Isocyanate Exposure Intervention Study in Body Shops

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bello D ; Cartmel B ; Cullen M ; Gore R ; Liu Y ; Redlich C ; Sparer, Judith ; Stowe M ; Woskie S ; Youngs F
• Description:
  In October, 2002, the Yale Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program initiated the Safe Methods for Autobody Shop Health (SMASH) study, a NIOSH funded intervention study, with the goal of determining some effective methods of reducing isocyanate exposures to workers in autobody shops. Aims: The main objective of this study was to implement an integrated exposure interventional program in selected auto body shops, and evaluate the effectiveness of various program components in reducing isocyanate exposures. Our specific aims were as follows: Aim 1: Implement an educational training program that includes safe handling of body shop products, respiratory protection and use of other personal protective equipment. Aim 2: Implement a product (process) change and engineering intervention program that includes the use of iso-free paints, possible installation of better booth type, local exhaust fans and area ventilation, scheduled change of booth filters and use of HVLP spray guns. Aim 3: Implement an administrative program that includes the increased use of proper types of respirators, replacement of latex gloves with nitrile gloves, use of protective clothing and use of surface and skin decontamination products. Aim 4: Implement a behavioral intervention program with an observational process to monitor and provide feedback on the target safety practices. Aim 5: Evaluate the success of the overall intervention program by using qualitative assessments from individual shop owners (management) and workers, as well as biological monitoring of urinary metabolites of HDI isocyanate. Methods: The design of the study required 3 contacts with each shop at baseline, 6 months and 1 year. Fourteen autobody shops were enrolled and randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. In all shops, information was collected at each visit, including equipment available, work practices, respirator fit tests, worker attitudes and knowledge regarding isocyanates, and environmental samples of air (inside and outside of respirator exposures), skin and surface contamination. A group educational session with a video and a question and answer period was presented to intervention group shops during the first week of the study and to control shops during the 6-month visit. Personal protective equipment recommended by NIOSH for protection against isocyanates and cleaners designed for the removal of isocyanates were provided to the shops monthly for the 6 months following the educational session. The intervention shops were visited monthly for the first 6 months by a trained observer who scored each worker and provided encouragement to upgrade their work practices. Results: Scores on knowledge tests increased after the training session and were sustained for at least 6 months or a year. Most workers who failed the respirator fit testing on their first try were able to pass after being given some instruction. The promotion of product change and improvements in engineering controls was not very effective, with few changes occurring over the year. Changes in administrative controls were somewhat more successful, with more shops providing and using nitrile gloves and HEPA respirators. Testing of isocyanate decontamination products showed the effectiveness of many products, including those already in use in many shops. Our behavior modification program in intervention shops was very popular with the workers. However, it is difficult to see a difference between the behaviors of control shop workers after intervention without behavior modification and those who had it. Substudies showed the potential for skin exposure to isocyanates in this industry. Overall, we demonstrated improvements in proper respirator, glove and coverall use by these workers, in both control and intervention shops, after intervention. Discussion: This intervention study demonstrated the feasibility of conducting educational training for health and safety among workers in the auto body industry. Our results showed that providing educational training, use of safety products and behavioral modification to these workers increased their safety knowledge, scores on respirator fit testing and safe work practices. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Automobiles Behavior Education Isocyanates Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Automobile Repair Shops Intervention Intervention Effectiveness Occupational Exposure Respiratory Protective Equipment Safety Practices Spraying Equipment
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Connecticut ; Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-16
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060624
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R01-OH-004246, 2008 Feb; :1-16
• Contact Point Address:
  Youcheng Liu, M.D., Sc.D., M.P.H., Preventive Medicine & Environmental Health, University of Kentucky, 121 Washington Avenue, Lexington, KY 40536
• Email:
  youcheng.liu@uky.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2008
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Performing Organization:
  Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20020930
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20060929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:04d8f6f66bd8eb65ca3c3c0b13cdf7d1e69d62fcb034d36198456b76d3f916370e4e509702edda7ab9cd2494ffef4bcde96ca5c6ce8e088d62910012b7c34409
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/219004/cdc_219004_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 479.25 KB ]