Volvo BL70 - Health Hazards: Paint, Plastics, and Rubber; Working on Painted Surfaces; Hazards of Heated Rubber and Plastics; Hazards of Heated Fluor Rubber

Service Information
Document Title: Function Group: Information Type: Date:
Health hazards with paint,
plastics and rubber
191 Service Information 2014/3/20
Profile:
BHL, BL70 [GB]
Health hazards with paint, plastics and rubber
Work on painted surfaces
No welding or torch-cutting is allowed on painted surfaces. All paint is broken down when heated and forms a wide variety
of substances that may be irritating and very hazardous to health after prolonged or repeated exposure.
The following safety instructions must be followed:
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Remove all paint by sand-blasting at least 10 cm (4 in.) around the welding or cutting point (use suitable breathing
protection).
If the work area cannot be sand-blasted, remove the paint in another way, for example, with a paint remover
(solvent).
NOTE!
When using paint removers (solvents), use an air extractor, breathing protection and protective gloves.
High-speed grinding machines and grinding discs also heat the paint and must only be used if there's an air
extractor on the grinding machine. Use breathing protection as well.
Rubber and plastics
WARNING
When heated, rubber and plastics can give off substances that are hazardous to personal health and the
environment.
The following safety instructions must be followed:
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Do not weld or cut near polymer materials (rubber and plastics) without first protecting them from the heat.
Never burn polymer materials when scrapping them.
Be careful when handling machines that have been exposed to fire or other intense heat. Also, refer to “Checklist
after a fire or other heat exposure”.
Always use protective gloves, protective glasses/goggles and breathing protection.
Fluor rubber
WARNING
Risk of serious corrosive injuries!
WARNING
When hydrogen fluoride rubber is heated, there is a risk of hydrogen fluoride gas build-up already at approx. 320 °C
(610 °F). When inhaled, the gas is extremely corrosive to respiratory tracts.
Certain seals designed to withstand high operating temperatures (for example, in engines, transmissions, axles, brakes,
hydraulic motors and pumps) may be made of fluor rubber, which will form hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid when
exposed to intense heat.
This acid is highly acidic and corrosive. It cannot be rinsed or washed off the skin, and causes very severe burn and corrosive
injuries that take a very long time to heal. As a rule, injured tissue must be removed surgically.
The acid may remain on machine parts for a very long time (several years) after a fire.
NOTE!
It may take several hours after contact with the acid before any symptoms become apparent.