SPRAYFOAM Professional - Winter 2016 - 29
General Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidelines for Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) Application* Potential Routes of Exposure One-Component Cans Low Pressure SPF Two-Component Kits Refillable Systems High Pressure SPF High Pressure Spray Systems PPE recommendations may include: PPE recommendations may include: PPE recommendations may include: PPE recommendations may include: or Eyes Skin Safety Glasses with Side Shields Safety Glasses or Safety Goggles Long Sleeves Long Sleeves or Safety Glasses or Safety Goggles Long Sleeves* *Additional PPE may be required (i.e., full body suit) depending on the job and/or the product. Consult manufacturer's instructions. or Full Face (FF) Mask or Supplied-Air (SA) Hood Full Body Suit or Coverall with Hood/Long Sleeves Hands Chemical Resistant Gloves Chemical Resistant Gloves Chemical Resistant Gloves Chemical Resistant Gloves Avoid Breathing Vapors Respirator Respirator* Respiratory Protection* Provide Good Ventilation Lungs or Air Purifying Organic Vapor (OV)/Pre-filter Air Purifying Organic Vapor (OV)/Pre-filter Provide Good Ventilation Provide Good Ventilation *Additional respiratory protection may be required (i.e., FF mask) depending on the job and/or the product. Consult manufacturer's instructions. or FF Mask/ or FF Air or Supplied SA Hood OV/ Air Pre-filter Purifying Provide Good Ventilation *PPE may vary depending on the job and/or the product. Consult manufacturer's instructions. *Additional information may be found at www.spraypolyurethane.com. Consult manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet for product-specific information. Figure 1: PPE guidance for applicators and helpers (American Chemistry Council, Center for the Polyurethanes Industry) Published March 2015. An updated version of this document may be available. For the most current version of this document, see www.spraypolyurethane.com. This document was prepared by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI). It is intended to provide general information to persons who may handle or apply spray polyurethane foam chemicals. It is not intended to serve as a substitute for in depth training or specific handling or application requirements, nor is it designed or intended to define or create legal rights or obligations. It is not intended to be a "how to" manual, nor is it a prescriptive guide. All persons involved in handling and applying spray polyurethane foam chemicals have an independent obligation to ascertain that their actions are in compliance with current federal, state and local laws and regulations and should consult with their employer concerning such matters. Any mention of specific products in this document is for illustration purposes only and is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement of such products. Duncan agreed that PPE use is "a need to spray foam in the middle of "You need to be aware of where that Neither ACC, CPI, nor any of their member companies, nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees, subcontractors, consultants, or other assigns, makes any warranty or problem representation, in the industry. making the ornight, you need to do it when othernor do theisACC,blowing the air," Fiske "If you're either express orAlso, implied, with respect to the accuracy completeness of the information contained in this document; CPI, nor any member companies assumesaid. any liability or responsibility for any use or misuse, or the results of such use or misuse, of any information, procedure, conclusion, opinion, product, or process described in this document. NO sure people without PPE equipment contractors aren't around. would much blowing the air where someone is workWARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES are OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSEIARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED. This work is protected are granted a nonexclusive royalty free licenseon to reproduce and distribute this document, subject to the following limitations: (1) the work them must be in a hot zone not inside the sprayby copyright. zone.Users Too often rather spray off times when nobody ing, you're putting reproduced in its entirety, without alterations; and (2) copies of the work may not be sold. for chemical exposure." we see other workers or homeowners is around and will be exposed. That For plumbers and electricians with come into an area where foam is being will be my preference." sprayed. That's a hazard." If that's not an option, Bolduc rectheir own deadlines to meet, it can creommends creating partitions. "I would ate an issue, King said. "When you kick break the job down into smaller areas 3. A CLEAR WORKSITE them out, it can sometimes get testy Duncan's last point reiterates another and make sure that I'm ventilating with these other trades. They were promised the space and they've got frequent challenge: an empty worksite, to areas where no one is going to be whether that means other subcontracexposed. To make sure the job is propschedules to keep. The responsibility tors or the homeowners. erly planned and demarked." ultimately falls to the general contractor. It's also important that the installer "Separating the install area is a They're too busy or too overwhelmed or knows what he or she is spraying and scheduling problem," Bolduc said. can't be bothered." what the manufacturer recommends in "Foam should be sprayed when no But sometimes, it's not an issue of terms of ventilation. one is in the area and exposed. If you other workers, but rather a curious www.sprayfoam.org | SPRAYFOAM PROFESSIONAL 29