Safety Tips for Painting

Basic Safety

• Drink plenty of water and watch for dehydration!
• When you are tired – Rest!
• Know where the First Aid Kit is – if you are hurt see your House Leader or Site Host immediately.
• Fill out an Incident Report any time the First Aid Kit is opened.
• Keep a name tag on at all times.
• Use Common Sense! Keep an eye on your own safety and the safety of others.
• Concentrate — especially if you are on a ladder or roof.
• Watch for trip hazards wherever you are going.
• Help keep the site safe by picking up and moving things that are in the way.
• If you see something unsafe tell your House Leader or a Staff Member.

Lifting and Carrying

• Bend your knees and lift with your legs, not your back.
• If something is too heavy, get help – don’t hesitate to ask!
• Make sure you can see what you are carrying.
• When carrying something longer than 8 feet have a person on each end.

Ladders

• At the beginning of each day inspect all ladders for any structural defects that would make them unsafe. If any defects are found, mark the ladder(s) and set it aside for the Site Supervisor’s disposition.
• Use the right size ladder and place it on a solid footing
• Never lean an A-frame ladder against anything, always use it fully opened.
• Never stand on the top step or back side of a ladder.
• Don’t stretch out too far – take the time to move the ladder with your work!
• Get someone to steady your ladder if needed.
• Only one person on a ladder at a time.
• The 4 to 1 rule

For every 4 feet of height, move extension ladders one foot away from the wall.

Painting

• Paint can splatter when rolling overheard – Use Eye protection.
• Painting involves a lot of work on ladders – remember ladder safety!
• Use dust mask when scraping floors.

Key things to remember

Protect exterior concrete surfaces and the garage floor from the paint.

• Clean spills immediately

Doors:

• Paint the exterior doors with a foam roller and touch-up brush.
• Paint interior doors with a foam roller and touch up brush.
• Doors may be sprayed if desired if the equipment is available.
• If desired and the equipment is available, doors may be spray painted.
• Strain paint before painting doors and trim.
• Doors require three thin applications of paint.

Two applications of paint to all surfaces.

• Allow time for the first application to dry before applying the second.
• Paperless sheetrock usually requires at least three coats.

Brushes and roller covers must be cleaned immediately following use.

• Remove roller covers from rollers. Store brushes horizontally.