While your home is undergoing a paint job, it can be exciting to see what the process will bring. However, it’s also important to mindful of some of the health and safety issues that can arise during a project. Whether you’re a homeowner or a painter, not minding the following tips can leave you hurt or sick.
1. Watch for ladders
The biggest risk of injuries during a paint job is when there are ladders involved. However, we’re not just referring to the big tall 32′ extension ladders. You also need to be careful on the smaller 4′ step ladders. Pay attention to the warning stickers on the side and understand you can get seriously injured no matter the size of the ladder if you don’t follow the directions.
2. Protect your face
Another issue that may arise is the process of sanding. The surface you’re sanding down may contain harmful chemicals that soon become airborne. You can protect yourself from the chemicals by remembering to wear a dust mask or respirator when sanding.
3. Cover your hands
It’s important to understand that there are also many chemicals in house paints. It’s highly recommended to wear latex gloves when your skin may come in contact with paint. If you’re allergic to latex there are alternative glove materials to choose from. When you neglect to wear gloves, of any kind, while painting, you run the risk of the chemicals soaking into your skin. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
4. Be careful on the roof
These may seem fairly obvious, but it’s shocking how reckless some painters get, even on a house’s roof! Working on the roof is very common during a large exterior paint job. The first precaution is to utilize “roof jacks” to keep the ladders from slipping off the roof. You don’t want to be stranded up there! Our second tip is to use fall restraints. No, a lone rope tied around your waist is not a fall restraint. In fact, if you fall you could endure far worse injuries if you suffer a fall than just landing on your back. Real fall restraints can be very technical and should be left to a professional.
To put it plainly, the most important health and safety tip while completing a painting project is to use your common sense! However, when in doubt, never hesitate to call a professional. Our team here at Smith and Company Painting takes pride in our customer’s satisfaction and would love to answer any questions you might have.