All respirators required by this section must meet the requirements of chapter 296-842 WAC.

(1) Paints mixed with toxic vehicles or solvents.

(a) When employees spray paints mixed with toxic vehicles or solvents, you must ensure that the following conditions are met:

(i) In confined spaces, employees continuously exposed to spraying are protected by air line respirators.

(ii) In tanks or compartments, employees continuously exposed to spraying are protected by air line respirators. Where mechanical ventilation is provided, employees are protected by respirators.

(iii) In large and well ventilated areas, employees exposed to spraying are protected by respirators.

(b) You must ensure that where employees apply by brush paints with toxic solvents in confined spaces or other areas where lack of ventilation creates a hazard, the employees are protected by filter respirators.

(c) When flammable paints or vehicles are used, precautions must be taken in accordance with the requirements of WAC 296-304-03009.

(d) The metallic parts of air moving devices, including fans, blowers, and jet-type air movers, and all duct work must be electrically bonded to the vessel's structure.

(2) Paints and tank coatings dissolved in highly volatile, toxic and flammable solvents. Several organic coatings, adhesives and resins are dissolved in highly toxic, flammable and explosive solvents with flash points below 80°F. Work involving such materials must be done only when all of the following special precautions have been taken:

(a) Sufficient exhaust ventilation must be provided to keep the concentration of solvent vapors below ten percent of the lower explosive limit. Frequent tests must be made by a competent person to ascertain the concentration.

(b) If the ventilation fails or if the concentration of solvent vapors reaches or exceeds ten percent of the lower explosive limit, painting must be stopped and the compartment must be evacuated until the concentration again falls below ten percent of the lower explosive limit. If the concentration does not fall when painting is stopped, additional ventilation to bring the concentration down to ten percent of the lower explosive limit must be provided.

(c) Ventilation must be continued after the completion of painting until the space or compartment is gas free. The final determination as to whether the space or compartment is gas free must be made after the ventilating equipment has been shut off for a least ten minutes.

(d) Exhaust ducts must discharge clear of working areas and away from sources of possible ignition. Periodic tests must be made to ensure that the exhausted vapors are not accumulating in other areas within or around the vessel or dry dock.

(e) All motors and control equipment must be of the explosion-proof type. Fans must have nonferrous blades. Portable air ducts must also be of nonferrous materials. All motors and associated control equipment must be properly maintained and grounded.

(f) Only nonsparking paint buckets, spray guns and tools must be used. Metal parts of paint brushes and rollers must be insulated. Staging must be erected in a manner which ensures that it is nonsparking.

(g) Only explosion proof lights, approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories for use in Class I, Group D atmospheres, or approved as permissible by the U.S. Bureau of Mines or the U.S. Coast Guard, must be used.

(h) A competent person must inspect all power and lighting cables to ensure that the insulation is in excellent condition, free of all cracks and worn spots, that there are no connections within fifty feet of the operation, that lines are not overloaded, and that they are suspended with sufficient slack to prevent undue stress or chafing.

(i) The face, eyes, head, hands and all other exposed parts of the bodies of employees handling highly volatile paints must be protected according to WAC 296-304-090. All footwear must be nonsparking, such as rubbers, rubber boots or rubber soled shoes without nails. Coveralls or other outer clothing must be made of cotton. Rubber gloves, instead of plastic gloves, must be used to protect against the danger of static sparks.

(j) No matches, lighted cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, and no cigarette lighters or ferrous articles must be taken into the area where work is being done.

(k) All solvent drums taken into the compartment must be placed on nonferrous surfaces and must be grounded to the vessel. Metallic contact must be maintained between containers and drums when materials are being transferred from one to another.

(l) Spray guns, paint pots, and metallic parts of connecting tubing must be electrically bonded, and the bonded assembly must be grounded to the vessel.

(m) You must ensure that all employees continuously in a compartment in which such painting is performed, are protected by air line respirators and by suitable protective clothing. Employees entering such compartments for a limited time must be protected by filter cartridge type respirators.

(n) You must ensure that all employees doing exterior paint spraying with such paints are protected by suitable filter cartridge type respirators and by suitable protective clothing.

PDFWAC 296-304-03007

Painting.