Metalworking fluids - from experience

Good Health is Good Business: 1996/97 survey

In 1996/97 during its Good Health is Good Business campaign, the HSE carried out a survey of occupational exposure to metalworking fluids in the UK. Thirty-one sites were visited. Fluid management was generally found to be poor. Very high contamination levels were found for bacteria, endotoxin and fines, as well as other contaminants. In many cases, working practices were also poor, for example system cleaners were not used, and stock preparation methods and contamination control were inadequate. In some cases sumps were only cleaned when unpleasant odours were evident.

The majority of sites reported current or recent cases of dermatitis and respiratory ill health, which may have been due to bad practice.

Recent experience

These webpages take account of recent experience, including a large outbreak of respiratory illness linked to metalworking.

• Outbreak of respiratory disease at Powertrain Ltd, Longbridge, Birmingham – Emerging Lessons [PDF 180kb]
• Powertrain Occupational Respiratory Disease Outbreak: Report of Immunological Investigation [PDF 259kb]
• Clinical investigation of an outbreak of alveolitis and asthma in a car engine manufacturing plant. Wendy Robertsonet al.

Recent experience also includes inspections of a number of users of MWFs, see Large users project summary, in which the Schedule to an Improvement Notice was found to be very useful.

By following the key messages you will be taking significant steps to manage the risks to health, and to comply with the law on dealing with health risks from metalworking fluids.