Great advice. I realize it is a challenge, but, I would recommend use of a closed containment system. The size of the pieces being handled may pose a challenge. However, just like Diane's experience, I have found the use of fume hoods to be more cosmetic than real in affording protection when handling exotic new materials which may not be fully characterized as to their hazardous potential, including sensitizing properties..
    Roger
Roger O. McClellan
Advisor, Toxicology and Human Health Risk Analysis 
13701 Quaking Aspen Place NE 
Albuquerque, NM 87111 
Tel: 505-296-7083 
Fax: 505-296-9573 
E-mail: roger.o.mcclellan**At_Symbol_Here**att.net 


-------------- Original message from Diane Amell : -------------- 

> If she is spraying flammable liquids (which is normally the case in 
> composite layup and sprayup), she will then fall under 29 CFR 1910.107 
> Spray Finishing Using Flammable and Combustible Materials and 29 CFR 
> 1910.94(c) Ventilation: Spray Finishing Operations, not to mention NFPA 
> 33 and whatever the local fire marshal may require. She needs a booth 
> specially designed for spraying flammable materials. 
> 
> I am sensitized to isocyanates because of a researcher who thought a 
> lab hood was acceptable for the same thing. 
> 
> If you want a quick read on some of the other standards that may apply 
> to such operations, we have a booklet on our Web site that we put out 
> several years ago during a special emphasis program covering 
> layup/sprayup. (We have a lot of shops of varying sizes here in 
> Minnesota.) It's based on an old NIOSH booklet that staff updated and 
> Minnesota-ized. It can be found at 
> http://www.doli.state.mn.us/pdf/fiberglass.pdf. 
> 
> - Diane Amell, MNOSHA 
> 
> >>> Debbie Decker 8/29/2007 11:18 AM >>> 
> 
> Greetings: 
> 
> As ever, please excuse the cross-postings. I have a new researcher 
> whose topic of interest is composites. She does lay-up and 
> manufacture 
> of composites using various epoxies and resins. She also tests 
> composites with various liquids with which the composites might come 
> in 
> contact - jet fuel, de-icing liquids, etc. 
> 
> We are renovating lab space for her and she needs a place to "lay-up" 
> various composite materials and vacuum bag the pieces to cure. She 
> has 
> plans to do work on a full-scale car bumper and an unmanned vehicle of 
> some sort. 
> 
> Currently, they work with small pieces in a (very small) fume hood and 
> wear respirators when working outside of the hood. I'm 
> philosophically 
> uncomfortable with folks routinely wearing respirators. We can 
> engineer 
> out this hazard! 
> 
> A traditional fume hood probably won't work. Backdraft won't allow 
> for 
> access all the way around the work piece. We use down draft tables in 
> anatomy teaching but will traditional down draft work in this 
> situation 
> with such a large surface area? 
> 
> Lemme know what ya'll think. 
> 
> Thanks, 
> Debbie 
> ----------------- 
> Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety Officer 
> Environmental Health and Safety 
> University of California, Davis 
> 1 Shields Ave. 
> Davis, CA 95616 
> (530)754-7964/(530)752-4527 (FAX) 
> dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu 
> Co-Conspirator to Make the World A 
> Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy 

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