In vehicle paint and repair work, workers are subjected to the risks associated with working in automotive bodyshops: noise, overexertion, projected particles, burns, etc. In addition to these risks, they also face the risks posed by handling chemical, harmful and hazardous products, such as solvents, hardeners, paint, etc. so a series of measures and equipment are needed to protect you in the workshop. This equipment may be for collective protection or personal protection.
Personal protective equipment and measures – PPE
PPE is used to complement collective protection measures, or when collective protection measures are insufficient to protect workers.
The types of PPE used most commonly in paint work in the bodyshop are:
- Work clothes to protect the body, arms and legs.
- Safety footwear to protect feet.
- Safety goggles or face shield to protect the eyes and face.
- Nitrile gloves and neoprene gloves to protect hands during application and cleaning respectively.
- Painting coverall to protect work clothes, avoid contamination and reduce dust inside the booth.
- Headphones or earplugs to protect hearing.
- Mask with particle and vapor filter to protect the airways from sanding dust and from the gases and vapors of products and mixtures.
Collective protective equipment – CPE
As the name indicates, CPE refers to the measures and equipment that provide collective protection to all of the people working in the bodyshop, not just an individual.
The main CPE that should be available in paint shops includes:
- Ventilation of the premises to prevent unhealthy working environments.
- Sufficient lighting to avoid eyestrain.
- Paint box for mixing and weighing the product
- Spray booth and suction system to carry out the preparation and painting tasks.
- Vacuum cleaner to reduce the discharge of dust into the atmosphere.
- Signs on safety and the use of PPE.
- Workbenches to perform the task comfortably.
- Safety actions: tidiness, use of VOC products, periodic maintenance of equipment, cleaning, waste management, etc.
Safety and protection in the bodyshop always come first
You can be exposed to hazards that affect you individually or collectively during any of the phases of auto body repair and refinishing. This means that it’s vital to apply proper measures and use the correct equipment to protect the health of all workers and the environment.
