ADTECH Support
Safety IssuesWe urge good work habits and good epoxy hygiene. Here are some very basic points to keep in mind to help ensure the safe handling of thermosetting plastics.
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Keep your work area clean and well ventilated. Cutting scraps and other wastes should be kept in a closed or covered disposable container and out of the working area as much as possible. |
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Insist on personal cleanliness among employees, including washing several times per day with a mild soap and water. |
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Change working clothes daily and switch to other clothes before engaging in after-work activities. |
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Encourage the use of a hand cream cleaner instead of harsh solvents. If applied before the work is started, the cleaner helps coat the skin. Cleaning with cream cleansers at the end of the working day is especially beneficial because it minimizes the removal of natural oils from the skin and helps reduce skin dryness. |
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Urge the use of gloves when working in plastics. Cotton lined plastic or rubber gloves are recommended. If gloves are unlined, light cotton gloves can be used as a liner to control perspiration. |
Resins and hardeners are generally quite harmless to handle provided that certain precautions normally taken when handling chemicals are observed. The uncured materials must not, for instance, be allowed to come in contact with foodstuffs or food utensils, and measures should be taken to prevent the uncured materials from coming in contact with the skin, since people with particularly sensitive skin may be affected. The use of rubber gloves is advised. The skin should be thoroughly cleansed at the end of each working period either by washing with soap and warm water, or by using a resin-removing cream hand cleaner - the use of powerful solvents is to be avoided. Disposable paper towels - not cloth towels - should be used to dry the skin. Adequate ventilation of the working area is recommended.
EVEN IRRITATING
EFFECTS CAN BE AVOIDED BY USING SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS. Like other chemical
products, the worker should handle epoxy resins, hardeners and compounds
with care. They may irritate the skin and eyes of some people after repeated
or long contact. This irritation looks like poison ivy. When used as a
spray epoxy compounds may be irritating to the eyes and irritating when
inhaled.
Wear protective clothing - gloves, long-sleeved shirts.
Wash yourself immediately if any epoxy material is spilled on your skin.
If your skin and eyes become irritated, see your foreman. Medical attention
may be required.
When Handling Epoxies
Do This
Wear clean coveralls, long-sleeved shirts, aprons.
Wear rubber gloves.
The use of rubber gloves is recommended.
Wear goggles and respirator when spraying.
Wear fresh-air hood when spraying in confined areas.
Be sure there is plenty of fresh air ventilation when working in confined
areas.
Cover benches and seats in mixing areas with disposable paper.
Keep tools clean. Protect the next man who uses them.
Properly dispose drums and containers when empty. Do not reuse.
Read the labels on epoxy containers for special instructions.
After
Handling Epoxies Do This
Wash before eating, before relief period, and after work. Keep your hands
and skin clean.
Should any material come in contact with your skin, wash with soap and
water and re-apply the protective cream.
If epoxies spill on your clothing, change to clean clothing immediately.
Contaminated clothing should be laundered before reusing.
Watch out for contamination inside work gloves and on tools. Clean with
methyl ethyl ketone, denatured alcohol or acetone, and wash with soap
and water before re-using.
If you have any specific questions regarding good hygene practices or health effects of thermosetting resins, please contast your employer's Health and Safety officer or a medical professional.