Saf Health Work.  2019 Sep;10(3):355-361. 10.1016/j.shaw.2019.06.001.

Controlling Painters' Exposure to Volatile Organic Solvents in the Automotive Sector of Southern Colombia

• Castaño B
• Ramírez V
• Cancelado

• KMID: 2459749
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2019.06.001

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Painters in the automotive sector are routinely exposed to volatile organic solvents, and the levels vary depending on the occupational health and safety controls enforced at the companies. This study investigates the levels of exposure to organic vapors and the existence of controls in the formal economy sector in southern Colombia.
METHODS
This is an exploratory study of an observational and descriptive character. An analysis of solvents is conducted via the personal sampling of painters and the analysis of samples using the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 1501 method. The amount of solvents analyzed varied according to the budget allocated by the companies. The person in charge of the occupational safety and health management system was interviewed to learn about the exposure controls implemented at the companies.
RESULTS
A medium exposure risk for toluene was found in one company. Another presented medium risk for carbon tetrachloride, xylene, ethylbenzene, and n-butanol. The others showed low risk of exposure and that the controls implemented were not sufficient or efficient.
CONCLUSION
These results shed light on the working conditions of these tradespeople. The permissible limits established by Colombian regulations for the evaluated chemical contaminants were not exceeded. However, there were contaminants that exceeded the limits of action. The analysis of findings made it possible to propose improvements in occupational safety and health management systems to allow the optimization of working conditions for painters, prevent the occurrence of occupational diseases, and reduce costs to the country's health system.

Keyword

Car painters; Concentration in environment; Control of exposure; Organic solvents

MeSH Terms

1-Butanol
Carbon Tetrachloride
Colombia*
Humans
Methods
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.)
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Health
Social Control, Formal
Solvents*
Toluene
Xylenes
1-Butanol
Carbon Tetrachloride
Solvents
Toluene
Xylenes