When you take on any home improvement project it is essential to wear proper safety gear and also to take safety precautions when working with harmful or toxic products.
As we move towards using safer products it makes sense to use those that don't put our health at risk, such as the Pattex Contact Adhesives.
If you are looking to re-face rather than paint kitchen cabinets, or any cabinets for that matter, using Formica laminate allows you a variety of finishes. Formica laminate is applied to cabinets using Pattex Contact Adhesive.
For projects on Home-Dzine and as part of the DIY Divas workshops, Pattex Contact Adhesive is used because the Toluene-free formulation spreads easily, bonds quickly and offers superior sticking power. It comes in handy when you need to bond materials together where other adhesives won't work.
Pattex Contact Adhesive is also heat resistant and flexible once cured. You can use Pattex Contact Adhesive to bond china, leather, metal, wood and a variety of other materials.
There are more than a few products on the market that contain Toluene, a product that has potential to cause severe neurological harm when inhaled. A clear, aromatic liquid, Toluene is widely used in contact adhesives, but few people know that this product can be detrimental to their health.
Exposure to Toluene, even for a short period, can lead to light-headedness and headaches, but long-term usage may lead to neurological disorders and affect organs in the body.
Pattex Contact Adhesive is Toluene-free and is a safe and effective product, which means it does not only get the job done - but it does it without posing any risk to your health.
Bronwyn MacLaurin, product manager at Henkel, shares a few safety tips for when using a contact adhesive:
- Put on safety goggles, latex gloves and a dust mask.
- It is important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for use and storage.
- Read the packaging before you buy to check the safety and hazard warnings.
- Work in a well-ventilated space. Contact adhesive works by releasing solvents that are harmful if inhaled, especially if breathed in repeatedly.
- Do not smoke, work near a naked flame or close to machines that produce sparks.
- Throw away an adhesive that has expired.
If you do come into contact with adhesives, follow these guidelines:
- Hands: Wash well with soap and water and use a skin moisturiser afterwards.
- Eyes: Wash repeatedly with running water for at least 10 minutes. Cover the affected eye with a sterile bandage and consult an eye specialist.
- Ingested: Flush your mouth and drink plenty of water and consult a doctor.
- Excess inhalation: Move to fresh air and consult a doctor.
For more information, contact the Henkel toll free line on 0800 13 8181 or visit website.
Article courtesy of www.home-dzine.co.za