Precautions with certain Surface Coatings and Treatments.

1. Electroplated Cadmium Coatings. Many Cadmium compounds and corrosion products, though not the metal itself are classified as harmful or toxic. Risk of contamination from normal handling of Cadmium Plated components is likely to be slight but normal hygiene precautions should be strictly observed. Plated parts should not be allowed to come into contact with food stuffs or used in containers for holding food or drinking water. If Cadmium plated components are heated e.g., when soldering, welding or flame cutting, or exposed to high temperatures, precautions MUST be taken to avoid inhaling toxic Cadmium fume. Where reasonably practicable, local fume extraction should be provided in preference to the use of approved and suitable respiratory equipment. 2. Electroplated Lead and High Lead Alloy Coatings. Soluble lead compounds are harmful both by ingestion and also from inhaling the dust or fume. Lead or alloy plated articles should not be allowed to come in contact with food or drinking water. Electroplated lead or alloy can normally be handled safety but strict hygiene precautions should be observed. If Lead or Lead coated components are heated to a high temperature e.g. for soldering, welding or flame cutting, precautions MUST be taken to avoid inhaling lead fumes. 3. Electroplated Nickel and Electroless Nickel Plated Components. Whilst Nickel coatings do not normally present any hazard, certain people are sensitive to nickel and can develop a form of dermatitis called Nickel Itch from the continuous handling of Nickel plated parts. Where plated parts need to be handled constantly, e.g. in manual assembly, gloves should be worn. If Nickel coated components or nickel containing alloys are welded or flame cut precautions MUST be taken to avoid inhaling Nickel dust or fume. 4. Electroplated Zinc Coatings. Zinc plating should not be used where it may come into contact with acidic foods or liquids which could produce soluble Zinc compounds. Precautions should be taken to avoid inhaling the white fumes produced when Zinc or Zinc Coatings are heated to high temperature e.g., welding, flame cutting. 5. Chromate Passivated Zinc and Cadmium Coatings. Care should be taken when handling components which have been yellow Chromate Passivated after Zinc Plating, or Cadmium Plating. There is a risk of skin irritation and dermatitis from handling such components without gloves. This risk is accentuated if the components have been greased prior to assembly. 6. Chromate Seals and Rinses after Phosphating and Anodising. Chromate based conversion coatings for Aluminium and Magnesium. Care should be taken when handling components which have received a Chromate based treatment as the final protective finish. There is a risk of skin irritation and dermatitis from handling such components without gloves. Where Phosphated coatings receive a Chromate Dip or Seal prior to painting or oil treatment, similar precautions should be taken when handling the components between the Phosphating and Painting stages. (See next section on oiled finishes).

7. Oiled Finishes. Parts after Heat Treatment and some other finishing treatments such as Phosphating are often covered with a thin layer of oil. There is a risk of skin irritation and dermatitis from handling such components without gloves and if there is any contact with oily surfaces normal hygiene precautions should be strictly observed. 8. Copper and Copper Alloys. Copper and Copper Alloy Coatings are normally not hazardous to health. However, care should be taken to avoid inhalation of Copper dust or fumes when Copper or Copper alloy coatings are welded, flame cut, brazed, soldered, abraded, polished or ground. Care should also be taken to avoid inhalation of dust and fumes when components finished in this way are subsequently heated or mechanically treated, e.g., brazing, soldering, grinding, flame cutting and polishing. 9. Electroplated Chromium Coatings. Electroplated Chromium coatings are not normally considered to be hazardous. However, if electroplated Chromium Coatings are flame cut, welded, ground, machined, abraded etc., then care should be taken to avoid inhalation of dust and fumes. 10. Organic Coatings (Lacquer, Paint and Powder Coat). The organic coatings we offer would not normally constitute a hazard. However, if components finished in this way are subjected to excessive heat or mechanical finishing, e.g., grinding, polishing, abrading, then precautions must be taken to avoid in halation of fumes and/or dust. 11. Machining, Grinding and Polishing Operations on Components which have received a Surface Coating. Where articles which have been given a surface coating are machined, ground abrasive finished or polished care must be taken to control any dust produced. Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) are set under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations in order to help protect the health of workers. WELs are concentrations of hazardous substances in the air such as Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Silver. An assessment of the risks to health should be undertaken as required by the COSHH Regulations and where exposure to hazardous substances is significant appropriate control measures should be introduced. Disclaimer: The information in this leaflet is believed to be correct but we nor our employees give any warranty or make any representation as to the accuracy thereof, and accept no liability for any loss, injury or damage, which may result from its use. The sole purpose of this leaflet is to provide guidance on the safe handling and use of products to which it relates. It does not form part of any product specification, nor of any contract. It is not practical for the guidance and information in the leaflet to cover every conceivable application of the product as we may not be aware of the use to which the products covered by this leaflet are to be put it remains the responsibility of the user to conduct its own tests and to satisfy itself as to the suitability of the product.