Safety And Painting

paint_booger

How many non union painters consider the posibility of OSHA stopping by, and what would you do if a coworker got hurt?

ProWallGuy

At a residential repaint, the chances are slim to none.

Depending on the injury, follow the guidelines in our safety program.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Workaholic

Less than PWG said.
We have illigals painting every other house, Screw Osha, this should be treated first and formost above safety.
If they are in fact illegal and are in fact breaking the law then why is there not any punishment.
Sorry i do not intend to hijack the thread,
There is not a union in my state.

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Sean

paint_booger

Round them up and prosicute them! They are criminals! The Union is pretty good at weeding them out.

Workaholic

I would think that having a union would be good for weeding out the illegals. Whats the experienced union painter make?
My mistake this question should of been placed in the paint guru department.

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Sean

paint_booger

Depends on where you are located.

Workaholic

Ok well how about where you are located.

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Sean

paint_booger

Dc14 = $35.40

Richard

When I was working for someone a while back, Mr. Osha stopped by our job and made us change our ladder depth. We we're out too far from the house like most painters because it's easier to climb and you feel a lot safer (what a crime)

he was just driving by too and figured he'd chime in...he probably does it all the time

Can OSHA really "do" anything (on residential repaints) other than call in back up if your in some major non-compliance (lead, illegals, etc)?

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Rich

paint_booger

For a lader that isn't 4 to 1?

I guess he could write the company up and try to fine the owner if he wanted to, but that would only happen if the painters on site were jerks to him.

The owner would probably get off if he decided to fight it.

"Common sense must prevail".

I'm a little more concerned with the "You are fired before you hit the ground" mentality that many small owners have.

Richard

I'm a younger business owner and haven't let the world corrupt me like all the grumpy/bitter/figured it all out 20 years ago bosses out there. I know exactly the one's you are referring to, but they are just run of the mill type guys. I pride myself on quality, craftsmanship, top notch customer relations, and utmost respect for my employees. I don't hire run of the mill people, so I don't treat them run of the mill.

I couldn't live with myself if I "fit in" with all the other schmo's out there
That's why I'm in $1,000,000 homes and they are spraying out apartments

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Rich

paint_booger

Koodo's! I'm a fan of quality.

How much safety do you stress?
Have a safety program?
Got your OSHA 10 hour card?

I'm not saying you are not safe ... hiring smart people helps, just wondering about the non union safety programs out there.

Richard

When I was painting submarines in the union a few years back, I had safety branded into my forehead, lol. It was so crucial because of the industrial environment and most of the workforce being under 30 years old.

I have recently hired my first employee, so I teach safety as I go. There is a guy who constantly calls me asking about "safety meetings". Maybe I'll actually call him back and see what he's referring to.

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Rich

paint_booger

Every week print, discus, and sign one of the forms at the address below. Weekly safety meetings ... even if they don't apply to what you are doing ... aid in keeping safety in the back of everyone's mind. Encourage talking about what could be done to make things safer. Keep a log of all of these meetings, and OSHA would love you if they ever stop by. You may also potentialy save someone's life by making them think twice about something.

http://www.toolboxtopics.com/Construction/index.htm

paint_booger

One of my favorite talks was about curcuit pannels.

Always use your less dominant hand to flip the switches, and move your body to the side.

WHY?

If there ever is an electrical explosion, you still have your good looks, and an arm that can still make you money. Your woman will apreciate it!
If your wife leaves you cause you have only one arm, you can always use that good arm for something else.

Richard

yeah, like a Sunday call to the unemployment office

Let me guess, you meant something else

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Rich

paint_booger

Do the weekly safety meetings. You'll enjoy the twists you can put on the stories. It's fun, and makes things safer. I'll tell ya the safety meeting details about the topic "OUT OF TOWN WOMEN ON OUT OF TOWN JOBS" some time. OSHA people are human too.

pstorey

http://www.toolboxtopics.com/Construction/index.htm

This is a great page, Thanks.

We hold a safety meeting every 2 weeks when the checks are handed out. A different topice relevant to the trade or specific job we're on is discussed and everyone must sign off to confirm they were there and they understand the tems under discussion.
We got an safety folder and attendance sheet from our WC carrier and it works well for keeping safety to the fore of peoples minds.

If OSHA stop by out here in SF it's mainly for lead disturbance issues but if they do get you on one thing they'll throw the book at you for everything else.

If someone does get hurt and it's not serious we treat them with our first aid kit thats always onsite or if it's serious i'd take them straight to the emergency room.

What does the union do or recommend?

paint_booger

First and formost ... the guy next to you is your brother! Not your coworker. He's Your Brother!

Second ... you look out for him, and he looks out for you! And You know he's looking out for you!

That's the Union!

Safety is #1 with us!
Quality is #2
Productivity is #3

For the company ... reverse the order.

When you run work for the union company, you become half company man and half union man ... SAFETY is always first!

If a guy gets hurt ... he's like one of your kids ... if a guy dies ... Oh God!

Safety has become obsurd ... never stand on a 5-gal bucket =$7000 fine ... and wear a helmut when you ride a bike ... but ... look out for you BROTHER! He's a painter just like you!

paint_booger

As a painter ... you are exposed to many chemicals. Lead sucks!

You can buy a lead test kit for $1.45 at your local hardware store (find the hottest chich, and ask her to show you where it is and how it works) ... even if it's 3 bucks ... get it ... test it yourself, and raise the issue with your boss if it tests positive! RED is bad! (When you rub the swab on the paint)!

If your boss won't be sympathetic toward your safety needs, don't think about this months rent think about living to 90 instead of 60!

Google lead paint safety.