Characterizing the Health and Safety Needs of the Collision Repair Industry

Abstract

Production workers in the collision repair industry are potentially exposed to many harmful chemicals, including isocyanates. Of particular concern is the burden of work-related asthma in this industry that likely reflects exposures to the isocyanates in two-part paints. The main objectives of this study were to gather information about: (i) the collision repair industry business model, (ii) the number of collision repair production workers potentially exposed to isocyanates, (iii) additional chemical and physical exposures of concern, (iv) current health and safety practices in the industry, (v) the health and safety perceptions and needs of business owners and managers, and (vi) strategies to reduce exposure and increase employer and worker awareness. Data were gathered using a combination of key informant interviews, field investigations, and a statewide needs assessment survey. Although a response bias cannot be excluded, the 69% response rate suggests that the survey results are likely representative of Washington State's collision repair industry. Collision repair was determined to be a male-dominated industry chiefly comprising small, nonunionized, family-run businesses. Many shops face numerous safety and health challenges resulting from a combination of misinformation within the industry, insufficient funds to address workplace health and safety concerns, and social barriers to enforcing best practices within the shops. Most notably, inappropriate selection and use of respirators and gloves likely contribute significantly to isocyanate exposures. Collision repair workers are potentially exposed to a variety of additional chemical and physical hazards that deserve attention. This industry requires health and safety intervention of both an educational campaign and technical assistance. Any such intervention must account for the financial, demographic, and social characteristics of this industry.

Keywords:

• gloves
• hexamethylene diisocyanate
• isocyanates
• respiratory protection
• survey
• work-related asthma

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study could not have been conducted without the cooperation of the owners, managers, painters, and technicians who allowed us to visit their collision repair shops and spent their valuable work time educating SHARP's researchers. Our thanks also extend to the numerous other individuals associated with the collision repair industry, business associations, and county, state, and federal agencies. In particular, we wish to thank Mary Cushmac of EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) Program for engaging in early discussions about the project and providing multiple copies of DfE's Best Practices Kit. We are particularly grateful to Bill Lawrence and Laurel Tomchick of LHWMP for providing their business database and key contacts in the industry. Joyce Fan (SHARP Epidemiologist) and Edmund Rauser (SHARP Data Manager) assisted with data analysis. Christy Curwick (SHARP Research Investigator) provided work-related asthma surveillance data. Darrin Adams (SHARP Information Technology Specialist) provided workers' compensation data. We would also like to thank Diana Ceballos (doctoral candidate at the University of Washington) for her critical review of the manuscript. Robert Anderson (former SHARP Industrial Hygienist) also contributed to the development of the needs assessment.

This study was supported in part by Cooperative Agreement 5 U01 OH007292 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Notes

^ATotal exceeds 100% because some respondents provided multiple responses.

^ATotal exceeds 100% because some respondents provided multiple responses.