How to Stay Safe When Refinishing a Bathtub
A recent report showed at least 14 workers have died since 2000 as a direct result of using stripping agents that contained methylene chloride used when performing bathtubs refinishing. Many stripping products contain high percentages of methylene chloride, this is a chemical that is extremely dangerous when not used correctly.
Alternative products and processes are available to use when refinishing a bathtub, so any products that contain methylene chloride should be avoided whenever possible. Both the NIOSH and OSHA released a joint Hazard Alert amply named “Methylene Chloride Hazards for Bathtub Refinishers”.
Bathtubs refinishing is a method used to restore the surface of an old bathtub to improve its overall appearance and repair any surface damage. It is a cheaper alternative to replacing a bathtub; however, it also involves using hazardous chemicals that include methylene chloride, acids, and isocyanates.
Methylene chloride is a volatile, colorless liquid that has a sweet-smelling odor. It is also referred to as dichloromethane and has numerous industrial uses, that include paint stripping, metal cleaning, and degreasing. Workers can be exposed to methylene chloride by breathing it in or by absorbing it through their skin. Methylene chloride cannot be smelled until the levels are higher than OSHA’s permissible exposure limits. So, once a worker can smell methylene chloride they have already being overexposed. However, the human body can become desensitized to the smell and a worker can be overexposed even if they can no longer smell it.
Overall Health Effects
When methylene chloride enters the human body, it can affect brain functions, such as concentration. At high levels, it can also stop breathing. Methylene chloride exposure can cause fatigue, dizziness, headaches, nausea, a “feeling of intoxication,”, in addition to eye, nose, and throat irritation.
To learn about the services and products AAA - Perma Ceram Bathtub Refinishing has to offer you, and if you live in or around the Discovery Bay, CA region, please feel free to call us at (925) 634-0855 anytime.