// Occupations and Workplaces

Painter

What does a painter do? A painter applies paint and other decorative finishes to interior and exterior surfaces of buildings and other structures.

// Issues
20
// Requirements
24
// Page links
44
Contents Hand tools Portal Graph

A painter applies paint and other decorative finishes to interior and exterior surfaces of buildings and other structures. Some of the main duties of a painter are to:

  • duty Prepare surfaces to be painted (includes scraping, removal of wallpaper, etc.).
  • duty Determine what materials will be needed.
  • duty Use, clean, and maintain various equipment.
  • duty Supervise apprentices or other workers.
  • duty Provide estimates and invoices for clients.

Painters can work at a variety of workplaces, construction sites, homes, etc. and face a constantly changing set of hazards. The hazards include:

  • safety Working at heights.
  • general Ladders, platforms and scaffolds.
  • safety Working in confined spaces.
  • safety Risk of eye injury.
  • safety Slips, trips and falls.
  • safety Risk of injury from falling objects.
  • biological Exposure to moulds, fungi and bacteria.
  • general Exposure to bird and rodent droppings.
  • chemical Exposure to paint products, solvents, lead and other toxic substances.
  • safety Proximity to flammable or combustible materials.
  • ergonomic Working in awkward positions, or performing repetitive physical tasks.
  • general Standing for long periods of time.
  • ergonomic Lifting heavy or awkward objects.
  • physical Exposure to heat and ultraviolet radiation.
  • physical Noise.
  • psychosocial Stress.
  • safety Electrical hazards from working close to live electrical power lines or equipment.
  • psychosocial Shift work or extended work days.
  • psychosocial Working alone.
  • ppe Check safety data sheet (SDS) of the paint or coating product for safe use of the product and the selection and use of appropriate personal protective equipment, including respiratory and footwear protection.
  • requirement Evaluate the work area for existing and potential hazards. Know the control measures of the identified hazards and associated risks. Know the routes of entry of chemicals into the body.
  • requirement Use the hierarchy of controls and select less harmful substances or products where possible.
  • engineering Maintain good ventilation during painting.
  • administrative Learn the correct procedures for working at heights.
  • elimination Select the correct ladder for the job. Use an extended handle paintbrush whenever possible, and eliminate the use of ladders.
  • requirement Learn safe lifting techniques.
  • safety Know how to prevent injury from electrical hazards. Maintain safe distances from energized electrical equipment or utility lines.
  • requirement Keep tools and equipmentin good working order.
  • administrative Keep work areas clear of clutter and equipment and ensure proper housekeeping is in place.
  • administrative Learn safety procedures for working in confined spaces.
  • requirement Know how to prevent exposure to bird and rodent droppings.
  • requirement Avoid awkward body positions and take breaks when needed.
  • requirement Working at heights
  • requirement Working with asbestos-containing materials.
  • requirement Using ladders
  • requirement Lifting
  • requirement Repetitive physical tasks
  • ppe Selection, use, maintenance and storage of personal protective equipment
  • requirement Confined space entry
  • administrative Practice safety procedures for:
  • requirement Follow company safety rules.
  • requirement Learn about chemical hazards, WHMIS and SDSs.
  • administrative Know how to report a hazard
  • administrative Follow good housekeeping procedures.

// Hand tools

  1. 1 General Hand Tool Operation

// Portal

Biological

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Biological Hantavirus
23 practices hand protectionrespiratory protection Open →
Biological Histoplasmosis
0 practices Open →

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Chemicals

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Chemicals Lead
1 practices Open →

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Confined Spaces

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Confined Spaces Confined Space - Introduction
17 practices Open →

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Effects on the body

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Effects on the body How Workplace Chemicals Enter the Body
10 practices Open →

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Electrical

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Electrical Electrical Safety - Basic Information
45 practices Open →

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Ladders

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Ladders Ladders - Extension
23 practices Open →
Ladders Ladders - Portable
18 practices Open →
Ladders Ladders - Securing Portable
0 practices Open →

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Lifting, pushing, pulling

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Lifting, pushing, pulling MMH - Health Hazards
0 practices Open →

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Mould

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Mould Indoor Air Quality - Moulds and Fungi
36 practices eye protectionhand protectionrespiratory protection Open →

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Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs)
9 practices Open →

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Noise

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Noise Noise - Basic Information
4 practices Open →

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Radiation

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Radiation Ultraviolet Radiation
2 practices Open →

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Shiftwork

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Shiftwork Extended Workday: Health and Safety Issues
10 practices Open →
Shiftwork Rotational Shiftwork
0 practices Open →

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Stress

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Stress Workplace Stress – General
0 practices Open →

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Temperature

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Temperature Hot Environments - Health Effects and First Aid
6 practices foot protectionhand protectionrespiratory protection Open →

// Portal

Ventilation

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Ventilation Industrial Ventilation - 1. Introduction
0 practices Open →

// Portal

Working Alone

Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.

Working Alone Working Alone - Off-site
15 practices Open →
Painter
HAS_ISSUE 20
HAS_REQUIREMENT 24
LINKS_TO 44
SOURCE_PAGE 1

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Fact sheets 34

PDFs 1

Section indexes 9