Stay Healthy While Painting

Why Would a Person Worry?

A friendly home owner is considering doing some exterior house painting near Roswell, but can’t decide whether to do it himself, or hire a professional. He notices a person jogging down the street in front of his home. The jogger is trying to stay healthy. Painters endure many hazards on the job that they must not only be aware of, but also take the appropriate measures to prevent injury or illness.

 The Sun

The sun is a worthy opponent in the battle to stay healthy. During an exterior paint job, a painter spends all day in the sun. Use sunblock with an SPF of at least 30 and re-apply often as wiping sweat and rubbing against equipment can wear it off prematurely. With sun also comes heat, so it is very important to stay hydrated. Skip the sugary sports drinks and stick with water. Drinking cool water keeps you hydrated, which keeps you sweating. The sweat on your skin evaporates which causes cooling.

 Bug Bites

A painter who is allergic to bees is flirting with the inevitable. It is only a matter of time before a painter is stung by a bee or wasp. If you know you are allergic, have your epi pen handy, and make sure your partner knows where it is and how to use it as well. A painter with arachnophobia will see every spider as a threat. Indeed, there are a few that pack a nasty punch, but most are just harmless. Keep a duster brush in your back pocket and simply whisk them away. Fire ants can ruin anyone’s day. The good news for painters is they live primarily in the ground, so stay aware while painting foundations or setting up equipment.

 Taking the Fall

Painters and ladders are synonymous with each other. A painter with a good sense of humor will tell you that it’s not falling that bothers them, it’s the sudden stop at the end. Ladders are tested for weight well beyond their stated capacity, and rarely fail. Where the ladder is placed is usually the culprit in causing a fall. Ladder feet can sink into soft ground and tip. If this happens ride the ladder down and jump off just before it hits the ground. The more dangerous ladder fall occurs when the ladder slips suddenly backwards, and the painter falls straight down. Arms and legs twisted into a fallen ladder are great reasons to hire a pro for exterior house painting near Roswell.