Solvents at work: health risks and controls
Where trades meet solvents, what the vapour and the liquid do to the body, and what COSHH, DSEAR and the dichloromethane rules ask. Checked against legislation.gov.uk, EH40 and HSE guidance.
What are solvents and how do they harm workers?
Solvents are liquids that dissolve or dilute other substances, and trades meet them in paints, thinners, varnishes, adhesives, paint strippers, degreasers and some cleaners. HSE names white spirit, xylene, toluene, acetone, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane (DCM) among the potentially harmful ones.
Solvent exposure comes mainly from breathing vapour, which many solvents give off even at room temperature. It can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness, and very high levels can cause unconsciousness and death. The risk is greatest when spraying or working in enclosed spaces. Liquid on the skin can cause dermatitis, and some solvents pass through the skin into the body. Many are also flammable.
COSHH requires the employer to assess the risk, then prevent exposure or, where that is not reasonably practicable, control it adequately. Substitution comes first: HSE gives water-based paint as the example. The fire risk falls under DSEAR, covered in storing hazardous substances. In Great Britain, a paint stripper containing DCM may be used on site only by a professional holding an HSE certificate of competence.
Where trades meet solvents
Check section 3 of the data sheetMost products contain a mixture of solvents. The label and the supplier’s safety data sheet say which ones, and how much. HSE says the higher the solvent content, the greater the risk.
| Product or task | Solvents it may contain | How exposure happens | Who is most exposed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solvent-based paints, varnishes and lacquers | White spirit, xylene, butan-1-ol (1-butanol) | Vapour given off as the coating is applied, dries or cures | Decorators, maintenance teams, joiners |
| Thinners and brush or gun cleaners | White spirit and other hydrocarbon solvent blends; toluene in some thinners | Vapour from open tins and rags; liquid on the hands; spraying thinners through a gun to clean it | Decorators and sprayers |
| Adhesives, including floor-laying adhesives | Xylene or toluene in some; DCM in some floor-laying adhesives | Vapour over a large spread area, often in a small room such as a bathroom | Floor layers, tilers, shopfitters |
| Paint strippers | DCM in some; check section 3 for the rest | Heavy vapour close to the face; splashes on skin and eyes | Decorators and restoration trades |
| Degreasers and cleaning solvents | Acetone, propan-2-ol (isopropyl alcohol) and others, as named on the data sheet | Wiping and spraying; liquid on the hands; vapour in plant rooms and risers | Mechanical and electrical engineers, FM and cleaning teams |
| Spraying any of the above | Whatever the product contains | HSE says spraying can produce very high airborne exposure, more so in small or enclosed spaces | Sprayers, and anyone nearby or downwind |
Water-based products still need checking. They can contain other hazardous ingredients, and the data sheet will say so. A product named a solvent cement, such as one for plastic pipe, is a solvent product: read section 3 of its data sheet.
What solvents do to health
HSE says different solvents affect health in different ways. These are the effects it describes for solvents in general; the data sheet gives the specific ones.
Breathing vapour: the short-term effects
Irritation of the eyes, lungs and skin, headaches, nausea, dizziness and light-headedness. HSE calls these narcotic effects, and higher concentrations make them more severe. HSE’s CIS27 adds that exposure can impair co-ordination and slow reactions, making falls from ladders and other accidents more likely. It says drinking alcohol generally makes the effects worse.
HSE solvents and spraying pages; HSE CIS27High levels: unconsciousness and death
High airborne concentrations of some solvents can cause unconsciousness and death. CIS27 gives adhesives used in unventilated confined spaces and serious spillages as examples. HSE’s DCM guidance says high DCM vapour levels have caused impaired consciousness and death, for example when laying bathroom floor tiles with DCM-based adhesive.
