Why Chromium-6 Is a Serious Risk in Industrial Maintenance and Renovation

Do you carry out maintenance on existing assets such as pipelines, steel structures, or storage tanks?

Then there is a strong chance you are dealing with legacy coatings that contain chromium-6.

The risk does not come from the presence of the substance alone but from the moment you start working on it.

And that is exactly where things often go wrong.

Why Chromium-6 Is Released During Maintenance Activities

Chromium-6 is often encapsulated within old coatings. As long as these coatings remain intact, the risk is relatively limited.

However, during maintenance and renovation, this changes immediately.

Typical activities include:

Abrasive blasting and sanding (surface preparation)
Grinding or cutting coated steel
Removal of legacy coatings
Repair of damage such as coating failure or flash rust

These processes generate dust and that dust can:

be inhaled
spread throughout the installation
contaminate skin and clothing

The risk is not just the material it is how you process it.

Why the Risk Is Often Underestimated in Practice

Maintenance projects are typically driven by:

speed of execution
minimising downtime
accessibility of difficult areas

As a result, risks are often underestimated, especially in situations such as:

Corrosion under insulation (CUI)
Repair of general corrosion, pitting corrosion, or crevice corrosion
Work in tank farms and industrial sites
Maintenance in shipyards and offshore environments

In addition, operational constraints increase complexity:

working in confined spaces
permit systems such as cold work permits
requirements for gas detection

Safety becomes more complex than initially expected.

Become Pinovo Approved

Do you already work with Pinovo or are you planning to start using the system? Then Pinovo Approved is the way to distinguish your company toward clients.

As a Pinovo Approved company you:

position yourself as a certified specialist
increase credibility and commercial opportunities
are included in the official Pinovo Approved partner overview
receive the Pinovo Approved logo for use on your website and communication

Want to learn more about certification? Contact us for more information.

Health Risks During Maintenance and Renovation

Chromium-6 is classified as a CMR substance, meaning exposure can have severe consequences.

Short-term effects

Respiratory and skin irritation
Breathing difficulties
Chemical burns

Long-term effects

Lung cancer
Chronic respiratory diseases
Organ damage

For your organisation, this translates into:

not just a health issue, but liability, compliance pressure, and reputational risk

Regulations Require a Different Approach

Occupational safety regulations follow a clear hierarchy:

Control risks at the source
Apply collective protective measures
Use personal protective equipment (PPE)

In practice, this means:

Preventing exposure is always preferred over managing it afterward.

Why Traditional Methods Increase Risk

Conventional blasting and surface preparation methods introduce several challenges:

Spread of hazardous dust and microplastics
Complex and costly waste management
Additional restrictions in ATEX zones
Limitations when working in live installations

You also need to comply with standards such as:

ISO 12944 (corrosion protection)
ISO 8501 (surface cleanliness)
SSPC / NACE standards
NORSOK M-501 (offshore requirements)

This increases project complexity, cost, and uncertainty.

The Impact on Your Operations

If chromium-6 risks are not properly controlled, the consequences are immediate:

Safety

Increased exposure risks for workers and contractors.

Cost

Higher life cycle costs (LCC)
Increased waste and protective measures

Planning

Longer preparation times
Limited ability to enable parallel operations

Continuity

Unexpected downtime
Potential work stoppages due to non-compliance

How to Stay in Control During Maintenance

The key lies in source control.

By adopting controlled methods such as Pinovo vacuum blasting, you can:

capture dust directly at the source
prevent the spread of chromium-6
operate safely within ATEX-certified environments
eliminate the need for large-scale containment

This transforms maintenance from a high-risk activity into a controlled process.

From Reactive to Predictable Maintenance

When you work with source-controlled methods:

exposure risks are significantly reduced
cost and planning become more predictable
work can continue within live installations
parallel operations become feasible

This is the difference between reacting to problems and managing them proactively.