Safety Training for Paint Removal on Ships

Workers onboard ships must have special training in how to deal with toxins that are present in ship board paint. Safety training provides the necessary tools and knowledge to handle, dispose of and recognize hazards and dangerous substances.

The Hazards

• Workers can be exposed to toxic chemicals such as PCBs, or Polychlorinated Biphenyls. These were in a number of materials from 1929 to 1979, including oil-based paints used on ships. When scraping older paint, workers can be exposed to toxins from PCBs, which can include issues with the immune and nervous systems.

Time Frame

• The Occupational Health and Safety Administration, or OSHA, requires that a business give workers training who have to remove materials with PCBs in them. The training must be done before any work is begun and repeated on an annual basis.

Features

• The training involves the proper use of personal protective gear, such as respirators, face shields and protective eyewear. Another aspect of the training is the correct disposal of toxic materials. They must also learn how to appropriately deal with any emergency that may arise. The training also has to be given in a way that is clearly understood by all workers. For example, workers who speak another language must have training presented in their native language.