TM 1-1500-204-23-9 a.    Safety  and  Health  Aspects  of  Painting.    Painting operations    present    hazards    that    require    control    or preventive  measures.    Vapors  produced,  particularly  in spray    painting,    are    highly    flammable,    as    are    the accumulated  dried  coatings  deposited  on  walls,  floors and  equipment  in  painting  areas.    Coatings  and  their thinners  very  often  contain  toxic  substances  which  are injurious to health by inhalation and, to a less degree, by physical    contact.        Painting    operations    also    involve hazards resulting from the improper use of work stands, ladders, hoists, etc. WARNING · The following measures are minimum requirements for personal safety: · Wear   protective   clothing   to   prevent contamination of ordinary clothing. · Aprons    and    clothing    that    become saturated   with   paint   should   not   be worn   in   shop.      Saturated   clothing shall  not  be  hung  in  lockers  or  other similar   confined   spaces   that   might induce spontaneous combustion. · All personnel should wear non- sparking  shoes,  which  are  free  from metal nails in soles and heels. · Full  skin  covers,  i.e.,  gloves  or  skin protective creams shall be applied to exposed  skin  areas  prior  to  painting to  guard  against  injurious  effects  of paints, and to allow ready removal of paints    by    washing    the    area    with water.  Skin areas shall be clean and dry before cream is applied. · Personnel    engaged    in    stripping    or cleaning with methylethylketone (MEK),   acetone   or   toluene   and   the spray application of paints shall wear protective clothing and approved organic     vapor     cartridge     respirator approved  by  the  Operational  Safety and   Health   Administration   (OSHA). Paint  respirator  shall  be  worn  during all spray painting operations. · Spray    paint    only    when    adequate exhaust     or     general     ventilation     is available. · Personnel  having  histories  of  skin  or respiratory ailments should be excluded   from   paint   crews   applying two component polyurethane or epoxy  paints.    When  there  is  doubt, appropriate   medical   tests   must   be administered. · Individuals who engage in mixing and applying     plural     component     paints containing isocyanates will be subjected to appropriate pre- placement   surveillance   and   periodic job related medical tests. · All    indoor    spray    painting    shall    be accomplished    in    a    vehicular    paint spray     room     equipped     with     spray booths   having   a   minimum   face   air velocity of 120 feet per minute. · Preparations containing benzene (benzol), Federal Specification ASTM D  836,  will  not  be  used  for  spraying. Inhalation of these fumes is extremely injurious to health. · Never    use    flammable    solvents    to clean   walls   of   spray   booths   or   any part of equipment. · Smoking  is  prohibited  in  paint  shop. Mist from spray gun is highly flammable and spark or flame of any type will cause it to flash or explode. · Accumulations  of  paint  spray  dust  in spray    booths,    and    in    cracks    and corners  of  the  paint  shop,  are  both hazardous and undesirable. Accumulations of paint spray dust are highly  flammable  and  thick  coatings are subject to spontaneous combustion.      Dust   may   also   cause deposits   on   newly   painted   surfaces when  exposed  to  sudden  drafts.    To eliminate these conditions, paint shops  must  be  kept  clean.    Walls  of paint   shops   and   paint   spray   booths should  be  covered  with  booth  plastic which should be replaced when dirty. Paint  or  paint  residue  removed  from booth   shall   be   taken   from   building and safely disposed of immediately. 9-2