Painting Safety Tips
If you have got some painting to do, you’re probably ready to get to work right? You’ve got your paint brush in hand, an old shirt on that you don’t mind getting splattered with paint, and a smile on your face because you know the end result of your work is going to be fantastic! But wait, before you make that first brushstroke, have you thought about your safety? Painting safety is often easy to overlook, resulting in accidents and mishaps that can be easily avoided. To help you be completely safe during your next painting project, here are some of the best painting safety tips!
Wear safety goggles, gloves, and a dust mask
A dust mask is going to make sure you don’t breathe in anything you shouldn’t if you need to do any sanding, and goggles are going to be useful along with gloves if you happen to be using any solutions containing chemicals such as a stripper or a cleaner. Goggles will be great for sanding too, making sure you aren’t getting any dust in your eyes.
Ventilate the room
After sanding and painting, the air in the room is likely to be full of dust and odours that are probably not the best things to be breathing in, especially if there are likely to be children in the room. Make sure to prevent the air becoming too unpleasant by opening windows and setting up fans to properly ventilate the area.
Make sure your ladder is sturdy and safe
Too often people paint using a ladder that is not exactly up to safety standards, resulting in injuries and sometimes even broken bones. If you need a ladder to reach those high parts of the walls, make sure you are using one that is sturdy and not falling apart. The last thing you want is to climb a ladder only to have it collapse on you and send you sprawling to the floor.
Protect your floors with cloth, not plastic
You may be tempted to lay down plastic in order to protect your flooring from paint, but you should actually consider laying some cloth drop cloths instead. Plastic can be slippery, increasing your chances of slipping and falling.
Do not paint or leave paint near a source of heat
You’re going to want to avoid painting in spots such as near your water heater or fireplace, especially if you are using any kind of flammable materials in your painting. It’s not unheard of for paint to spontaneously com bust if applied near a source of heat. You should also ensure nobody, including yourself, is smoking in a room that is being painted.
Clean up properly when finished
After your painting work is done, you should be extra careful to clean up safely and responsibly. Any debris should be disposed of, and any rags or cloths with chemical solutions soaked into them should be either cleaned out or disposed of in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. At no point should hazardous materials be left behind after a painting job or left where children or pets can get to them.
Follow these simple, yet effective tips and enjoy the process of giving your home a fresh new look.