HSE CIS27; HSE DCM0Skin: dermatitis, burns and absorption
Repeated or prolonged contact with liquid solvents may cause burns or dermatitis. Some solvents are absorbed through intact skin, marked Sk in EH40. A splash or soaked clothing then adds to the dose without showing in an air sample. See occupational dermatitis.
HSE solvents page; EH40 paragraphs 73 and 74Eyes
Contact with liquid solvent and with solvent vapour can cause irritation and inflammation.
HSE solvents pageSwallowing
Solvents get into the body on contaminated food, drink and cigarettes. CIS27 records people drinking solvent kept in old, unlabelled drinks containers. It also says solvents passing through a cigarette can break down into even more harmful substances.
HSE CIS27Long-term effects
HSE says repeated exposure to particular solvents may lead to dermatitis and to liver, kidney or neurological diseases. DCM breaks down to carbon monoxide in the body, and HSE says it is suspected of causing cancer.
HSE solvents page; HSE DCM0More than one solvent
HSE says the combined effect of several solvents may be additive, or in some cases greater than the sum of the individual effects. EH40 calls the second case synergistic.
HSE solvents page; EH40 paragraph 91CIS27 says anyone who has been exposed to solvents and feels their health has been affected should seek medical advice.
What the law asks of employers
Solvent work usually brings in more than one set of regulations. Each row says which provision, and whether it is law or HSE guidance.
Assess before the work starts
COSHH requires a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk before work liable to expose employees. It must consider the supplier’s safety data sheet, the level, type and duration of exposure, and the amount used. It must also consider any workplace exposure limit and exposure to more than one substance in combination. Employers with 5 or more employees record the significant findings.
COSHH regulation 6Prevent, and substitute by preference
Exposure must be prevented or, where that is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled. Substitution comes first: avoiding the substance, so far as is reasonably practicable, by using one or a process that eliminates or reduces the risk. HSE’s guidance gives water-based paint as the example.
COSHH regulation 7(1) and (2)Control in order of priority
Where exposure cannot be prevented, the law sets the order. Suitable work processes, equipment and materials come first, then control at source, including adequate ventilation. Personal protective equipment comes last, in addition to the other measures. The measures must also keep quantities, the number of people exposed and the level and duration of exposure to the minimum.
COSHH regulation 7(3) and (4)What adequate control means
Control counts as adequate only if the Schedule 2A principles are applied and any workplace exposure limit is not exceeded. One of those principles is to account for every route: inhalation, skin absorption and ingestion. For solvents, the skin route matters as much as the air.
COSHH regulation 7(7) and Schedule 2AThe fire risk comes under DSEAR
COSHH does not apply to a substance that is hazardous solely because it is flammable. DSEAR requires a risk assessment and, by preference, substitution. Then, so far as is reasonably practicable, come minimum quantities, control of releases, ventilation and avoiding ignition sources. Where a product is both harmful and flammable, as many solvent-based paints are, both sets of regulations apply.
COSHH regulation 5(1)(b); DSEAR regulations 5 and 6Enclosed and confined spaces
In law a confined space is any place where, because it is enclosed, there is a reasonably foreseeable specified risk. Specified risks include loss of consciousness from gas, fume or vapour, and serious injury from fire or explosion. HSE says solvent vapour cannot escape easily from a small room, tank, pit or vehicle, and fatal levels can build up quickly. Its DCM guidance says to make sure vapour does not build up to create a confined space risk. No one may enter unless the work cannot reasonably be done another way, and then only under a safe system of work with rescue arrangements. See the confined space risk assessment.
Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, regulations 1, 4 and 5; HSE INDG273; HSE DCM2Information, labels and emergencies
Employees must be told the names of the substances, the risks, any exposure limit and how to reach the data sheet. A container not labelled under other law, such as thinners decanted into a smaller can, must have its contents and hazards clearly identifiable. Procedures for accidents and emergencies, including first aid, are needed unless the assessment shows only a slight risk because of the quantities present and the controls are sufficient for it.
