[chrisjohn]

Is anyone worried, that exposure to all the chemicals we use over the years, may one day have an effect on our health.Ive only been working for myself for a year so at the moment I dont have any health problems.

Im thinking of buying a good quality chemical mask,but Im worried it might freak out the customers.

Have any of you CC's who have been in the industry for many years, suffered any breathing problems ETC ETC??

Chris

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

My left brain says "no" but my right brain says there might be something in it.

My third leg allows me to win 3 legged races on my own.

 

Rog

[Helen]

My left brain says "no" but my right brain says there might be something in it.

My third leg allows me to win 3 legged races on my own.

 

Rog

 

[Mike_Roper]

Definitely not to be taken lightly, and should be a consideration in choice of cleaning agents we use day in day out. After 20 odd years what really shows is the abuse of your back / shoulders/ neck an arms . Not too good when your only 45.
Mike

[Helen]

Definitely not to be taken lightly, and should be a consideration in choice of cleaning agents we use day in day out. After 20 odd years what really shows is the abuse of your back / shoulders/ neck an arms . Not too good when your only 45.
Mike

You're right we should all be aware of what we are using....it was just the thought of Roger winning a 3 legged race on his own! ;
I quite agree that a face mask would freak out most customers and also gives the impression that we are pumping something quite nasty into their carpets, which we don't.
I agree too that the wear & tear element on your body is a concern as it is when you do any form of physical work and if you feel a "strain" or "pull" when working you should change your technique straight away.
Personally and this is just my opinion, I think that we are more at risk with the everyday pollutants that are in the supposedly fresh air than we are from most cleaning agents

[Stu.Clem]

Most fluids I use are "safe" tho I always warn for poss asthmatics when using
Enzall it is an amazing chem but def takes a toll on resp system - dont use too fine a jet (which causes misting) and wear a mask if using in poor ventilated areas...

I also find an unexpected lung full of fresh Zap-it mist can be a somewhat of a "livener" too 

Stu

[M.Acorn]

I also find an unexpected lung full of fresh Zap-it mist can be a somewhat of a "livener" too

As is Solvex,always get a bad chest if i use much of this

[garry22]

I was really shocked recently when applying prespray with a stainless pump up sprayer at about 3 bar.

The spray was lit up by a shaft of sunlight and the "cloud" of mist was actually over waist high (I'm 5'10"). Some of this had actually bounced back up.

Good thread

[Doctor Carpet (Ret'd)]

On a more serious note given that as industry "operatives" we seem prone to wear and pains in our necks/shoulders/backs/other parts (delete as appropriate) who plans to work through to "normal" retirement age?

Like sports people who "retire" usually late 30's/early 40's is there perhaps an optimum retirement age for cc's? Is there an optimum age or is everybody so "debt-bound" or lacking in pension that retirement at an optimum age isn't an option?

Rog

[Mike_Roper]

Hopefully as you 'age' your living costs reduce as you marry your 3 daughters off ,recieving a hefty dowry . As if ! . You should need less to live on so picking and choosing work should pay ok part time hours to suit. winding down should be do-able .
Mike

[Simon Gerrard]

No worries here.

[garyfindlay]

Simon,
is that not what you wear on days off.

[peter maybury]

This is a serious issue, using masks does create problems with the customers attitude but you can also absorb chemicals through you skin.
Barrier creams and disposable gloves can give protection.  You need to be aware of what you are doing and with what. The pump up sprayers that we use do have adjustable jets and the amount of "mist can be varied considrably". If you spray as course as posible you will minmise the airbourne particles. Chemicals are far safer than years ago but we will hear in the future of some side affects or risks of the products we are using today.  Common sense dictates minimise your exposure.
Peter

[jasonl]

This is a worry , especially as it seems no-one knows what is in the Chemicals we are using.

[Mark_Jubb]

Is certainly an issue that needs taking seriously. It may also explain the increase in sore throats, tight chest and irritable coughs that I seem to have been suffering from recently. 

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

I have been going less than a year,but this does worry me a wee bit.
The only thing i have noticed so far is...........
..........That when i use citra boost in large quantities,
my pee can sometimes look and smell just like it.
Like i said chemicals do worry me a wee bit.

[Colin Day]

I certainly have to be careful with oven cleaning products....

The Carbonof makes my arms and face prickle and the Food Grade Silicone Spray really affects my throat...

I do wear PPE, omitting the face mask admittedly, perhaps I should in future....

[Joe H]

Dont seem to have a problem with environmentally friendly stuff like Nemesis and M-Power.

I do when i go to strong ph stuff like Ultrapac, Citrus, Champion and so on.
But I using them less and less these days as I use the other more and more..

[Colin Day]

Dont seem to have a problem with environmentally friendly stuff like Nemesis and M-Power.

I do when i go to strong ph stuff like Ultrapac, Citrus, Champion and so on.
But I using them less and less these days as I use the other more and more..

I was using Fusion8 on a job yesterday and the lady was really pleased that the chemicals I used were so safe... (I let her read the label on the bottle too...)

Then I went on to clean the oven with chemicals capable of making a bomb...

[derek west]

powerburst is no diff to what you wash your clothes in and thats my main chem.

i'd be more worried about smoking, eating food that has more chems on it than ICI and the fumes we breathe from car pollution, plus theres all the microwaves from phones radio and television frying our brains.

its all around us and there aint no way of getting away from it, when ya go, ya go, so enjoy it while you can.

right, i'm off to eat chemical maccies in my high pollution car, then i'll have a pollutent ciggie and phone my mate.