Is your cleaning system safe?
July 1st 2006

Cleaning in industry is designed to improve health and safety - but hazardous chemicals commonly used in factories can cause skin complaints, breathing disorders and more serious conditions among staff. SCA Tissue Europe's Mark Riley looks at ways of minimising the effects of factory cleaning

Cleaning is generally thought to be a positive action. But some industrial cleaning systems can actually pose a risk to health and safety particularly where potentially hazardous substances are used.

Tough, powerful cleaning agents are often required for removing soiling such as ink, paint, oil and grease in the factory or workshop. But what risks do these substances pose for the people who use them? Traditional solvents used in industry are volatile organic compounds, and a wide range of negative health effects have been attributed to VOCs.

Eye irritation, headaches and nausea are common complaints associated with certain solvents. They can enter the bloodstream where they are converted into toxic chemical compounds that may attack the organs. When breathed in they can destroy the mucus membranes, damaging the lungs and worsening the effects of smoking.

More serious conditions associated with solvents can include chronic kidney inflammation, heart disease and damage to the liver and central nervous system. VOCs have also been linked to lung cancer, bladder cancer and testicular cancer.

Various chemicals commonly used in the workplace have also been linked to industrial dermatitis. This may not be as attention-grabbing as conditions such as, say, testicular cancer but it is nevertheless becoming a more serious problem every year. Industrial dermatitis now affects more than 80,000 people in the UK and costs up to 20 million a year in sickness and retraining costs.

Symptoms include redness, itching, scaling and blistering, and industries particularly at risk include the construction, engineering, printing, chemical, catering, cleaning, healthcare and agriculture industries. Repeated exposure to certain chemicals can cause industrial dermatitis, with common culprits being aggressive cleaning solutions, paint removers, detergents and adhesives.

Responsible employers make every effort to identify the risks involved with hazardous chemicals and replace these with safer ones where possible, or at least take steps to minimise contact with the substance. In many cases, however, the more aggressive chemicals are also the most effective which means a balance needs to be found between efficiency and employee safety.

One way in which the effects of harsh chemicals can be reduced is by using disposable wipers rather than rags or textiles to administer them. Many rags have poor absorption properties and instead of soaking up solvents will simply redistribute them around the wiping surface, allowing them plenty of time to aggravate the hands and airways of the user.

A good quality disposable wiper will carry out the process much more swiftly and efficiently. Our own Tork Premium 530 has been purpose-designed to absorb large amounts of solvent and then release it efficiently back on to the working surface. Besides reducing contact between the user and the solvent, Tork Premium 530 can also reduce solvent consumption by a quarter and therefore help bring costs down.

Using disposables rather than textiles also minimises the risk of solvent-soaked wipers being left lying around the workshop where they can contaminate the atmosphere and increase staff exposure. Disposables are clean and uncontaminated before use, whereas rags may contain hidden "extras" such as zips and other fasteners that can aggravate skin conditions.

Laundered cloths, too, may contain metal shavings from lathing operations that can injure the hands, as well as residual oils and chemicals that can cause skin rashes. A recent study carried out in the US examined laundered cloths in 14 states, and all of them were found to contain oil and grease while many also contained high levels of metals such as lead.

There are other sensible health and safety precautions that should be made wherever hazardous chemicals are in use. For example, premises should be adequately ventilated and staff encouraged to report any damaged or defective ventilation equipment to their employer.

Staff should be provided with protective clothing such as gloves, apron, goggles or a face shield as well as respiratory protection. Any unnecessary evaporation of chemicals should be prevented by keeping lids on containers and by using sealed containers for contaminated waste.

Smoking should be completely avoided when using solvents since toxic gases may be given off.

Thorough handwashing should also take place after working with hazardous chemicals, particularly before smoking or eating. Soft hand towels should be made available to staff since these are gentle on the hands and will avoid aggravating any skin conditions.

Employers have a duty under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to prevent employees from coming into contact with substances that are hazardous to health.

By instigating a few ground rules and by using an effective wiping system many of the dangers associated with cleaning chemical use can be avoided.

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