COSHH regulations 12 and 13Designers have a part too. On a construction project, CDM 2015 regulation 9 requires a designer to eliminate foreseeable risks so far as is reasonably practicable, or else reduce or control them. Specifying a water-based or low-solvent product is one way to do that. More on the regulations themselves: the COSHH Regulations explained.
Solvent safety: controlling exposure
In the order COSHH regulation 7 sets. The practical detail is HSE guidance unless the note says otherwise; HSE says where risks are low, simple and inexpensive controls will suffice.
Substitute the product or the method
Use a product with little or no organic solvent, such as a water-based paint. Avoid products with more harmful solvents, such as those classed as sensitisers. Use a brush or roller rather than a spray gun where the job allows, and a scraper rather than a solvent stripper to remove paint.
NoteHSE says spraying puts more solvent into the air and uses more product in a shorter time. The scraper example is from HSE’s INDG273.
Use less and let less escape
Take only the amount the job needs. Keep lids on, and put solvent-soaked rags and waste in sealed containers. Never leave rags lying around.
NoteRags and waste are also a fire risk. See storing hazardous substances.
Ventilate, every time
HSE says ventilation is always required. For lower-risk products, open doors and windows and keep them open. For higher-risk work, mechanical ventilation or local exhaust ventilation may be needed. Keep it running until the vapour has cleared.
NoteFor DCM products HSE says mechanical ventilation will be needed in most circumstances. See local exhaust ventilation.
Keep other people out
Keep everyone not needed away from the work area until the vapour or mist has cleared. Outdoors, allow for wind carrying spray and vapour a long way.
NoteBarriers may be needed around spraying. In occupied buildings, our advice is to agree timings with the occupants.
Choose RPE for vapour, not dust
Where ventilation does not give enough control, RPE may be needed. A particulate filter stops spray mist but not solvent vapour, so a gas or vapour filter is needed, changed at suitable intervals. Tight-fitting masks must be fit tested.
NoteHSE’s spraying examples range from a half mask with A1P3 filters to air-fed equipment for high-solvent products. See face fit testing.
Protect skin and eyes
Choose gloves for the product, checking breakthrough time and permeation rate. HSE says single-use nitrile may suit many organic solvents for some tasks, but not DCM. Wear goggles or a face shield where splashes may occur, compatible with any RPE.
NoteHSE prefers disposable overalls. Contaminated reusable ones are aired in a safe place, then laundered before reuse.
Wash, and never use thinners on skin
Provide good washing facilities and wash any product off the skin as soon as possible. Never use solvents to remove paint or grease from skin. Eat, drink and smoke away from the work area, after washing.
NoteWashing facilities are a legal requirement: COSHH regulation 7(4)(e).
Train, supervise and check
Workers need to know which products contain solvents, how to use the controls, and the signs and symptoms of ill health. Supervise so that ventilation, RPE and welfare are actually used. Keep fans, extraction and RPE maintained and examined.
NoteInformation, instruction and training are a legal duty under COSHH regulation 12. Maintenance, examination and testing of controls fall under regulation 9, with LEV examined at least every 14 months. See COSHH training.
For a ready-made assessment covering solvents alongside dust, cement and fume, see the pre-filled COSHH risk assessment. Decorators can start from the painting and decorating risk assessment.
Dichloromethane paint strippers and adhesives
Great BritainDichloromethane (DCM), also called methylene chloride, is the solvent HSE singles out. Its use in paint strippers is restricted by law.
The restriction
Paint strippers containing 0.1% or more DCM by weight may not be supplied to the general public or to professionals, nor used by professionals. A professional here means anyone stripping paint for work outside an industrial installation, such as on site or in a customer’s home. Stripping in an industrial installation, a facility used for paint stripping, is allowed only under minimum conditions set in the same entry. GB law allows one exception for professionals, set out in the next row.
