Painting contractors and crew members who perform painting tasks on a job site face certain unique safety issues that may not be present for other workers. Even the best painters in the Bay Area may face challenges and risks during a project. These dangers are distinct from those posed by other types of construction work, but that does not make them any less hazardous. Because of this, it is essential to have a solid understanding of the significance of painting safety to ensure the well-being of your crews while they are working.

There are an infinite number of dangers connected to painting on construction sites, some of which are more covert than others. It is important to point out that the majority of professional painters are aware of these dangers when they have received the appropriate training. On the other hand, if you have general laborers or other workers performing painting tasks on the job site, it’s possible that those workers aren’t as knowledgeable or educated about the dangers that exist around painting projects.

Some of these dangers may be obvious right away. On the other hand, some may not manifest themselves for years. Because of this, it is essential to be aware of the dangers associated with painting and to take the necessary precautions to protect oneself from getting hurt or even worse while working.

Building Size

Number of Stories

• When observed from above, the senior housing complex appears to be in the shape of a square with one of its sides removed. The complex has approximately 20 patios and balconies spread throughout the various units.
• The building comprises four stories, each of which is between 9 and 11 feet in height. However, in some regions, the maximum height of a story can be thirteen feet. The building had white walls throughout before the beginning of the painting project, but the roofing, trim, railings, and fascia were all painted in a dark color. Metal is used in the construction of balcony handrails and posts.

Number of Acres

• Livermore, CA is home to the senior living community Heritage Estates, which provides accommodations for multiple residents. According to the website of Klein Financial Corporation, the complex spans a land area of 8.38 acres and features anywhere from 60 to 65 assisted living units in addition to 190 independent living units. It has a total floor space of about 244,000 square feet, which is the building’s gross floor area.

Number of Units

• Heritage Estates has between 60 and 65 assisted living units and 190 independent living units in its community.

The Challenges Faced

Safety

• Their employees, along with the tenants and employees of an occupied space, are always one of their top priorities when it comes to safety measures. Our workers had to take extra precautions to ensure their safety when going out and coming back into the building because more than one hundred people were living there. These people lived both inside and outside the building.
• Because of the height of the building, it would be necessary for the workers to perform their work from aerial boom lifts to access the higher levels of the building. Because the building is built on top of an underground parking garage, we were unable to use lifts to access the center courtyard (which makes up half of the building) because of weight restrictions imposed by the building’s structure. The structure is located on the corner of two streets that see a lot of foot traffic and is bordered on two sides by sidewalks that also see a lot of foot traffic.

Overcoming the Challenges

Alternative Access for Tenants/Employees

• Our workers would seal off the area where they were working by first closing one door at a time, which would ensure the residents’ safety. In the courtyard, where they were unable to use the lifts, our workers had to erect scaffolding around the entire area to gain access.

Using Scaffolding

• By erecting scaffolds, our workers were able to gain unrestricted access to the exterior walls of the building without exceeding the structural weight restrictions.

Using Booms on Sidewalks/Streets

• Because booms were being used on the sidewalks and streets, it was necessary to block off the sidewalks to foot traffic and, in some instances, to restrict a section of the roads to a single lane of traffic.

Painting Process

The Painting Application

• The painting crew ranged from eight to fifteen members strong at any given point in time during the project. By using the scaffolding or the boom lifts, our workers were able to access all three of the areas: the patios, the balconies, and the courtyards. The crew applied the paint with an airless pump sprayer because it was more efficient.
• The crew utilized the following brand and type of paint for the project: Sherwin-Williams A-100 flat paint on the stucco walls and Sherwin-Williams DTM (direct-to-metal) paint on the metal balcony railings.
• In terms of the quantity of paint that was utilized, the crew utilized approximately 1,500 gallons of paint during the first phase of the project. For the second phase, it is anticipated that another 2500 gallons will be required.

Safety Precautions while Painting

• The painting crew had to take extra precautions in each of the three areas, ensuring that they covered and protected adjacent finishes as well as the residents’ personal belongings. They used drop cloths to protect the residents’ belongings from any damage that could be caused by paint drips during the painting process.
• The painters wore fall protection harnesses whenever they worked from boom lifts for their safety. The workers are protected from injury by these harnesses, which prevent them from falling while they are using the lifts.
• Because there was a significant amount of foot traffic, the painters protected the walkways by attaching plywood ceilings to the scaffolding. This kept dropped items from falling on anyone who was walking below the scaffolding and causing injury.

Conclusion

While lifting heavy equipment won’t be a major part of painting work for the most part, their duties and work do present other health and injury risks which is why it is crucial to attend to details and follow safety procedures. 

The painting project at Heritage Estates Livermore’s first phase was successful. Painting from a height was one of the difficulties that were achieved while working on the project and in addition to being mindful of the workers’, tenants’, drivers’, and pedestrians’ safety. Despite these difficulties and worries, concerns were handled satisfactorily for the client.

Plan your future exterior painting in the Bay Area projects with us at Custom Painting, Inc., Whether you have a vision for your next painting project or seek a professional eye to help you choose colors to complement your brand, we can handle your project. Call us at 510-795-0903 to schedule a walkthrough of your property and your free quote.