Employers have a duty to identify the hazards at the workplace and consult with their employees on how to eliminate them. There are a number of hazards to which employees engaged in spray painting may be exposed. Many paints that are sprayed are classified as hazardous substances because they contain potentially harmful ingredients. Exposure of employees to these paints can cause injury and illness through inhalation of toxic vapours and mists, or absorption of irritants through the skin. Other hazardous substances to which spray painting employees could be exposed include thinners, degreasers, resins, surface preparation products, dusts from sanding, rust converters and rust removers.
Some hazardous substances used in spray painting are also a fire or explosion risk.
Other hazards in spray painting include plant, electricity, paint injection from airless spray guns, manual handling and noise. This code applies primarily to the handling and storage of hazardous substances used in spray painting processes. In Australia, many workers in the vehicle finishing industry spray paint for at least part of their time at work. In addition to car refinishing, spray painting is used in car production, the furniture industry and in painting ships, aircraft, buildings, structures and machinery. Normally, substances can be identified as hazardous by their labels.