UK REACH Annex XVII, entry 59The certificate of competence
In Great Britain a professional may use DCM paint stripper only after training and while holding a certificate of competence issued by HSE. Suppliers may sell it to a professional only if that person holds a certificate. HSE can revoke a certificate in writing.
REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008, regulation 8B and Schedule 5BWhat the training covers
As a minimum: the risks to health, including safer substitutes; adequate ventilation; and suitable personal protective equipment. The professional must also apply all appropriate safety measures in practice. HSE’s scheme website lets suppliers check a certificate.
REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008, Schedule 5B paragraphs 2 and 3DCM adhesives
HSE guidance says no certificate is needed for DCM-based adhesives, although the risks are similar. The COSHH duties apply in full.
HSE DCM0Why HSE treats it differently
Small volumes give off large amounts of vapour at room temperature. The vapour is colourless with a low odour, and heavier than air, so it collects low down. It also gets through many gloves and respirator filters quickly.
HSE DCM0 and DCM2Where and how HSE says to work
Not in poorly ventilated areas such as bathrooms, cellars, stairwells or sheeted enclosures. Mechanical general ventilation in most circumstances, gel rather than liquid products, and the least product possible. Avoid working alone. HSE’s INDG273 adds no smoking, welding, burning or naked lights where chlorinated solvent vapour, such as DCM, may be present, as very toxic gases may be given off.
HSE DCM2, transient workplaces; HSE INDG273RPE for DCM
HSE says to provide constant flow airline breathing apparatus with an assigned protection factor of at least 40. Filter respirators may be adequate only for very short tasks of a few minutes, and may fail unpredictably.
HSE DCM2HSE’s first advice is to avoid DCM products where reasonably practicable, and it gives sanding as one alternative. Old paint may contain lead, so check before sanding or burning off: see lead at work.
Exposure limits for common solvents
From EH40 Table 1Copied from EH40/2005 Table 1, fourth edition 2020, on 5 October 2026. A limit is the most an employee may breathe, averaged over the period, and is not a safe line. How to read them is in EH40 and workplace exposure limits.
| Solvent | Where trades may meet it | Long-term limit (8-hour TWA) | Short-term limit (15 minutes) | Notation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White spirit | Paints, varnishes, thinners and cleaning products | No single entry | No single entry | See the note below |
| Xylene, o-, m-, p- or mixed isomers | Paints and adhesives | 50 ppm (220 mg/m³) | 100 ppm (441 mg/m³) | Sk, BMGV |
| Toluene | Some paints, thinners and adhesives | 50 ppm (191 mg/m³) | 100 ppm (384 mg/m³) | Sk |
| Butan-1-ol | Resins, paints and lacquers | None listed | 50 ppm (154 mg/m³) | Sk |
| Ethyl acetate | Some lacquers and adhesives; named by HSE among potentially harmful construction solvents | 200 ppm (734 mg/m³) | 400 ppm (1468 mg/m³) | None |
| Acetone | Cleaning down resin and adhesive; degreasing | 500 ppm (1210 mg/m³) | 1500 ppm (3620 mg/m³) | None |
| Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) | Some paint strippers and floor-laying adhesives | 100 ppm (353 mg/m³) | 200 ppm (706 mg/m³) | BMGV, Sk |
| Propan-2-ol (isopropyl alcohol) | Surface wipes, degreasers and cleaning sprays | 400 ppm (999 mg/m³) | 500 ppm (1250 mg/m³) | None |
| 2-Butoxyethanol | Some glass, surface and floor cleaners | 25 ppm (123 mg/m³) | 50 ppm (246 mg/m³) | Sk, BMGV |
White spirit and other hydrocarbon solvent blends have no single Table 1 entry. EH40 gives suppliers a calculation to derive an in-house limit for a blend; if the supplier has set one, look for it in section 8 of the data sheet. “None” means Table 1 prints no notation, not that the solvent is harmless. Sk means it can be absorbed through the skin.
Health checks, monitoring and first aid
Short notes here; the sibling pages have the detail.
