Whether you are an avid DIY-er giving your living room a facelift or a professional painter about to start a new job, it is important to recognize that painting can come with specified health risks. Owning the right safety equipment and knowledge can go a long way to keep you safe and loving the results.



Working With Paint Can Be Hazardous

Even if painting is a enjoyable task, it can lead to serious issues if suitable precautions are not implemented due to its chemical composition. The chemicals in paint are harmful. Strong discomfort can occur when the paint splashes into your eyes or onto unprotected skin.

Paint fumes can lead to respiratory problems and headaches. Highly flammable paint thinner and oil primer are likewise very damaging. The danger of burns is possible if careful handling is not managed. Working at heights is common for painting interior and exterior locations. The risk of falls and injuries is high.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAINTING AND RELATED RISKS

Comprehending the prospective risks associated with your next paint job will help keep you safe. Learn how different painting techniques have their own risks.

Brush painting:

Brush painting is the most basic types of painting. It is commonly used to paint wood for example, window sills, door frames and other woodwork. It is also used for decorative paint styles and is used for walls. Widespread risks with brush painting include things like having paint splash into your eyes and dealing with spills on the skin. Many use a brush to apply solvent-based or oil-based products. This can cause breathing troubles and headaches if proper PPE and ventilation are not a priority.

Roller application:

Paint rollers are generally used for ceilings and internal walls. Risks include paint splashes on the skin and in the eyes. Painters may also run the risk of pulling a muscle or incurring another type of injury as a result of working in a distressing position for a long period of time. This may not appear to be a big deal, but if you are doing this as a profession the damage to your body can increase over time. Appropriate paint protection by means of respiratory masks is critical to ensure lung security.

Spray painting is common for interior and exterior purposes. It is employed to finish large areas including ceilings, exteriors of buildings and lobbies. It is simple for paint to accidentally be sprayed in ones’ eyes. Fumes and paint debris can aggravate the respiratory system. For this reason, safe practice precautions and gear are extremely important for spray painting. Goggles, respiratory face masks and protective clothing are required.



Painting at heights:

The painting of everything that isn't at ground level can be dangerous. Falling off of a step ladder can cause significant injuries. Safety precautions need to be obtained by those who work at heights to prevent a potentially fatal fall. Painting at heights often takes advantage of scaffolding or wearing a safety harness. The things needed for paint preparation and clean-up can also be risky if precautions aren't taken.

It is essential to sand most wood items before painting. This can cause scrapes on the hands in addition to dust in the eyes and respiratory system. The harm aspect of the dust is determined by the items that are being sanded such as wood with old varnish or paint upon it.Cleaning paint brushes and other tools often require the use of paint thinner, depending on the type of paint used. Paint thinner is furthermore very flammable and can lead to serious burns or easily catch on fire.

Painting PPE

Maintain personal wellbeing for your next painting endeavor by wearing the proper PPE.

Gloves:

Protect your hands by wearing gloves. When you're sanding items, leather gloves really are a safe choice. Solvent-resistant gloves are essential for handling paint thinner and various solvents. Oil-based paint and water-based paint work well with impermeable gloves.

Eyewear:

Protective goggles and even a face shield is very helpful for keeping your eyes safe while working with paint thinners and paint. It is especially important when painting above your face or spray painting, as well as when sanding.

Paint masks:

Wear a dust mask or particulate respirator while sanding. If you are very sensitive to chemicals, you should also wear a respiratory mask when working with a brush or roller. Even if you're doing exterior painting in the fresh air, a mask may be required to offer protection from harmful bird or bat droppings and subsequent pathogens.Use a paint respirator for spray painting tasks to keep your airways safe. Rely on a paint respirator to keep your airways shielded while painting.

Coveralls and shoe covers:

Disposable shoe covers and cotton overalls can look after your skin and your shoes and clothes from harmful and destructive paint products.

Hard hat:

Wearing a hard hat is a perfect safety precaution when you are working at heights or painting on an busy construction site. Construction sites possess lots of equipment and materials that can fall and smack your head unintentionally.

Fall arrest:

Use a fall arrest system when you are painting at heights to maintain safety. It features either a single or dual carabiner that could be attached to an anchor point to capture you if you fall. It often features a harness that straps around the torso and legs for extra safety. Scaffolding can often be used to avoid fall injuries in many different situations.

Fire extinguisher:

It is often important to keep a fire extinguisher on-site in case there are any occurrences with flammable materials such as paint thinner.