Safe painting tips

SPRING is a great time of the year to give a house a make over with a fresh coat of paint, inside and out.
However, when it comes to preparing surfaces and using paint, it is important to ensure there is a safe working environment.
Following are 10 tips on making your doityourself painting project a safe one:
1. Wear gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask to protect your skin, eyes and lungs.
2. Wear cloth gloves for surface preparation tasks such as scraping, wire brushing, sanding and patching, and whenever you are working around splintered wood.
3. Wear rubber gloves when you are working with bleach solution, paint removers and any type of acid, paint thinners, mineral spirits and similar materials. Be sure the rubber gloves are the kind that won’t melt when exposed to lacquer thinners and other chemicals.
4. Wear safety glasses or goggles for eye protection when you are wire brushing, scraping, sanding or painting overhead. They are also a must when handling acids, bleach or other harsh chemicals.
5. Wear a dust mask when sanding and, if you’re spray painting, an organic vapour respirator will prevent paint spray or fumes from entering your lungs.
6. Dress in comfortable, loosefitting clothing and wear rubbersoled or nonslip shoes for ladder safety.
7. Inspect your ladders to make sure the rungs are intact and free from dirt and paint build up that could interfere with footing.
8. Always use power washers, power sanders and spray painting equipment with care and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
9. Special care needs to be taken when using solvents. Wear rubber gloves and work only in wellventilated areas. Never haphazardly mix products together as toxic fumes can result.
10. Immerse in water any rags or paper you have used to apply or clean up solvents or solvent based coatings to prevent spontaneous combustion. Then place them in a fireproof container until disposal.
For more information and advice on doityourself painting jobs around the home, check out the website www.paintquality.com.au.