Reducing Workers Exposure to Volatile Organic Compound Exposure (VOCs): Effective Vapour Control That Works

HSE estimates that 8% of the working population regularly use solvents in processes such as degreasing, metal cleaning and adhesion. They are also commonly found in paint thinners and lubricants.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are hazardous airborne chemicals commonly found within industrial and defence environments. In this best practice guide, we explain what VOCs are, the risks to workers health when exposed to them, and how to reduce exposure using effective controls.

What are VOCs and Where can they be found in the Workplace?

Volatile organic compounds are a group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the air at room temperature, and can pose serious health and safety risks in workplaces due to their high vapour pressure. The ability to vaporise easily makes them a significant health, safety and environmental challenge within the defence sector as they can quickly contaminate the air and be inhaled by the workforce and surrounding personnel.

Within operational MoD facilities, such as dockyards, workshops, aircraft hangers etc., volatile organic compounds are commonly released carrying out everyday activities such as fuel handling, storage, and refuelling, solvent use and degreasing operations, engine room maintenance, tank cleaning, and when repair, renovation or refurbishment work has been carried out and activities such as spray painting and coating is required. They are also associated to working with GRP, commonly used for minesweepers.

Effective control of VOCs is vital to keeping operations safe and compliant and ensuring everyone's health is protected. Common VOCs within sensitive environments include:

• Methylene chloride
• Benzene
• Toluene
• Acetone
• Xylene

Many of the chemicals discussed are explosive in nature, which presents a critical safety consideration which may require a specific DSEAR assessment made, potentially zoning the area accordingly.

Commons Sources of VOCs

Volatile organic compounds are released from a wide range of industrial processes and understanding the main sources of VOC emissions is vital to identifying exposure risks and ensuring effective controls are in place.

Fuel storage and handling  

Fuel systems are a major source of VOC emissions, particularly during storing, transfer, or the refuel of vehicles. Vapours are released when fuel evaporates, especially in warm conditions or during movement and transfer.  

Paints, coatings, and surface treatments  

Paints and coatings are one of the largest contributors to VOC emissions within industrial and defence environments. Exposure to VOCs depends on how the product is being applied, spray painting for example, is a much higher risk in comparison with painting with a brush. Exposure can also come from paint mixing and thinning. These processes release solvent vapours into the air, with the risk being heightened particularly when carried out in poorly ventilated areas.

Solvents and Degreasing Operations

Cleaning and metal degreasing is a common activity when carrying out ship maintenance. This could include machinery cleaning, component maintenance, parts washing and tank cleaning. The use of chlorinated solvents can increase toxicity risks and requires careful control to minimise exposure.

Confined Space Working

One of the highest risk of exposure to volatile organic compounds is working within confined spaces such as cargo or fuel tanks. VOCs can increase in concentration rapidly in enclosed areas, creating a toxic atmosphere, and reducing the supply of oxygen.

Recognising where VOCs are generated is critical when carrying out risk assessments and planning for a project. Without knowing where the risks are, you cannot control them. Once identified, you can ensure effective control measures are installed to reduce the exposure risk.

How do Volatile Organic Compounds Enter the Body and What are the Health Effects from Exposure?

There are two main ways VOCs can enter the body, these are:

1. Inhalation- The quickest way for VOCs to enter the body is through inhalation. Gaseous molecules are drawn deep into the lungs, allowing rapid absorption into the bloodstream.
2. Skin Absorption- If exposed for a long period of time, VOCs can pass through the skin.

Exposure to volatile organic compounds can cause a wide range of health effects, particularly in industrial environments where vapours are concentrated.

Short term health effects from exposures to VOCs include:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.
• Headaches.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea.

These effects can occur rapidly during tasks such as painting, solvent use, or fuel handling, especially within poorly ventilated areas.

Repeated exposure to VOCs can lead to much more serious and sometimes permanent health conditions, these include:

• Increased risk of cancer.
• Neurological effects such as confusion or difficulty concentrating.
• Memory loss.
• Vision changes.
• Seizures in severe case.
• Heart related issues.

