Trike and industry are deadly chemical brothers

TRIKE AND INDUSTRY ARE DEADLY CHEMICAL BROTHERS, WARNS INDUSTRY EXPERT

Deadly solvent trichloroethylene is a contributing factor in almost a third of all fatalities in the UK’s surface engineering industry, a leading expert has claimed.

Clive Ward, general manager of the Clean-Tek product range at world leading surface preparation specialists Wheelabrator Group, is concerned the industry’s love affair with the potentially cancer-causing metal degreaser is continuing unabated, despite its use being curtailed by the Solvents Emissions Directive (SED) from October 31.

Mr Ward said: “We believe trichloroethylene, more commonly know as trike, currently contributes to almost a third of industry deaths. However, despite the alarming statistics, companies are still using it, frequently in open top vapour degreasing tanks, some over 40 years old.”

The SED will restrict emissions from organic solvents, such as trike, to limit worker exposure and protect health. It was passed by the EU in 1999 and gave businesses eight years to implement changes, including ensuring worker exposure does not exceed the agreed threshold limit value of 100ppm.