What you should know about mandatory training for the use of diisocyanates
NEW REGULATIONS FOR DIISOCYANATES
In 2020, the European Union, through Regulation (EU) 2020/1149 , published new restrictions for products containing more than 0.1% monomeric diisocyanates.
This new regulation comes into force from August 24, 2023 and will require that all professional and industrial users must have certified training to use these products.
The main objective of this regulation is to ensure that workers are protected and safe when they come into contact with hazardous chemicals, such as diisocyanates, during their work, in order to prevent the occurrence of allergic reactions in the skin and respiratory systems, which can be caused by the handling or improper use of products containing diisocyanates.
Diisocyanates are chemicals found in certain coatings and paints, sealants, and foams. They are mainly present in polyurethane paints.
These substances react with other paint components to form a strong and durable layer, accelerate the drying process and provide chemical resistance and adhesion to the paint. But it's important to note that diisocyanates can cause health problems if inhaled or come into contact with the skin, so proper precautions should be followed when handling paints containing them.
WHAT BARPIMO PRODUCTS CONTAIN DIISOCYANATES?
Within the BARPIMO COATINGS product range, this regulation only affects products with a concentration in diisocyanates equal to or greater than 0.1% by weight.
HOW TO KNOW IF A PRODUCT CONTAINS DIISOCYANATES?
To determine if a product contains diisocyanates and their percentage, it is important to review:
1. Product label: from 24 February 2022, it is mandatory to include on the label of all packaging containing diisocyanates with a concentration equal to or greater than 0.1% by weight, the following legend: "As of 24 August 2023 appropriate training is required before industrial or professional use".
2. Safety Data Sheet: This document provides complete information on the hazards and chemical composition of the product. Check the "Composition" or "Ingredients" section to find information about diisocyanates.
WHO IS OBLIGED TO CARRY OUT THE TRAINING?
All professional users handling open containers and/or making applications of products whose formulation contains diisocyanates with a concentration equal to or greater than 0.1% by weight are required to undergo training.
Users who only handle closed containers are not obliged to do so.
The regulation states that employers have a responsibility to provide this training to their employees to ensure their safety and security in the workplace.
The certification in the safe use of diisocyanates is valid for 5 years. After this period, the professional must renew his training again.
WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE TRAINING?
The training has as its main objective to ensure that workers are aware of the risks associated with diisocyanates and know how to protect themselves properly.
This involves learning about the hazardous properties of diisocyanates, hazard identification, prevention and control measures, correct use of personal protective equipment, proper storage, safe handling, and emergency procedures. This knowledge is essential to avoid accidents and damage to health.
Currently, this training is offered by the following European associations:
o ISOPA: European Association of Producers of Aromatic Polyols and Diisocyanates.
o ALIPA: European Association of Aliphatic Isocyanate Producers.
STEPS TO FOLLOW TO ACCESS TRAINING
The course in Spanish is available online on the PU Training Platform.
We will follow these steps:
1. We access the online platform: www.safeusediisocyanates.eu
2. Select the language in the upper right corner of the page.
3. Click on "List of training courses".
4. Various training options are displayed according to the type and sector of operation. We choose the one that responds to our needs. If we are not sure which one to choose, we recommend "003 - Spraying in ventilated cabin, handling of open mixtures, cleaning and waste", since it is applicable to most professionals related to our activity and the use of diisocyanates in paints.
5. We access the detail of the course, where all the aspects that will be covered are described, and we click on "Registration".
6. Complete the registration fields in the "Contact Information", "Company Information" and "Invoice Information" sections.
7. We check the boxes "I accept the terms and conditions" and "I accept the privacy policy". Finally, we click on the "NEXT" button, located in the lower right corner of the screen.
8. Upon completion of registration, we will receive a course subscription confirmation email, which will contain a link to create an account on the course management platform.
9. Once on the platform we have to set a password and then access it using the registered email and the password we created. We can now start training. Click the edit button to change this text.