The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched a nationwide campaign of 1,000 targeted inspections across motor vehicle repair businesses in Great Britain, aiming to tackle occupational asthma linked to isocyanate exposure in paint spraying operations.
The inspections primarily target workshops that spray isocyanate-containing paints.
Unless your workshop handles 2K paints or lacquers, you’re unlikely to be directly inspected.
However, garages that occasionally do paint work or share space with paint operations should still ensure proper COSHH compliance, ventilation, and PPE standards.
Isocyanates, chemicals found in many two-pack (2K) paints, lacquers, and coatings, are the leading cause of occupational asthma in the UK.
When sprayed, these products release an invisible mist that can quickly reach dangerous concentrations within minutes.
What inspectors are looking for
Inspectors will be checking that workshops and bodyshops are:
– Using proper spray booth ventilation systems that maintain negative pressure
– Providing and maintaining certified air-fed breathing apparatus for sprayers
– Displaying and following documented clearance times for paint mist dissipation
– Conducting regular health surveillance and biological monitoring (including urine testing)
Once asthma develops, even trace exposure can trigger severe attacks, often forcing skilled paint sprayers and technicians to leave the profession permanently.
Each year, many experienced workers leave the trade due to this life-changing condition, highlighting the urgent need for proper protection and monitoring.
The HSE’s campaign focuses on compliance with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, which make it a legal requirement for employers to control exposure to hazardous substances and verify that controls are effective.
Businesses that fail to meet the required standards risk improvement notices, prohibition notices, or unlimited fines.
