Safety Tips for Painting

Ladders

• Follow the "three point rule" when working on an extension ladder. This means that at all times, either two hands and a foot, or two feet and one hand, must be securely resting on, or holding onto, your ladder. Keep your body in between the uprights and move the ladder instead of reaching too far to get that one last area. Any type of ladder you use should be standing firmly on level ground. If you have to work on a slope, rent or buy a ladder leveler, which allows you to adjust the ladder to the slope. When working indoors, do not place a ladder on a drop cloth over a slick floor, such as hardwood or tile, because it can slip easily. Set the rubber feet of the ladder directly on the floor and arrange drop cloths around the base.

Spray Equipment

• Airless spray equipment can make painting very fast and efficient. However, the paint coming out of the spray tip at close range can deeply pierce your skin tissues and even inner organs. If this happens, it is a medical emergency--inner damage can be worse than it appears. All spray guns are equipped with trigger locks. Engage the lock whenever you stop painting, even to climb down a ladder, or walk across the room. Wear protective gear when using airless paint spray equipment, including a long-sleeved shirt and non-slip shoes.

Paint Fumes

• Even water-based paint gives off fumes and contains chemicals and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Some solvent-based paints and coatings can make you very ill if inhaled. Paint in a well-ventilated area, by opening multiple windows or using a fan to exhaust paint fumes out of a window. When spraying any material, or painting with solvent-based primer, paint, stain or clear coating, wear a mask or respirator. Leave the windows open for as long as possible after you're done, both to clear out fumes and speed drying. Pregnant and nursing women, children and anyone with respiratory difficulties should not be in the area while you paint.

Wasps and Critters

• It's not fun coming face to face with a wasp nest when you're 30 feet in the air, or removing an exterior shutter and finding bats behind it. Walk around the exterior of your house before you start painting and use spray to kill wasps and bees. Be very careful when taking shutters or awnings down, because they are a favorite hiding place for bats and spiders. If you have a lot of pests on and around your home, consider calling a pest control company to take care of them before you start work.