Epoxy & Resinous Flooring Installers

Epoxy, urethane and polyaspartic coatings make tough floors for garages, warehouses, kitchens and hospitals. Installers grind concrete, mix resins and hardeners, and roll or squeegee coatings in closed buildings. Hazards include skin allergies, strong fumes, silica dust and fires from solvents and heat.

• Flooring Installers
• Concrete Coaters
• Painters
• Garage & Warehouse Crews

Main hazards

• Skin sensitization and dermatitis: uncured epoxy resin and amine hardeners can cause chemical burns and allergic skin reactions that get worse with repeat exposure and may be permanent. See Epoxies & Resins and Skin Disease & Dermatitis.
• Fumes and vapors: solvents and some hardeners cause headaches, dizziness and breathing problems. Polyurethane and polyaspartic topcoats can contain isocyanates. See Isocyanates and Solvents.
• Silica dust from grinding or shot-blasting concrete to prepare it. See Silica.
• Fire and heat: flammable solvents, and thick mixed batches in a bucket can heat up (exotherm) fast and smoke or ignite if left sitting. See Flammable Liquids.
• Eye injuries from splashes and dust. See Eye Injuries.
• Slips and falls: wet coating, broadcast flake and stone, and grinder cords. See Walking-Working Surfaces.
• Machine hazards: floor grinders, shot blasters, scarifiers and polishers; noise and vibration. See Polishers & Buffers.
• Knee and back strain from kneeling and bending. See Knee Protection.
• Heat in closed buildings. See Heat Illness.

Preparing the floor

• Use grinders and blasters with HEPA vacuum shrouds or wet methods to control silica dust, and wear a fit-tested respirator as required. See Dust Control Methods and Respiratory Protection.
• Keep other trades out of the room or contain the area with plastic and negative air if possible.
• Wear hearing protection, eye protection, gloves and sturdy boots with grinders. See Hearing Protection.
• Use GFCI protection on cords, keep them out of the work path and watch for tripping. See GFCI Protection.
• Check moisture and old coatings. Old coatings or adhesives might contain asbestos or lead, so don't grind them until tested. See Asbestos.

Mixing and applying

• Read the SDS and product data sheet for mix ratios, pot life, ventilation and PPE. Never change the ratio or mix partial batches without instructions. See Safety Data Sheets.
• Wear chemical-resistant gloves (usually nitrile or the type the SDS names; thin disposable gloves can be penetrated), a disposable coverall and splash goggles. Change gloves often, especially if they get wet with resin. See Chemical-Protective Clothing.
• Wear a respirator with organic vapor cartridges and particulate filters or supplied air as the SDS and monitoring require, especially for isocyanate-containing topcoats, which need a more protective system. See Respirator Filters.
• Ventilate with fresh air in and exhaust out to the exterior. Keep the area free of open flames, sparks, pilot lights and heaters. Turn off ignition sources and cover electrical outlets and equipment as required. See Ventilation.
• Pour mixed material out into the floor promptly; don't leave large mixed batches in buckets where they can overheat. Move buckets of reacting resin outdoors to cool in a safe place.
• Use clean, labeled containers for mixing and solvents. See Secondary Container Labels.
• Wear spiked shoes or install walkways when working on wet coatings, and plan the exit path so you're not trapped.

Skin contact and first aid

• Don't use solvents on skin. Wash with soap and water at once if you get resin or hardener on yourself, and remove contaminated clothing. Barrier creams are not a substitute for gloves.
• Flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes and get medical help. See Eyewash & Showers.
• Stop and see a doctor if you develop an itchy rash, blistering or breathing problems; sensitization can end an installer's career.
• Don't eat, drink or smoke in the work area.

Cleanup and disposal

• Let leftover material cure in small amounts if the maker allows, and dispose of wastes as the SDS and local rules require. Don't pour resin down drains.
• Place solvent-soaked rags in approved metal containers, since they can self-heat. See Oily Rags & Spontaneous Combustion.
• Keep the area closed to others until the coating is cured and the odors are gone, and tell the owner when it's safe to return.

Epoxy flooring checklist

• I read the SDS, mix by the ratio and pour mixed material out promptly
• I wear the right gloves, goggles, coveralls and respirator, and change gloves often
• Grinding is done with HEPA vacuums or wet methods, and cords are on GFCIs
• The area is ventilated and ignition sources are off
• I wash with soap and water, never solvents, and report rashes early

Last updated: October 5, 2026