• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.72-78
• /
• 2009

Exposure to HDI(hexamethylene di-isocyanate) commonly used in vehicle crash repair workshops remains a leading cause of occupational asthma. Although skin and eye contamination are considered as absorption routes, there are no occupational exposure standards for skin and ocular exposure. This is the reason why there are more empirical data should be provided. Therefore this study was to determine contamination levels of HDI on the skin, eyes, work surfaces, respirators and eye protectors. There was evidence of contamination on a variety of work surfaces, for example, door handles, bench top and spray gun, etc. A high proportion(47~80%) of skin wipe samples from neck, forehead, back hand, palm and wrist was positive for HDI contamination, even though spray time was relatively brief. The contamination levels from spraying inside spray booth were generally higher than outside booth due to poor work practices and inappropriate personal protective use like safety gloves. Apprentices had higher exposure levels than the qualified painters, likely due to lack of the recognition of safety and hygiene. The extent of contamination inside the PPE might provide an indication of the potential for respiratory & skin exposure and ocular exposure. Eye fluid samples from 4 out of 14 workers had the positive detection of HDI contamination, due to poor work practices like no or inappropriate eye protection. Considering the potential for dermal & ocular exposure to contribute to possible health symptoms including respiratory sensitization, the empirical data point to a need for improving work practices and appropriate PPE selection, use and maintenance.