Health & wellbeing

How Resene has improved painter safety

Resene’s commitment to painter safety has been a top priority for decades.

As Technical Director Colin Gooch says, “Resene got off on the right foot when it launched the first modern waterborne exterior paint in New Zealand in 1951 – 75 years ago!”

As Technical Director Colin Gooch says, “Resene got off on the right foot when it launched the first modern waterborne exterior paint in New Zealand in 1951 – 75 years ago!”

Being a professional painter previously came with the potential for health hazards due to the ingredients in the paint. Fortunately, Resene’s constant innovation and quest to formulate paints that perform at their very best, as well as being much safer for decorators and the environment, means the risks have been virtually eliminated.

“Around 30-50 years ago, although the use of waterborne paint was steadily increasing, the majority of trade paints were based on oil-modified alkyd resins, which were carried (or cut) in solvents,” explains Colin. He’s definitely qualified to talk on the topic – he’s been the leading expert on paint formulating in New Zealand for more than 50 years.

Although there are a very wide range of solvents that can be used in paint, he says the principle solvent back then was mineral turps. “This contained over 90 different, identifiable components, about 40% of which were the very effective but questionable ‘aromatics’.”

While benzene was largely gone, it could still be around in trace amounts, and lead pigments were present in primers and bright yellows, oranges and reds.

“Painters would be in danger largely during the preparation process where these toxic pigments, including crystalline silica, could be released in the sanding dusts,” Colin explains. “Even if the painter decided to use a paint stripper to avoid harmful dusts, the main ingredient of strippers of the day – carbon tetrachloride – was highly aggressive to the liver and completely stripped natural oils from the skin. While Resene ceased using this ingredient 25 years ago, other companies have not.”

Sense check

All this exposure manifested itself into a condition called chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy, commonly referred to as ‘painter’s disease’.

Colin says that following a lot of anecdotal evidence (and union pressure), three Scandinavian countries banded together to survey the industry and try to monitor the effects of solvent exposure.

“The results were that there was a measurable effect of solvent exposure, including lethargy, drowsiness, temporary memory loss and other neuropsychological impairments,” he explains. “These results were contentious, with alcohol clouding the issue, but the drop in the number of reports of the condition coinciding with the increased use of waterborne paints is a powerful statement.”

As mentioned above, solvents also strip the natural protective oils from skin, and that can lead to serious irritation and rashes if barrier creams are not used.

“In some cases, people can become so sensitised that even one molecule can trigger a severe reaction.”

Safety first

Colin says Resene’s motivation for improving their paint safety was simple. “It seemed the right thing to do! Pair that with the fact that we like our customers and want them to be healthy and productive, and you have a business case as well!”

“Removing all lead was a major achievement, fully 20 years before our competition. Nailing our colours to the mast and committing to audited Eco Choice over 30 years ago was another major statement of our intent, as was our world-leading paint retrieval and recycling scheme, Paintwise.

“There have been so many innovations that it is truly hard to recall them all, but it still gives a thrill to see products like Galvo-One (designed to fill the need for a lead-free, galvanised iron primer) still out there and still fulfilling its original need.”

VOC explained

While Resene’s Eco Choice-approved range of paints has low or no added VOCs (volatile organic compounds), Colin says the science should still be approached rationally.

“Volatile organic compounds are used to a small degree in waterborne paints to aid film formation and application. Possibly the major VOC additive for improving application is a material called propylene glycol – which can also be used as a food additive!” says Colin

“Although all solvents should be treated with respect, categorisation by boiling point rather than toxicity smacks of chemophobia to me! Boiling point is simply the temperature at which a liquid turns into its gaseous state, such as water (100°C), acetone (56°C) or lead (1749°C). It gives no data regarding toxicity, odour, chemical activity or any other property.”

Colin says that Resene remains steadfastly committed to innovating with their customer’s protection front of mind. “We have your backs and we will always have your backs!”