The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has emphasised the importance of compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (as amended) for contractors and employers involved in paint and coatings spraying activities across the UK.
Under the COSHH Regulations, businesses must assess and control risks from hazardous substances, including vapours, dusts, fumes, mists and sprays generated during painting and spraying work. Employers are required to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the tasks involved and implement measures to prevent or control exposure where necessary.
Effective control measures may include engineering controls, such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV) and spray booth extraction systems, as well as appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) where other controls cannot fully eliminate exposure.
HSE guidance on COSHH and tasks involving paint spraying highlights good practice for controlling exposure during spraying operations, including ensuring that enclosed spray areas are properly ventilated, and that operatives are provided with suitable RPE when required.
Spray painters should also take particular care when working with isocyanate-containing products, which can present heightened risks of respiratory sensitisation, including occupational asthma. HSE advice sets out specific considerations for assessing and controlling exposure to such substances.
For employers, understanding and applying the COSHH hierarchy of control is a legal obligation; failure to adequately control exposure can lead to enforcement action by the HSE.
Useful official guidance and resources:
These resources provide detailed official information to support spraying contractors and employers in meeting their legal obligations under COSHH and protecting the health of spraying operatives.
