Safety with Resins & Hardeners from Gurit

Epoxy resins and hardeners, by their nature contain chemicals capable of causing damage to health. However, if these products are used with appropriate care and control, the risk should be minimized.

It is important to recognise that a chemical can only cause damage to health if there is exposure, i.e. contact between the user and the chemical. If there is no contact then there can be no interaction between the user and the chemical and no damage to health.

The Basic Rule of all chemicals

Thus the basic rule in the use of all chemicals is the avoidance of contact, or at least its limitation to a level where the risk of damage to health is minimal.

Contact can take the form of skin contact, inhalation or ingestion.

Each component part, resin or hardener will have hazards associated with it. The resin can be harmful to health by inhalation, and, in contact with the skin, it can cause irritant contact dermatitis and allergic reactions.

Epoxy resins are also known to be skin sensitisers. The hardener is usually classed as a corrosive when in contact with the skin or by inhalation. Once fully cured an epoxy system is essentially inert and non-hazardous.