HSE Guide MR0 “Advice for Managers (Paint Spraying)”
Managing Isocyanate Risks in Motor Vehicle Repair Operations
LEVCentral Expert Commentary
HSE MR00 is the foundation document for the Motor Vehicle Repair (MR) COSHH Essentials series. Unlike the task-specific guidance sheets, MR00 is aimed at managers, supervisors and duty holders responsible for ensuring that exposure to hazardous substances is properly controlled across the entire repair process.
The guidance focuses on the management of risks associated with isocyanates found in two-pack (2K) paints, adhesives, sealants and related products commonly used within the motor vehicle repair industry. It explains that effective exposure control requires far more than simply installing equipment or issuing personal protective equipment. Instead, adequate control depends upon a combination of engineering controls, maintenance, training, supervision, health surveillance and worker compliance.
Of particular relevance to LEV professionals is the emphasis placed on ensuring that control measures continue to perform effectively over time. Managers are expected to ensure that extraction systems, spray booths, respiratory protective equipment and other safeguards are regularly maintained, checked and used correctly. The guidance also reinforces the importance of biological monitoring and health surveillance as part of a wider occupational health strategy.
For duty holders, MR00 serves as a reminder that compliance is not achieved by implementing individual control measures in isolation. Effective management requires a coordinated approach where engineering controls, safe systems of work and health monitoring all operate together to protect worker health.
Source Document
View the HSE guidance here:
Source: Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Document Type: COSHH Guidance
Status: Current 2026
Last reviewed by LEVCentral: June 2026
Key Learning Points
- MR00 provides management guidance for controlling exposure to isocyanates in motor vehicle repair operations.
- The guidance supports compliance with COSHH requirements.
- Exposure control requires a combination of engineering controls, PPE, training and supervision.
- Control measures must be maintained and regularly checked to ensure continued effectiveness.
- Managers should review all aspects of exposure control rather than relying on a single safeguard.
- Biological monitoring and health surveillance form important parts of the overall control strategy.
- The guidance links directly to the task-specific MR01–MR05 series.
Further Resources
- HSE MR1 – Mixing Two-Pack Paint Containing Isocyanate
- HSE MR2 – Spraying Two-Pack Products in a Spray Booth or Room
- HSE MR3 – Cleaning Two-Pack Paint Spray Guns
- MR4 Brush or Roller Application of Two-Pack (2K) Products
- SMART Spraying with Two-Pack (2K) Products Outdoors
- MR6 Hot Work on Painted Panels
- HSE G402 – Health Surveillance for Occupational Asthma
- HSE G403 – Health Surveillance for Occupational Dermatitis
- HSE G408 – Urine Sampling for Isocyanate Exposure Measurement
- HSE EH40 Workplace Exposure Limits
Recommended Learning
- M200 Basic Principles in Occupational Hygiene
- M501 Measurement of Hazardous Substances
- M505 Control of Hazardous Substances
- M507 Health Effects of Hazardous Substances
- P304 Fundamentals of CoSHH Risk Assessment & Control
- P603 CoSHH PPE
Thought Leadership
Many exposure control failures do not arise because the engineering controls were poorly designed. They occur because management systems fail to ensure that controls continue to be used, maintained and monitored effectively. MR00 recognises this reality and places responsibility firmly on management to ensure that exposure controls remain effective throughout the life of the process.
For LEV professionals, the guidance reinforces an important message: engineering controls are only one component of a successful exposure control strategy. Real-world protection depends on competent management, effective supervision and ongoing verification that controls continue to perform as intended.
