Safety
 Using Protective Equipment
The basic gear you need for a safe DIY paint job are: gloves,
safety glasses or goggles, a dust-mask for sanding, and
sensible shoes with a good grip.
Skin protection:
• Wear the appropriate gloves: cloth or leather gloves for
sanding and scraping, impermeable gloves for applying
water-based paint, solvent-resistant
chemical gloves for
handling solvent-based
products.
Eye protection:
• Use eye goggles or glasses, or a face mask.
Lung Protection:
• Wear an anti-dust mask whilst sanding a surface or a
solvent-respirator
if working with solvent-based products.
• Ensure good ventilation with open windows and doors.
• Remove sources of ignition.
Handling Solvent-based Products
All organic-based solvents – including white spirit,
solvent-based paints, solvent-based thinners and primers,
solvent-based wood treatment products as well as paint strippers – represent
potential health hazards, and require that particular precaution
be taken both in use and in storage.
Here are some tips:
• Read the label carefully for information on safety and health-related
issues.
•
Solvents are highly flammable – keep these paints
away from all sources of heat,
and never expose directly
to an
open flame.
• Store in cool, well-ventilated areas.
• Keep these products out of reach of pets and children.
•
Dispose of rags properly – rags soaked with oil-based
materials can
ignite spontaneously if not spread out
to dry.
• Ensure good ventilation with open windows and doors.
• Wear protective equipment.
• Keep children and pets out of the painted area.
Water-based paints: a viable alternative to solvent based
paint:
To a large extent, water-based paints pose
fewer risks and health hazards than solvent phase paints.
Modern, high quality
water-based paints offer an excellent performance profile – superior
durability and colour retention, excellent washability, for
example. They are also more convenient to use – low
in odour, they dry quickly, and brushes can be cleaned
with warm, soapy water, with no need for white spirit
or turpentine.
And of course they are more environmentally-friendly.
 Using Step-Ladders Safely
Step ladders are very often both a central part of a paint
job, but also a key danger area. Here are some tips on how
to minimise the likelihood of a ladder-related accident:
Inspect the ladder:
• Take time to check the condition of the ladder both
before
and after use.
• Check that the ladder is sufficiently robust to support
your
weight.
• Make sure the steps are free of oil, wet paint, mud, or
any
other potentially slippery substance.
Erecting the ladder:
• Clear the area around the ladder from any clutter. Make
sure
that no electrical cords or wire leads are close.
• If the ladder needs to be in front of a door, consider
locking
the door to prevent surprise openings.
•
If the ladder is in a high-traffic area, draw attention
to
this fact in the house – a hand-written sign
would do.
• Make sure the floor is even and stable. Avoid wet or
slippery
surfaces.
• Always support the ladder at four points
Climbing the ladder:
•
Wear suitable shoes – no heels, barefoot is not
good, nor are most sandals.
• Never climb onto wet or slippery steps, make sure they are
dry.
•
Never overstretch – do not climb beyond the last
three steps of a ladder.
•
Keep your shoulders between the rails and don’t over-reach – move
the
ladder instead.
• Always keep 3 point contact with the ladder.
•
If your ceilings are high, but your ladder too small, don’t
try to overreach
yourself – renting or borrowing
a suitable ladder is much safer.
•
Don’t let your children climb up the ladder: prevent
access at the end of the day
if you have to, or fold
it up after use.
•
Be prepared for an unforeseen vertigo attack – don’t
look down, breath slowly
and steadily, and go back
down step by step.
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