Health & Safety 

Quick Links

• What is epoxy resin?
• Suggested protective clothing/accessories
• Possible health problems
• Safety and technical data sheets

What is epoxy resin?

Understanding what epoxy resin is, and a little of the chemistry is important for using epoxy systems safely and effectively. Ready for a basic science lesson?

Resins are used in all sorts of industries from jewellery-making, artwork and sculpture to boat-building, construction and engineering. Epoxy resins are essentially plastic adhesives made from thermosetting polymers, with unique mechanical and resistance properties. Thermosetting refers to a substance that sets permanently when heated; Polymer means a substance made up of loads of molecules all strung together to form a really long chain. 

Once cast/poured, a thermosetting polymer does not soften when heated and it cannot be reshaped - ideal for jewellery, artwork and castings. Where does the heat come from to set an epoxy resin? Well, that's the clever bit - when you mix an epoxy resin with the relevant epoxy hardener a chemical reaction takes place called "curing".

Curing is an exothermic reaction (it gives off heat), which is why it's important to only mix the recommended quantity of resin in one go, to avoid it overheating in the mixing cup! Read the Technical Data Sheet for the specific resin you're using to find out what quantity this is.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Why nitrile gloves and not vinyl or my marigolds? Well, not only are nitrile gloves relatively thin (so you can feel what you're doing) they are also puncture and chemical resistant. Vinyl gloves are not resistant to liquid chemicals.
• Why barrier cream instead of gloves? Nitrile gloves will always be our first recommendation. However, some people just do not get on with wearing gloves. In this instance an appropriate barrier cream can be used. Travabon Special PURE skin defense cream is specifically designed for providing protection when working with resins, oils, adhesives and sealants. A lanolin-free alternative is Lindesa.

• We recommend that you wear long sleeved tops and an apron when using epoxy resin to minimise the chance of resin coming into contact with the skin.
• Should resin get onto your skin wash it off immediately with plenty of water.
• Should resin get into your eyes rinse immediately and seek medical advice.
• Should resin be ingested DO NOT induce vomiting and seek medical advice immediately.

• Resin dust can cause serious health problems. Avoid breathing in the dust created from sanding partially-cured epoxy resin. You should ALWAYS wear a respirator when sanding partially-cured epoxy resin, and we also suggest to wet sand with wet and dry paper.
• The respirator we recommend is the 3M 4251 organic vapour & particulate respirator, available here.
• When sanding, ensure you have adequate ventilation - work outside or near an open window. 
• Individuals with lung and respiratory conditions may find working with resin worsens existing problems.
• We advise wearing safety goggles if working with resin in large volumes and when sanding partially-cured resin.

Health problems

The following are the most common health problems that can occur from using epoxy resins. Nearly all of these problems can be prevented by using appropriate PPE (see above). If you do develop a health problem from working with epoxy resin you should be able to continue using it with adequate precautions.

• Dermatitis - the most common form of dermatitis that can form when epoxy resin (or epoxy resin dust) comes into contact with skin is contact dermatitis or skin inflammation. Both epoxy resin and epoxy hardener can cause this. Proper use of PPE (see above) can reduce the chance of skin inflammation and irritation.
• Chemical burns - epoxy resin and mixed epoxy are unlikely to cause burns, however some of the hardeners that we sell are corrosive. If certain hardeners are left in contact with the skin they can cause severe irritation and chemical burns. Never leave epoxy resin, hardener or mixed epoxy on your skin.
• Respiratory irritation - at room temperature our epoxy resins are unlikely to be concentrated enough to cause vapour, however if you are using resin in a hot room ensure you have adequate ventilation. Breathing partially-cured resin dust will cause respiratory problems. We advise wearing a respirator when sanding and using wet and dry paper WET to cut down on the amount of resin dust produced.

Epoxy Resin and Hardener Data Sheets