http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/domestic-abuse-multi-agency-protocol.pdf

http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/domestic-abuse-multi-agency-protocol.pdf

Occupational Asthma Threat in Car Painting Industry

The creative genius inherent in Zimbabwe’s small scale businesses in the motor vehicle refurbishing and reconditioning industry is undisputed, creativity unparralled, but notably risky! There is growing concern and asthma alert bells are loudly ringing particularly in the motor vehicle painting industry where reactive paints are used.

Isocyanates which are characteristically reactive chemicals are mainly used in motor vehicle spray paints, adhesives and in the manufacture of polyurethanes. These can cause damage to the human respiratory organs through sensitisation if usage procedures are not followed. Workers across the country have regular exposure to Isocyanates and consequences range across the spectrum, from health, through social to economic outcomes.

Motor vehicle paints have the mass fraction of airborne particle size making it either inhalable through the nose or mouth, respirable and penetrating to the airways of the lungs particles thereby able to penetrate the respiratory system. The fine paint particles produced through the spraying process magnify the risk posed. In the design of controls during the painting procedure, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the respiratory mask mesh size are important to enable the stoppage of the hazardous particles penetration. The question that the busy workmen in Zimbabwean garages need to ask themselves is; are these available and secondly are they being used?

The motor vehicle repair industry in Zimbabwe relies on the two pack paints which offer long life corrosion protection and are used for paint finishing where they are believed to protect the surface for up to 20 years in the harshest of weather conditions. The use of such paints is inevitable and as such The Environmental Agency and Ministry of Health must put in place controls if populations of individuals working with them are to be protected.

Extended exposure to isocyanate vapour at barely measurable levels can cause asthma or asthma like conditions in some individuals, referred to as occupational asthma. Alternatively, a single event involving a high exposure may have similar effects. International Labour Organisational exposure limits to paints are set at the maximum exposure limits (MELs) for Isocyanates at not more than 0.02 mg/m3 (8-hour time-weighted average) and 0.07 mg/m3 (15-minutes).

The reality is, the vehicle spray painters are exposed to organic solvents in Isocyanates during their work and this poses risks that range from health, economic and even eventual death. In order to delimit the development of this industrial silent killer…Controls must be put in place in order address these concerns so as to minimise the risk as part of the risk management process. It must be understood by the faithful industry operatives that the target organs for occupational exposure to Isocyanates are the lungs; this unequivocally calls for appropriate respiratory protective equipment.

Studies have shown that the greatest risk of exposure is within small to medium scale enterprises that often offer no staff training and education which is vital in ensuring that staff is aware of the dangers that they are exposed to during work to cultivate of culture of good practice and professionalism. A Health first approach must be injected into the hearts of small scale business operators for the safety of the workforce.

Small businesses are prone to have hazardous workplace features, e.g. confined space, poor ventilation, ergonomic limits and a lack of training for staff. These contribute to the overall high rating of the risks that are posed in these work places.

Statistically Isocyanates exposure causes between 5% -10% of asthma cases among young men and women internationally. Besides allergic asthma, Isocyanate exposure may also induce irritant asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and possibly accelerated lung function decline.

Recommendations
Operational guidelines for Isocyanates use in Zimbabwe must reinforce that staff must remember that most airborne paint mist is invisible. Detection is at levels that the naked eye does not recognize often leading staff into the false belief and misconceptions around gaseous clearance and booth safety during car spraying in MVR workshops. Knowledge about clearance time is imperative if the problem of exposure is to be controlled in an effective manner. As guidance to those who work in small to medium enterprises, spray booths or spray rooms must be used; and not an open workshop. Open workshops render the vapour freedom that becomes unmanageable and consequently widens the exposure area and this in turn heightens the potential for exposure as the areas would be an uncontrolled open zone.
Key to behavioural guidance is the directive for car sprayers to keep masks on during the clearance time (or leave the booth or room safely). It is often the interval times that the employee has an uncontrolled period of exposure and this can reverse the good intention of putting on the PPE and removing it for a short period that has aggravation on the health and ultimate wellbeing of the workforce. In addition a culture of regular equipment checks and maintaining the booth and air-fed breathing apparatus ensures that there would be minimum periods of exposure and exposure effects.
Local exhaust ventilation and procedural reviews of machine functioning can also be considered as part of the prevention and control strategy.
Related to the use of protective clothing is the element of behaviour management as part of the control measures. Sprayers, and other users, must know the clearance time of their booth or room, keep visors on for protection and reduce risks. The sprayer must not flip up the visor of the air-fed breathing apparatus (BA) during the clearance time
Finally, occupational asthma, dermatitis and other respiratory complications are associated with exposure to 2-pack isocyanate paints. As Zimbabwe celebrates the indigenous business motor vehicle manufacturing and refurbishing industry, these elements are key for the safety of the workforce as a healthy workforce is a core element in national development!
(By: Michael Chipato, Registered Occupational Health and Safety Specialist/Advisor, IOSH, NEBOSH) mikelgodza@yahoo.co.uk (06/12/2011)

Nox Guni and Stunner end UK tour!

UK fans Knocked and Stunned into 2012
By Michael Chipato

Nox Guni and Desmond Chideme aka Stunner wound up their series of gigs in Dunstable and London on New Year’s Eve with sensational performances in Birmingham at the Drum as revellers embraced 2011 with oozing music from two of Zimbabwe’s top urban maestros.

After a month long musical marathon that saw the artists competitively pelt tune after tune ranging from Wenera, Ndinonyara and Wandinoda to Godo and Stayera UK had a chance to club in a truly Zimbabwean style.

Nox knocked into the hearts of his established and fresh legion of fans hearts as Stunner stunned many with his versatile rap from the heart of Zimbabwe. The two preformed a memorable gig on the eve that the hit Wenera scooped the Video of the Year position whilst Winky D ‘Bigman’ ft Lipsy froze on number two with the Expandables breathing closely on 3rd position in the video categories on PowerFM. Stunner and Baba Shupi’s Godo triumphed as the number one hit on Zimbabwe’s Power FM Top 100 for 2011! Ngonidzashe Kambarami and Alishias Musimbe racked the second spot in the charts with Wobvira and Maskiri’s -Wenera feat Nox and Chagwa Black on third position. As a matter of current supremacy, reinforcement to Stunner’s musical Tazoita Cash Records musical dictum, ‘We lead, Others Follow’, has been proved!

Zim RnB star Nox tweeted with ecstasy ‘…its official....video of the year is WENERA. Big up to the video director: Chagwa Black, big up to Maskiri aka Alishias Musimbe for such a great composition. Big up to the late TBA the Playboy for producing such a platinum hit’. Music producer TBA died in a tragic accident in October and this success is part of his legacy beyond the grave! TBA was known for his great work including kick-starting urban grooves in 2001 at That Squad Studios
Speaking after the Birmingham gig Nox dubbed the shows ‘worth the archives’, whichever way it is looked at these young artists currently appear unstoppable as qualified by their supremacy on Zimbabwe’s top 2011 charts!

Happy New Year!!