HSE Enforcement Sends Clear Message on Occupational Health

Spray Businesses Should Take Note

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has recently taken its first-ever enforcement action against an occupational health service provider, highlighting its increasing focus on preventing long-term occupational illness rather than simply responding to workplace accidents. (HSE MediaCentre)

While the enforcement action was not directed at the spray finishing industry, it sends an important message to businesses using hazardous substances, including professional sprayers working with solvent-based coatings and 2K products.

Prevention Is Becoming a Priority

The HSE has made it clear that occupational health is becoming a greater area of focus, with employers expected to ensure workers are properly protected from long-term health risks such as occupational asthma, dermatitis and noise-induced hearing loss. (HSE Media Centre)

For spray businesses, this means regularly reviewing not only the products being used, but also the systems in place to protect those applying them.

What Should Spray Businesses Be Reviewing?

Whether you employ a team or work alone, now is a good time to review your working practices.

Areas worth checking include:

• Is your COSHH assessment up to date?
• Are your extraction and ventilation systems performing effectively?
• Is your respiratory protective equipment (RPE) suitable for the products you’re spraying?
• Are spray booths or extraction systems being inspected and maintained?
• If you employ staff exposed to hazardous substances, have you considered whether health surveillance is required?

The HSE’s guidance continues to emphasise that exposure to hazardous substances should be reduced as low as is reasonably practicable, with engineering controls such as effective local exhaust ventilation taking priority over relying solely on PPE. (Health and Safety Executive)

Raising Standards Across the Industry

As professional spraying continues to grow across sectors such as kitchens, furniture, joinery and uPVC, expectations around health and safety are also increasing.

Customers, insurers and regulators all expect businesses to demonstrate safe working practices alongside high-quality finishes.

At UKSA, we believe raising standards means looking beyond the spray gun. Professional businesses invest in training, maintain their equipment, understand the products they use and continually review their working environment to ensure it remains safe for everyone involved.

The latest action from the HSE is another reminder that protecting health isn’t simply about meeting legal obligations - it’s about protecting the future of your business and the people within it.