Common Injuries in the Commercial Painting Industry
Painting may seem like straightforward work, but commercial painters face a variety of hazards and potential injuries. In fact, that may be one reason why you’re considering handing off your commercial painting project to an experienced company instead of attempting the work yourself. At Zack Painting, we recognize the importance of safety in painting and do everything possible to keep our workers out of harm’s way.
Common Injuries for Commercial Painters
Something as simple as a dropped can of paint or carelessly placed ladder could become a hazard on a commercial painting job site. Here are some potential injuries that commercial painters face:
- Slips and falls: Whether it’s tripping over a dropcloth or losing your balance on the top rung of a ladder, slipping and falling is a definite possibility in the commercial painting industry.
- Exposure to contaminants and fumes: Many commercial paints and spray painting techniques release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful when inhaled in large concentrations. Surface preparation can also send lead dust or asbestos into the air, potentially harming workers in the process.
- Repetitive stress injuries: Continuous lifting, climbing up and down ladders, and applying paint can injure the knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, and neck. Everything from muscle strains to torn rotator cuffs is possible.
- Eye injuries: A splash of paint or chemicals or a poorly aimed painting tool could result in an injured eye.
How to Avoid Commercial Painting Injuries
Zack Painting Company recognizes every potential hazard in the commercial painting industry. That’s why we implement all reasonable precautions to prevent drops, spills, falls, and other incidents. Here are the specific steps we take to help our commercial painters stay safe:
- We supply our workers with high-quality ladders that offer high weight capacity and superior stability.
- We employ lifting equipment and safety restraints to protect our crew members from falling while working at height.
- We properly designate painting areas so all customers and employees in the building know to steer clear.
- We require our workers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats to guard against falling tools, respirators to prevent exposure to fumes, and goggles or face shields to avoid eye injuries. We also advise against wearing jewelry while on the job.
- We implement employee training on safe mitigation techniques for old lead paint and asbestos. This not only protects our workers but also prevents introducing harmful substances into the air that other building occupants could inhale.
- We give every employee “stop work” authority, allowing them to judge the conditions of a job site and discontinue working if they deem it unsafe.
- We apply techniques that prevent careless overspray to protect all non-painted surfaces, including floors, furniture, and vehicles. This ensures that paint ends up where you want it, and nowhere else!
Zack Painting Supports Safe Job Sites
At Zack Painting, we pride ourselves on ensuring the safest possible work environment for our commercial and industrial painters, as well as our customers. We continually comply with federal regulations and industry best practices, often exceeding the rules put forth by OSHA to reduce incidents, accidents, and injuries on the job. Thanks to our unwavering focus on this matter, we boast a fantastic safety record.
If you have any safety concerns regarding an upcoming commercial painting project, leave the job to the experts at Zack Painting. Contact us online or call (732) 738-7900 today to schedule commercial or industrial painting in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania.