Bodyshops

There is widespread potential for work-related ill health in MVR bodyshops. Many of the substances used require careful storage, handling and control. 

In particular, isocyanate-containing paints have, for many years, been the biggest cause of occupational asthma in the UK and the industry (as a whole) is also in the top 10 industry's for cases of disabling dermatitis. Paints containing isocyanate are used extensively in MVR as almost all motor vehicle repair bodyshops use 2-pack or "2K" isocyanate-containing paints. Isocyanates are used in some water-based paints, most base coats and almost all lacquers.  'Water-based' does not mean 'isocyanate-free', just that it is emulsion based and has reduced levels of solvents.

Also see Common MVR Topics[48] for other relevant issues to bodyshops for example harmful dusts and hand arm vibration etc

Specific to bodyshops

Link URLs in this page

  1. Motor vehicle repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/index.htm
  2. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/introduction.htm
  3. Overview - Common MVR topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/index.htm
  4. Benzenehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/benzene.htm
  5. Choosing the correct gloveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/gloves.htm
  6. Cleaning/degreasing substances including valetinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/degreaser.htm
  7. Electric and hybrid vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/electric-hybrid.htm
  8. Falls from heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/falls.htm
  9. Fire and explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/fire.htm
  10. Fluoroelastomershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/fluoroelastomers.htm
  11. General COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/general-coshh.htm
  12. Hand-arm vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/vibration.htm
  13. Harmful dusts - Inhalation and Dermatitis riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/dusts.htm
  14. Manual handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/manual.htm
  15. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/noise.htm
  16. Safety in the use of two-post vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/fallofflifts.htm
  17. Slips and tripshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/slips.htm
  18. Storing and handling airbagshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/storing-handling-airbags-seat-belt.htm
  19. Struck by...https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/struckby.htm
  20. Updated guidance on vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/updated-guidance-on-vehicle-lifts.htm
  21. Used engine oilhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/oil.htm
  22. Workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/transport.htm
  23. Overview - Bodyshopshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/index.htm
  24. 2-pack isocyanate paintshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/isocyanates.htm
  25. Bodyshop mythshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/myths/index.htm
  26. COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/coshh-paintspraying.htm
  27. Measuring paint spray booth clearance timehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/cleartime.htm
  28. Overview - Mechanical repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/index.htm
  29. Asbestoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/asbestos.htm
  30. Hot work on wheelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/hot-work-on-wheels.htm
  31. Tyre removal, replacement and inflationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/tyreremoval.htm
  32. Vehicle exhaust emissions (Diesel)https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/exhaust.htm
  33. Welding and flamecuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/welding.htm
  34. Wheel and tyre explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm
  35. Working under vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/under-vehicles.htm
  36. Overview - Roadside repair and recoveryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/roadside-repair/index.htm
  37. Automotive glazinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/roadside-repair/glazing.htm
  38. Essential precautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/roadside-repair/essential-precautions.htm
  39. Repair or recovery of buses and coaches fitted with air suspensionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/roadside-repair/buses.htm
  40. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/index.htm
  41. COSHH essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/mvr.htm
  42. Overview - Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/statistics/index.htm
  43. Ill health statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/statistics/illhealthstats.htm
  44. Injury statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/statistics/injurystats.htm
  45. Useful external websiteshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/links.htm
  46. Videoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/resources/videos/index.htm
  47. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/contact.htm
  48. Common MVR Topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/index.htm
  49. 2-pack isocyanate paintshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/isocyanates.htm
  50. Bodyshop mythshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/myths/index.htm
  51. COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/coshh-paintspraying.htm
  52. Measuring paint spray booth clearance timehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/bodyshop/cleartime.htm
  53. Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg261.htm
  54. Tyre removal, replacement and inflationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/tyreremoval.htm
  55. Fatal accident during maintenance on multipiece vehicle wheel with pneumatic tyreshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

MVR
Motor Vehicle Repair
COSHH
Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health

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Updated 2021-02-01