QA and Inspections: Safety Considerations

During all coating practices, safety precautions must be taken into consideration. Safety of surface preparation and paint personnel, supervisors, inspectors and all additional personnel involved in ship operations are subjected to hazardous environments of the shipyard and its equipment. The use of toxic and flammable materials and pressurized equipment provide potential hazards. Operator experience, training, and care aid in providing safe operational use of equipments. Personnel should be aware of all potential hazards to provide continuous and automatic observance of precautionary measures. This awareness will aid in minimizing the dangers associated with coating practices. The degree of hazard along with the required control measures should be addressed on a case-by-case basis using MSDSs or product labels as reference sources. Yards should seek guidance from their local safety center.

NSTM Chapter 631 Volume 1 lists the following organizations, groups and rules that govern the safety and precautionary measures taken by shipyards. Personnel should be informed and aware of the necessary protective measures to ensure a safe working environment.

OSHA-Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
• Regulations and Standards for OSHA matters

Executive Order 12196
DEPARTMENT of Defense guidance on OSH matters

DOD INST 6055.1
Department of Defense and Occupational Safety and Health guidance

NAVOSH-Navy Occupational Safety and Health
OPNAVINST 5100.19 Series/OPNAVINST 5100.23 series
Program Manual providing overall guidance

OPNAVINST 4110.2 Series
Uniform policy guidance and requirements for life cycle control and total quality management of hazardous material acquired and used by navy

Personal Protection
Hazards associated with poor ventilation, noxious fumes, excessive noise loads, high and low temperatures, types of materials and application cause many injuries during operations. The key to preventing the occurrence of accidents is Personal Protective Equipment or PPE. Specified safety procedures should be in place for all potential emergencies. In all cases, consult your local safety guidance center for more information.

• Respiratory protection
  • Proper ventilation or respiratory protective equipment should be worn to avoid breathing mists, fumes, vapors or ingestion during mixing, spraying or handling.
  • Only NIOSH approved respiratory protective equipment should be used.
  • Equipment shall be clean, properly maintained and stored in clean, dry compartments.

• Eye protection
  • Safety glasses or goggles shall be worn where particulates, mists or vapors could enter eyes.
  • Eye protection should be clean and available at all times.
  • An emergency eyewash must be available in case of emergency.

• Ear protection
  • Proper ear protection, such as ear plugs, should be worn to prevent hearing damage in areas of high noise.

• Protective clothing
  • Personnel should wear adequate clothing and gloves to prevent contact with skin by paint and cleaning materials.
  • Hardhats, steel-toed rubber-soled footwear, gloves, coveralls, lifejackets, safety harnesses should be used as required by the task.

Surface Preparation
To prevent contamination, coatings should be visually inspected prior to surface preparation or removal. Some coatings may produce hazardous waste content such as organotin. Liberation of toxic materials can cause injury to personnel as well as the environment. Proper steps should be taken to avoid the spread of abrasives into machinery spaces, parts or nearby areas. Structures and equipment should be protected with drop clothes, masking, shields, or other methods.

Many of the methods and equipments used during surface preparation can be dangerous. This includes high-pressure abrasive or water blasting and heat emitted during steam cleaning. Welding operations require specific fire and burn prevention. Care must be taken when using hand power tools during surface preparation techniques. Such care will prevent hazards caused by electrical cords. All tools should have safety throttle/lock-off devices or switches. Solvent, chemicals, and paint strippers utilized during cleaning should only be handled after personnel are aware of flammability and toxicity. These removers should be disposed of properly after use. Disposal of organotin and other hazardous coating removed during surface preparation require specific instruction and safety precautions. NSTM Chapter 593 describes this process in further detail. Considerable effort should be taken to avoid injury when using all methods of surface preparation. This includes the use of Personal Protective equipment and hazard prevention measures.

Materials and Equipments
Many of the materials used during paint operations involve hazardous, flammable and/or toxic contents. These materials include coatings, solvents, acids or alkaline cleaners. They have the possibility to irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Personnel should be aware of all Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) information as well as the product labels for those products being utilized. Each work area should have proper precautionary measures and safety programs instilled for accidents, including fire and toxicity hazards. Equipments used such as, ladders, scaffolding, and rigging require proper setup and dismantling and safety checks to avoid personal injury. NAVSEA requires the review and safety guidance of the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) for all coatings approved.

Application
All personal shall be properly trained and aware of the responsibilities during all painting operations. This includes awareness of hazards associated with applying and handling hazardous and/or flammable materials. Applicators should be aware of all proper painting practices and precautions prior to using equipment. Before an application, the area should be inspected for hazards associated with the work area. Personnel should be aware of the obstacles, slippery surfaces, mechanical and electrical equipment to prevent injury. Safety equipment such as PPE, safety harnesses, lights, respirators and lifejackets should be inspected and worn for all necessary jobs.

Precautions must be taken during paint mixing as well as during application. Material Safety Data Sheets and additional safety sheets for both coatings and solvents used should be reviewed prior to the mixing and application of a coating. Painters and mixers should be aware of flash points, hazardous paint ingredients and specific hazards associated with the coating being mixed. This awareness will help to avoid unnecessary contact and injury caused by coating contents. NSTM Chapter 631 specifies the specific precautionary measures during the mixing of various types of paint, including vinyls, alkyds, and epoxies.

During applications in hazardous areas, personnel should never work alone. The buddy system will aid in the immediate assistance should there be an accident. The possibility of fire hazard with the use of coating material is elevated. No food, drink or smoking should be allowed in painting areas to avoid contamination or ignition.

As well as personal protective equipment, extra care should be applied in providing proper ventilation to remove fumes, vapors, gases and/or exhausts from all spaces, tanks, voids and work areas. Personnel should be aware of the temperatures during operations. Ideal temperature conditions are from 18-24 C where possible.

All methods of application require different precautionary measures; however; airless spray requires additional care due to the high volume of paint being used. Airless spray precautions should be taken into consideration when using this type of equipment. Personnel must take into consideration the environment in which they apply the coating. More information can be obtained from your local safety health center or NSTM Chapter 631.

Supervisors should retain the prime responsibility and awareness for personnel safety. Safety guidelines should be followed at all times.

After an application is complete all equipment including spray guns, paint containers and hoses should be properly cleaned. Disposal of solvents and unused coatings should be done in accordance with NSTM Chapter 593. Federal regulations governing the disposal of such products are regulated by several sources.

• RCRA-Resource Conservation and Resource Act
• FIFRA-Federal Insecticide and Rodenticide Act
• CWA-Clean Water Act
• EPA-Environmental Protection Agency

In general, the best method to prevent accidents is knowledge, training, experience and careful consideration of all safety rules and regulations. For more information refer to NSTM 631 Volume 1 or your local safety center.

NAVAL Safety Center