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Painting crew hanging outside painting the side of a commercial building

Painting Industry

Painting is a construction sub-industry identified by the NAICS number 238320. Contractors and employees are known as painting and wallcovering contractors. Painters could paint inside or outside. Even with Covid-19 and inflation, there is plenty of work for painters. While the painting industry might slow down over the next few years, it is still expected to do well. The market size is $19 billion, and the painting industry has over 325,000 contractors.

Painters require tools and personal protective equipment to keep them safe while on the job. Abolox carries many of the tools and other equipment, including safety vests and gloves, that painters need to do their jobs safely.

Painting Employment and Occupations

As a contractor, a homeowner or business owner might contract you to paint the interior of the house or the exterior, including decks. Painters also work in other sectors, including the self-employed, government workers, and in non-residential building construction.

In just the construction industry, there are over 214,000 painters, which means that more than 56 percent of them work in the construction industry. In addition to houses and commercial businesses, painters also paint:

  • Bridges.
  • Barns.
  • Equipment.
  • Cars and trucks.
  • Doors.
  • Cabinets.
  • Metal roofing.
  • Tile.
  • Ceilings and walls.

Many of these types of jobs require using ladders, sprayers, and other equipment that could cause injury. You are also at risk for falls if you use scaffolding for large commercial buildings, multi-level residential homes and bridges.

While on construction sites, you could also suffer from drop injuries if someone drops something onto you from above. Hard hats like those we carry at Abolox can reduce the risk of suffering extensive drop injuries. Abolox also carries other safety equipment that reduces the risk of injury while working in the painting industry.

Types of Painting Contractors

Painters are typically classified into four different types of painting contractors:

  • Commercial contractors.
  • Industrial painters (who paint heavy machinery).
  • Residential painters.
  • Wallcovering contractors.
  • Vehicle painters (who usually work in enclosed paint booths).

Even though the contractors work in different areas, they have a lot of similarities, including the tools they use and the need for personal protective equipment, especially breathers, face protection and gloves.

Painting contractors perform all kinds of activities, including:

  • Applying paints, finishes, sealants, primer and other chemicals.
  • Cleaning paint equipment.
  • Building scaffolding.
  • Using putty, caulk and plaster.
  • Mixing oils and other chemical substances.
  • Preparing surfaces.
  • Rolling paint.
  • Spraying paint.
  • Removing old paint and stain.
  • Scraping and sanding.
  • Staining.
  • Using solvents and thinners.
  • Washing, treating and preparing wall surfaces.
  • Wallpapering.

Most tasks painters do expose them to hazards, whether cuts, lacerations, falls or chemical burns. Those who work in paint booths must use respirators or risk damage to their lungs and nasal cavities.

Even mixers should use the proper safety equipment to prevent chemical splashes in their faces and eyes and breathing in the chemicals from the paint, hardeners, and other chemicals.

List of Painting Tools and Materials

Depending on the tools and materials a painter uses, he could be subject to cuts, lacerations, and chemical burns. Some of the tools include:

  • Aerosol sprays.
  • Cleaning brushes.
  • Ladders.
  • Paint scrapers.
  • Paint brushes.
  • Painter’s tape.
  • Paint thinner.
  • Paint primer.
  • Self-adhesive wallpaper.
  • Plastic and / or canvas sheeting.
  • Power rollers.
  • Paint sprayers.
  • Air compressors.
  • Roller frames.
  • Rollers.
  • Sandpaper.
  • Corner, edging and standard pads for painting ceilings.
  • Wallpaper steamer.

Painters should wear gloves and other personal protective equipment, including face protection, to ensure they protect their hands and eyes from chemical splashes, debris, cuts and more. Those working with machinery, such as paint sprayers, whether large or small, have a higher risk of suffering injuries on the job.

Safety for Painters

Safety hazards are everywhere for painters, including when they paint residential interiors. A painter must always watch his or her surroundings. Even though painters suffer few injuries compared to others in the construction industry, they can still be injured and should use personal protective equipment.

When stripping and removing paint, using solvents to clean brushes and equipment, using sprayers and sanding, cleaning and preparing walls and other surfaces, painters could suffer injuries or burns.

To protect yourself and your workers, you should have certain personal protective equipment on hand for everyone, including but not limited to:

Some of the hazards you might run into on a painting job include abrasives, chemicals, cold or hot weather, dropped objects, dust, paint overspray, chemicals, hand fatigue, impaired vision and the hot sun, which can also burn you.

Painting Tools and Personal Protective Equipment at Abolox

When you need quality painting tools and personal protective equipment at a reasonable price, visit Abolox. We carry scrapers, utility brushes, gloves, face protection, coveralls, high-visibility clothing and more.

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