Health risks associated with handling DPC and DPM materials

Citation

(1999), "Health risks associated with handling DPC and DPM materials", Structural Survey, Vol. 17 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.1999.11017aab.004

Health risks associated with handling DPC and DPM materials

Health risks associated with handling DPC and DPM materials

Keywords Hazardous materials, Health and safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a statement about this subject. DPC

and DPM materials containing substances such as bitumen or pitch contain organic substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which can be transferred to the skin during handling. Severe and prolonged skin contact with some PAHs carries a risk of skin cancer. The HSE considers that in the normal use of these DPCs, any risk of skin cancer can only be extremely small and there is no evidence of a link between skin cancer and the use of these materials in the building trades. The HSE recommend the following practicable precautions: assess the risk in the context of the job being done, follow good occupational hygiene practice by providing good welfare facilities and using good personal hygiene practices, including washing hands before eating, drinking, smoking or going to the lavatory, dispose of wrappers and rags safely (i.e. in waste bins and not in pockets) and wear protective clothing (e.g. gloves) when handling these materials.