Characterizing the Health and Safety Needs of the Collision Repair Industry

Details

• Personal Author:
  Reeb-Whitaker C ; Whittaker SG
• Description:
  Production workers in the collision repair industry are potentially exposed to many harmful chemicals, including isocyanates. Of particular concern is the burden of work-related asthma in this industry that likely reflects exposures to the isocyanates in two-part paints. The main objectives of this study were to gather information about: (i) the collision repair industry business model, (ii) the number of collision repair production workers potentially exposed to isocyanates, (iii) additional chemical and physical exposures of concern, (iv) current health and safety practices in the industry, (v) the health and safety perceptions and needs of business owners and managers, and (vi) strategies to reduce exposure and increase employer and worker awareness. Data were gathered using a combination of key informant interviews, field investigations, and a statewide needs assessment survey. Although a response bias cannot be excluded, the 69% response rate suggests that the survey results are likely representative of Washington State's collision repair industry. Collision repair was determined to be a male-dominated industry chiefly comprising small, nonunionized, family-run businesses. Many shops face numerous safety and health challenges resulting from a combination of misinformation within the industry, insufficient funds to address workplace health and safety concerns, and social barriers to enforcing best practices within the shops. Most notably, inappropriate selection and use of respirators and gloves likely contribute significantly to isocyanate exposures. Collision repair workers are potentially exposed to a variety of additional chemical and physical hazards that deserve attention. This industry requires health and safety intervention of both an educational campaign and technical assistance. Any such intervention must account for the financial, demographic, and social characteristics of this industry. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Automobiles Chemistry Epidemiology Hypersensitivity Isocyanates Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Paint Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Safety Management Workplace

  More +
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Gloves Automobile-repair-shops Automotive-industry Chemical-hypersensitivity Chemical-properties Hexamethylene Diisocyanate Occupational-exposure Paints Personal-protection Physical-reactions Physiological-factors Physiological-response Physiology Protective-measures Repair-shops Respiratory Protection Safety-education Safety-measures Safety-practices Safety-research Survey Work-areas Work-environment Work-practices Work-related Asthma Worker-health Workers Workplace-studies

  More +
• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  273-282
• Volume:
  6
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20035066
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2009 May; 6(5):273-282
• Contact Point Address:
  Stephen G. Whittaker, Local Hazardous Waste Management Program, Public Health-Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington 98104
• Email:
  steve.whittaker@kingcounty.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2009
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20010701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• End Date:
  20060630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ce7493e6d6494f253bfa5dd7534fa1a5bbfa2a29c5ef7be8a584d33ea68ca9672879e3923d83f0c4d11ef73a1297fb77d26e8f0f0f116dd631c98fecfbc82698
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/187045/cdc_187045_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 162.03 KB ]