Job site I'm werkin on the painter is spraying lacquer on the custom wood work in the office.Well the stuff is in the air throughout the job.The concentration of the lacquer in the room he is working in is high enough that he wears a respirator.

I won't work in the place while the overspray is flying around.Is my concern warranted?Is prolonged inhaling of this harmful to others working in the place without respirators?

shortcircuit

Shortcircuit, yes your concern is warranted.

Even though lacquer is dry a few feet from the gun, you don't need to be breathing it.

You have every right to ask for the MSDS information and use it as a reason to pull off the job with an extension of time.

Most jobs we are on will have this type of work scheduled around the other trades as in evenings or weekend work.

Your lungs need to be healthy your whole life.

Roger

[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 02-10-2005).]

MSDS information?

shortcircuit

Shortcircuit, MSDS is Material Safety Data Sheet. This is part of the Right to Know Laws. These sheets are required with all chemicals used in a work place and must be available to all that might ask to see them.

Roger

[This message has been edited by Roger (edited 02-10-2005).]

Thank-you Roger.

shortcircuit

Thanks a heap, Roger.
I would have been here sooner but work pressures......
The MSDS is a legally binding document that states the hazards the the chemical(s) in use can pose to human and other life.
It is up the the user to judge wether it could be harmful to others at the time of application.

You're welcome Shortcircuit and Trumpy

Roger

shortcircuit...

Not providing you with an MSDS is potentially a very serious issue. Having said that...

If you ask for an MSDS and one is not provided, there is a good chance that you can get one yourself from the lacquer manufacturer on their website.

Not promising I can find it, but, if you post the exact name of the product and the manufacturer, I can probably locate one for you.

You can also search a large database that is maintained by the University of Vermont. The website address is: http://hazard.com/msds/index.php

I got stoned on that lacquer spray once.

It was a school remodel job. We were installing new lab type cabinets during xmas break. Thats why they were spraying them in the school.

I walked past them one time and got dizzy. Me and the apprentice actually went outside to sit on my truck tailgate till we felt better.

I refused to go back in there to wire the cabinets until all spraying was done. GC said no problem.

Bottom line, that stuff is nasty.

Here's a rather strange off-side to this topic.
I was talking to a painter a couple of years back and he was telling me that he was getting out of the painting trade, because the fumes from Lacquers and various other things that they used.
He was warned by a doctor prior to his decision, because the toxin levels in his blood had risen to near fatal levels, even though he always used a respirator mask.
Apparently it can also be absorbed through the pores of the skin from the air.
Nasty stuff alright!.

Mike...
I don't think your post was "off-side" at all. This is a potentially very serious issue with lacquer solvents.

Frequently your concern should be not only breathing the vapors, but, also having your skin exposed to the vapors. Depending on the solvent used, serious physiological consequences could result ranging from contact dermatitis (the least serious) to permanent neurological damage or death (obviously the most serious consequence).

I agree Glenn,
But at the same time guys, if your Boss requires you to use materials such as this to work with and will not provide an MSDS, blatantly refuse to do so.
Look what Agent Orange did for the troops in Vietnam.
(And NO, I don't want to start a political slanging match here)