Even at lower levels of exposure, repeated exposure can be detrimental to someone’s health.

How to Reduce Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds

To establish the actions you need to take, HSE recommends considering:

• Who is carrying out the activity and does the use of the product impact other workers, or the public?
• What products are being used? The higher the solvent, the greater the risk. Research the volatility of the product and its health impacts. It’s important to look at the packaging, what risks does it carry?
• How will the products be used? Applying paint via a brush compared to a spray technique can have vast difference in exposure. Spraying releases more solvent gases into the atmosphere.
• Where will the product be used? Enclosed spaces increase the risk of exposure, especially when no fresh air is being pushed within the space. Room temperature, and the surface area will all contribute to the level of risk.

COSHH Regulation 7 & HSE Guidance tells us to follow the Hierarchy of control when assessing the risk and formulating a control plan.

Controlling Exposure to VOCs

Physical barriers

HSE recommends the use of items such as respiratory protective equipment (RPE), including eye protection, gloves, and overalls, all of which help minimise personal exposure to volatile organic compounds. Whilst RPE is important to protect workers from the physical hazard, it cannot prevent workers from inhaling VOCs. Use RPE is considered the last line of defence against hazards.

Environment Control

Installing engineering controls is a great solution when substitution isn't an option. RVT Group provide effective, compliant hire control solutions that extracts VOCs from the source, preventing it from releasing into the atmosphere and becoming hazardous. Some of the equipment we hire to support includes:

RAVEX® Carbon Fume Filtration Kit

Our carbon fume kit is a modular set up, making it suitable for a wide range of environments and applications. The general set up features a capture hood, intake ducting, a filtration unit, an EU4 washable filter, a carbon filter and a centrifugal fan.

The system uses a centrifugal fan to draw fumes through the capture hood and filtration unit. As the vapours pass through the carbon filter, solvent molecules are adsorbed onto the carbon surface. Carbon filters contain charcoal, a highly porous material that captures a wide range of solvents through adsorption. Designing a system like this requires carefully revieing the safety data sheet and understanding the key ingredients posing the hazard to human health, it is then possible to ensure the right blend of activated carbon, and ensure the system runs efficiently and ensures maximum ‘dwell time’, when the VOCs pass through the carbon.

Key applications for this equipment include spray painting or solvent-based coating, maintenance involving solvents, adhesives, or heat-reactive compounds, engine rooms, hull compartment, and below-deck workshops on ships.

VENTEX® Centrifugal Fan 450S ATEX

This centrifugal fan is RVT Group's most powerful mobile fan for use in hazardous areas, providing ventilation or extraction within potentially explosive environments. This impressive fan enables you to extract dangerous fumes inline with COSHH regulations. Key features include being safe to provide ventilation in hazardous areas, and being European ATEX Directive (2014/34/EC) & IECEX approved.

Key applications companies use this equipment for includes paint, resin, or sealant fume extraction within an enclosed space, dust extraction within a sensitive environment, and the extraction of solvent fumes.

RAVEX® Superfilta

The Superfilta works alongside the VENTEX® 450S Centrifugal Fan, and flexible ducting to create a fume control solution. This equipment features cylindrical actisorb carbon filters that effectively and safely extracts odours and paint fumes. Key features of the Superfilta includes simple user-serviced filters and hoppers, the option to have HEPA standard filtration, and the separation of the fan and filter units allowing for simple transportation and flexible location.

Benefits of Working with RVT Group

When considering how you will be controlling volatile organic compounds, compliance, effectiveness and suitability should be the top priorities.

RVT Group can provide:

• Technical understanding of your hazards. We help clients with challenges faced across construction, infrastructure, defence and Industrial settings and have a good understanding of what you are up against.
• Free hazard control assessments. If you are unsure on what solution you need, the best way to control it, or want a better understanding of how we can support, we offer free site surveys where we can evaluate your challenge and provide industry led, best practice advice.
• Flexibility. RVT Group is a great supplier choice when you do not want to purchase a solution as your needs is only temporary. We can have equipment delivered and picked up when it suits you.