved quickly. Within days, one of our experienced consultants was at the customer’s workplace conducting a comprehensive assessment of their site, which focused on working practices, exposure controls, and environmental management.
Safewell Solution
Our assessment included the following:
Reviewing COSHH assessments for all isocyanate-containing substances, ensuring they followed the HSE’s Essential Guide and captured all necessary control measures from the relevant Safety Data Sheets.
Checking servicing documentation for Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) and air circulation systems.
Recommending repeat air monitoring to reassess current conditions. This led to the upgrade of the LEV system, installation of bench extraction hoods, and the purchase of enclosed screen wash equipment.
Confirming that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements (e.g. gloves, goggles, protective clothing) were clearly listed in the control measures, and reinforcing their use.
Clear Actions and Long-Term Improvements
As a result of our review, and working together with the employer, a series of practical measures were agreed and implemented to reduce exposure risks and enhance compliance across the site:
Ongoing air monitoring in screen and print areas
Regular management walk-rounds to ensure correct PPE usage
A tailored Toolbox Talk on PPE, written by Safewell and delivered in-house
Investigation into isocyanate-free alternatives
Creation of a PPE procedure, with HR involvement, including potential disciplinary action for non-compliance
A follow-up health surveillance appointment for the affected employee in six months, as advised by the Occupational Health Physician
Continued annual health surveillance for all relevant staff
This case highlights the real-world value of Safewell’s integrated approach. Because we offer both Occupational Health and Health & Safety services, we were able to respond immediately, coordinate internally, and deliver a comprehensive solution without delay.
And the outcome? Enhanced confidence for the employer, with improved awareness among their employees, and a proactive plan in place to ensure exposure levels remain tightly controlled going forward.
President of IOSH 2008, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
I am pleased that you are helping dispel some of the dafter myths that surround OH&S (a passion you and I clearly have in common) and the item clearly indicates that as with so many of our professional colleagues you are not about stopping fun on the pretext of H&S. It is only with the help of people such as yourself that we will eventually get the message across that OH&S is about bringing (as you so aptly put it) purpose and value to peoples lives
