The Importance of OSHA Compliance in Workplace Safety for Painting in Industrial Settings

When looking for an industrial painter in Kansas City, you’ll be comparing different options, like rates, client reviews, and painting options. However, there’s another element that you should pay attention to as well: 

OSHA compliance. 

While workplace safety for painting may not seem like a crucial detail at first, it matters a lot for several reasons. First and foremost, ensuring an OSHA-compliant workplace prevents potential problems like fines and investigations. 

Overall, having an OSHA-compliant commercial painter can make a huge difference in the results of your project. Not only do you not have to worry about worker safety, but you know that the company is detail-oriented and does its due diligence. So, with that in mind, let’s break down the importance of OSHA compliance and how it relates to industrial painting projects. 

A Brief Overview of OSHA

OSHA stands for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is part of the US Department of Labor. Its primary goal is to protect workers and ensure they have a safe and healthy work environment free of retaliatory practices.

One of the ways OSHA protects workers is by setting industry standards and best practices. The Administration also inspects workplaces to verify that employers are following these standards. Finally, OSHA enforces anti-retaliatory rules and regulations so workers won’t feel pressured to break these guidelines if asked by their employer. 

OSHA Guidelines for Painting in Industrial Settings

Workplace safety for painting is the responsibility of both the painting company and its clients. Since painters have to work in a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces, they must have access to safe working conditions, regardless of the size or scope of the project. 

For example, ventilation is often a primary concern because of the off-gassing of certain paints. So, if workers are painting a confined area, there must be adequate ventilation to minimize and prevent health problems. 

Here’s a quick overview of the different standards within the OSHA guidelines for industrial painting projects. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All workers must be provided with adequate PPE for the job at hand. If workers are exposed to harmful chemicals or vapors, they must have OSHA-compliant air line respirators. Workers must also be provided with masks, goggles, rubber-tipped shoes, and other protective layers as needed. 

Painting Equipment 

Some industrial-grade paint can be flammable, so it’s imperative to prevent sparks. Workers must be able to use non-metallic paint buckets and tools while on the job. Any powered device that uses a motor must be insulated to prevent explosions or sparking. 

Ventilation

Even if workers are provided with air line respirators, there must still be adequate ventilation for the area in which they’re painting. This ventilation is crucial not just for when workers are painting but for afterward to ensure all gasses or vapors dissipate completely. This way, anyone else working within the space won’t be exposed to harmful chemicals later on. 

Additionally, testing procedures must be in place to ensure any vapors don’t exceed OSHA limits. If that happens, work must stop immediately to dissipate the gasses. Once the levels have returned to normal, workers can continue painting. 

Environmental Safety

Clients must ensure that any area getting painted is safe for all workers. Some potential hazards can include exposed wiring, metallic surfaces that could spark, mold accumulation, exposed construction elements (e.g., rebar, piping, etc.), lead pieces, motorized equipment, and more. 

If necessary, the painter may have to do a walkthrough of the industrial space to verify that no hazards exist. If there are any problems, the client must address them before work can begin (or continue). 

Working With Heights

One of the main challenges of industrial painting is accessing tall, hard-to-reach areas. For example, if you’re painting the exterior of your building, painters must be able to reach spots on different floors. 

On these occasions, workers must have restraints and harnesses available, including anchor points. This way, should someone fall, they won’t fall all the way to the ground. If ladders are used, they must be OSHA-compliant ladders, meaning they’re stable, well-built, and rated to hold the right amount of weight (i.e., the worker plus any equipment). 

Why Workplace Safety for Painting Matters

For the most part, following OSHA guidelines may not seem like a big deal. In fact, you may have worked with partners that don’t necessarily follow OSHA recommendations. However, there are a few reasons why these safety standards matter, such as: 

Worker Safety

Industrial painting is a laborious and time-consuming job. If painters are forced to work in unsafe conditions, they may get injured or face health problems that can cause expensive delays and setbacks. Additionally, workers may refuse to paint in unsafe areas until they’re brought up to code. No job is worth someone’s life.

Lower Insurance Rates

Insurance is a necessary part of any industrial painting project to protect both the painting company and its clients. Insurers want to minimize risk as much as possible, so they will want to verify that OSHA regulations are followed from start to finish. 

While an insurance company may not inspect a project site before work starts, it will definitely investigate if there are any claims filed. If the insurer discovers that workers or employers were not following OSHA rules, they’ll deny the claim, creating an expensive and potentially illegal situation. 

Reduced Risk of Fines and Penalties

Overall, OSHA inspections are relatively rare, but they do occur. If OSHA happens to inspect a job site, they can levy fines and fees against both the painting company and the client, depending on the type and severity of the infraction. 

Also, because OSHA helps protect workers against retaliation, individuals may report any substantial problems with a particular project. 

Luke Kush is Your OSHA-Compliant Industrial Paint Provider

When it comes to industrial painting, you want a partner who can get the job done quickly, efficiently, and safely. Luke Kush Painting has sufficient experience and expertise to ensure you get the best results with no headaches or worries. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!