Painting & Coatings

Painters work with solvents, isocyanates and lead, often while on ladders, lifts and swing stages. Spray equipment adds injection injury and fire hazards.

• Construction
• General Industry

Top hazards

• Solvent vapors (headaches, dizziness, long-term nerve damage) and fire
• Isocyanates in some coatings (asthma). Require supplied-air or special respirators.
• Lead dust when preparing old painted surfaces
• Falls from ladders, scaffolds, lifts and swing stages
• High-pressure airless spray injection injuries

Key practices

• Read the SDS for every product. See SDS.
• Ventilate and use the respirator the SDS and your program require.
• Keep ignition sources away from solvent work and spraying.
• Engage the spray gun trigger lock when not spraying; never point it at anyone or put your hand in front of the tip.
• Use lead-safe practices on older surfaces. See Lead.
• Use proper fall protection on lifts and swing stages.

Surface prep

Prep often exposes painters to more hazards than painting does:

• Sanding, scraping and grinding old paint can release lead. Many buildings before 1978 have lead paint. Use wet methods and HEPA vacuums, never dry sand or power wash without containment. Renovation firms working in homes and child-occupied facilities need EPA RRP certification. See Lead.
• Blasting is covered on Abrasive Blasting.
• Chemical strippers can contain dangerous solvents. Methylene chloride, which has killed workers in bathrooms and tanks, is now heavily restricted. Read the SDS.

Spraying

• Ground spray equipment to control static when spraying flammable coatings.
• Use spray booths or ventilation, and keep ignition sources out of the area.
• Relieve pressure before cleaning the tip or changing filters.
• Use the respirator the SDS requires. Many isocyanate coatings need supplied air. See Isocyanates.

Rags and waste

Rags soaked in oil-based paints, stains and linseed oil can heat up and catch fire on their own. Lay them flat to dry outside or store them in a sealed metal can with water, and empty it daily.

Before you paint

• SDS read for every product
• Ventilation set up; respirator fitted and right for the product
• Lead status of old surfaces known
• Ignition sources controlled
• Ladder, scaffold or lift set up correctly
• Spray gun trigger lock works
• Metal can for rags

Last updated: October 1, 2026