In New York City and elsewhere, professional painters need to look out for all sorts of occupational hazards that can impact their health on the job. In urban areas like the five boroughs, there are additional risks and issues with taking on a residential or commercial painting contract.
This isn’t to say that painting, like other jobs, can’t be done safely. It’s up to the employer to acknowledge various risks and provide practical solutions.
Adequate Ventilation
One of the biggest issues with painting is that traditional paints contain chemicals that can be harmful if not properly mitigated. Painters need ventilation in order to work safely. That means opening doors and windows appropriately.
Sometimes, those who are profiting from this work feel they should not ventilate, either because it will generate heating or cooling costs or it “won’t make a difference.” These are major mistakes.
Working from Heights
Like other jobs, such as roofing, painting can mean working on multiple stories of a building or working on irregular constructions, such as a cupola, steeple, etc. Painters and anyone working up high needs proper safety equipment, such as the following:
- Harnesses
- Scaffolding
- Sturdy ladders
These types of equipment also need to be in serviceable condition. Otherwise, workers are left vulnerable to serious safety threats. A single fall can cause physical trauma that can leave a painter unemployed or worse.
Personal Protective Equipment
Painters also, like other contractors, work in different kinds of buildings and different scenarios where they may need protective gear to stay safe from dust, inhalants, etc. Protective Personal Equipment or PPE includes:
- Goggles
- Gloves
- Face masks
- Hard hats or helmets
- Earplugs
Providing these types of supplies helps ensure the safety of frontline workers who do the tough jobs to keep NYC looking good.
Old Buildings and Health Hazards
Another area of safety related to painting and other contracting is the monitoring of work in older buildings that may have unabated safety risks such as lead, asbestos, etc. In many cases, risks can be managed with the right personal protective equipment, but without a sound plan for job evaluation and an eye for safety, workers can easily be exposed to harmful substances. Specific work planning and technique will also help to avoid these kinds of dangers.
Call a New York City Workers’ Compensation Law Firm
New York residents injured on the job or anywhere else can call the experienced personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff. Get professional help from injury lawyers who are dedicated to helping you bring a personal injury case through New York courts. We know how to get our clients the best chances at adequate compensation for medical bills, lost wages and the pain and suffering that accompanies an injury and its aftermath.