Health surveillance for skin
HSE says health surveillance is needed where there is a reasonable likelihood of dermatitis from the work. A trained responsible person can check skin before or soon after a worker starts, then periodically, and keep the records. See health surveillance.
COSHH regulation 11; HSE solvents pageMeasuring exposure
Monitoring is required where the assessment shows it is needed to keep control adequate or to protect health. HSE says it is likely to be needed for high-risk work such as spraying. Records for identifiable employees are kept for at least 40 years.
COSHH regulation 10; HSE spraying pageBiological monitoring
EH40 Table 2 has guidance values for xylene and DCM, among others. The DCM test measures carbon monoxide in exhaled breath after the shift. These values are not statutory, and testing needs the fully informed consent of those tested.
EH40 paragraph 82 and Table 2First aid
HSE’s CIS27 says to move anyone affected into fresh air at once and give first aid. Remove heavily contaminated clothing and wash splashes off the skin with plenty of water. Wash solvent out of an eye with water for at least 10 minutes before transfer to hospital.
HSE CIS27; section 4 of the data sheetSpills
CIS27 says spillages can lead to very high exposures and a greatly increased fire risk. HSE’s DCM2 says to plan how to deal with a large spill, using the data sheet. Sections 5 and 6 of the data sheet cover fire and spills.
HSE CIS27; HSE DCM2; COSHH regulation 13Reporting under RIDDOR
A doctor’s diagnosis of occupational dermatitis is reportable where the work involves significant or regular exposure to a known skin irritant or sensitiser. So is an injury from work in an enclosed space that needs resuscitation or over 24 hours in hospital.
RIDDOR 2013, regulations 4(1)(h) and 8(c)Every data sheet to hand,
tied to the job that uses it.
In Unibuild, each hazardous substance holds its safety data sheet and its supplier, linked to the jobs, materials and purchase orders that use it. Review dates are tracked, every version is kept, and the current one is the one out on site.
When an auditor or a principal contractor asks for the COSHH register, it is a search by name or supplier, not a spreadsheet somebody else kept.
- A data sheet for every substance held with its supplier
- Tied to the job through the materials and purchase orders that use it
- Review dates tracked and every version kept
- Searched by product name or supplier
Free COSHH templates
Free to use and reuse, no sign-upSolvents at work: common questions
What are solvents?
What are the symptoms of solvent exposure?
Can solvents cause long-term damage?
What mask do I need for solvents?
What gloves protect against solvents?
Do I need a COSHH assessment for white spirit?
Where do I get a safety data sheet for acetone or thinners?
Are water-based paints covered by COSHH?
Can I still use paint stripper containing dichloromethane?
Is solvent vapour a fire risk?
Substances and diseases
Read in any orderSources
Great Britain law and HSE guidance, read on the dates above. Northern Ireland has its own COSHH Regulations.
- HSE, Construction hazardous substances: Solvents
- HSE, Construction solvents: Spraying
- HSE INDG273(rev1), Working with solvents (PDF)
- HSE CIS27 (rev2), Solvents (PDF)
- HSE COSHH essentials, Dichloromethane (DCM0 to DCM3)
- HSE, Dichloromethane Competency Training Scheme
- The REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008, Schedule 5B, legislation.gov.uk
- UK REACH Annex XVII, restrictions (entry 59, dichloromethane), legislation.gov.uk
- HSE, EH40/2005 Workplace exposure limits, fourth edition 2020 (PDF)
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, regulation 7, legislation.gov.uk
- The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, regulation 6, legislation.gov.uk
- The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, regulation 1, legislation.gov.uk
- The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, regulation 9, legislation.gov.uk
- RIDDOR 2013, regulation 8, occupational diseases, legislation.gov.uk
The COSHH register,
tied to the job.
Unibuild keeps each substance’s data sheet and supplier against the jobs, materials and purchase orders that use it, with review dates tracked and every version kept.