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DIY Use of Antifouling Paints in the UK – Survey for Professional Applicators

Dear Applicator
Thank you for agreeing to participate in our survey on the current practice in the leisure market with regard to applying anti-fouling paints to private boats. Please answer all questions as best of you can. The individual responses to this survey will remain confidential, but we would appreciate if you could indicate whether further follow-up would be welcomed by including your contact details at the bottom of the questionnaire.
1.On average, how many boats do you apply antifouling paints to in each year?
2.What volume of antifouling paint do you use each year?
3.On average, how many days per year do you apply antifouling paints?
4.Have you received any training or are you self-trained?
5.Do you think there is adequate support in place with regard to publicising the specific hazards of AF paints, and the recommendations with regard to appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and measures to be followed to protect the environment?
6.Do you regularly review the safety and recommended use documentation provided by antifouling paint manufacturers, to ensure safe practice?
7.Do you undergo annual occupational health screening?
8.Do you receive sufficient support and materials from the yard management with regard to ensuring minimum environmental impact whilst applying AF?
9.What precautions do you take to collect and dispose of waste (including scrapings from the vessel and cleaning up of paint residues)?
10.Do boatyards have disposal facilities for waste antifouling paint and scrapings removed from vessels?
11.Do the boat yards have systems in place to collect anti-foul residue on site? (e.g. integrated filter systems, washdown systems, bunded areas)
12.Are you aware of the support from the BCF, including the Protect, Collect and Dispose Antifouling Initiative, the Controlling Antifouling Washings from Shipyards leaflet and the DIY Safe Antifouling Initiative? See Antifouling - British Coatings Federation Ltd
13.What additional support or information could the BCF provide, with regard to the safe application and use of AF paints, and measures to be taken to protect the environment?
14.There is a concern that, in future, the authorities may decide to restrict the use of AF paints to professional users only, i.e. to prohibit the use of AF paints by the general public. Please comment on how this may impact your business, and what issues would be of most concern to (e.g. significant increase in demand for your services, capacity issues, potential need for additional training & certification).
15.Please advise if you have any further comments on the topic of AF paints?
16.Optional - please enter your contact details if you would like us to contact you to share the results to our survey, for the opportunity to provide further input on this topic and / or if you would like to be kept informed of the situation with AF paints
The BCF Marine Coating Group would like to thank you for completing this survey.