PROPER PPE FOR SPRAY PAINTING

While spraying paint, your health and safety depend on protection from particulates and fumes. This requires the use of effective personal protective equipment (PPE). By protecting your skin, airways, and other parts of your body with high-quality PPE, you can be confident you or your workers are safe from potentially hazardous agents.

Not all PPE for paint spray applications is made equal. It’s critical to look for high-quality gear that best fits where and how you're applying the spray paint.

Paint Spray Applications: Particulate or Liquid Hazard?

Although paint starts as a liquid, pressurized sprayers quickly transform that substance into an airborne particulate. These liquid particulates, or aerosols, enter the air as a mist. If inhaled, these relatively large particles can settle deep in the lungs causing health problems.

What are the hazards of spray painting?

As the liquid aerosol enters the air, fumes also accompany the paint particles. These fumes are also potentially harmful, as they contain volatile organic compounds or VOCs. These compounds can cause minor to severe health issues, including throat irritation, difficulty breathing, and even kidney damage. The compounds may enter your system through inhalation or skin absorption.

Direct or prolonged exposure to VOCs can cause long-term health effects.This is why it’s vital to wear PPE to limit skin contact and inhalation of harmful vapors or fumes.

Potential Risks of Paint Particulate Exposure

Risks of paint particulate exposure are typically separated into short-term and long-term health effects. The short-term effects tend to occur immediately after exposure and may only last a short period. With repeated exposure, however, the effects can build and cause worsening symptoms and other health complications like difficulty breathing or throat irritation.

Short term health effects may include:

  • Headaches
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Skin irritation

Long-term exposure to paint fumes and particulates can cause severe health problems. In recent studies, direct or prolonged exposure to these hazards has been linked to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, and stroke.

What is the recommended PPE for spray painting operations?

OSHA requires employees to have access to respirators for spray painting and they are recommended for use when a technician is downstream of the object or surface that is being sprayed. All respirators must be fit tested to ensure a proper seal to the face for protection of the lungs and respiratory system. Other common recommendations include eye protection, nitrile gloves, or chemical-resistant gloves.

Not all paints and paint fumes are as toxic, flammable, or dangerous as others. Always check your paint supplier's safety data sheet(s) (SDS) to determine the appropriate level of protection needed.Check with local authorities such as health department officials, OSHA inspectors, fire marshals (etc.) who may also dictate what PPE is required for your spray-painting application.

Confirm that your paint’s SDS meets your local regulations and/or specifications. However, keep in mind these requirements can differ by city, county, or state.

Disposable Protective Clothing for Comfortable Confidence™

Your first line of defense against paint particulates is disposable protective clothing. When made from breathable materials, this type of PPE keeps workers cool and comfortable, so they don't cut corners.

There are many different levels of protection for spray painting projects or general paint jobs. For the most protection, select a paint suit with an attached hood, long sleeves, pants, and elastic wrists and ankles. Some suits also include attached boots for foot and shoe protection. These safety features help provide full coverage of the body to prevent skin contact.

When purchasing disposable protective clothing, remember that frequent change-outs are recommended after employee breaks – and frequent garment checks are recommended throughout the workday to ensure the garment's integrity.

International Enviroguard and Spray-Painting PPE

Exceptional disposable protective clothing comes with proprietary features designed to boost the comfort and mobility of the wearer.Body Filter 95+® from International Enviroguard, for example, maintains excellent airflow without compromising safety.

These breathable suits and accessories offer protection against particulates as small as 0.3 microns with a filtration efficiency of up to 99 percent.This spray paint safety clothing offers superior protection against airborne particulates that is comparable to the effectiveness of an N95 respirator.

This high-quality material helps maintain a comfortable temperature to prevent overheating. It's not uncommon for workers in a hot paint booth to cut, tear, or modify their protective apparel to cool off or enhance breathability. This is a serious safety concern. While shopping for protective clothing for paint spray applications, look for materials designed for breathability, mobility, and comfort.

Benefits of High-Quality, Disposable PPE for Paint Spray Applications

When you invest in high-quality PPE for paint spraying jobs, workers are safe from particulate and fume exposure. This also preserves long-term health, so workers can remain in the industry for years or even decades.

Well-fitting protective clothing results in fewer rip-outs and a more comfortable fit while crouching and squatting, which are common when painting. Additionally, protective clothing that breathes will keep workers cooler as they generate body heat from the activities of the job.

Select Protective Gear for All Your Spray-Painting Activities

You can limit occupational exposure to paint particulates and fumes by investing in the best personal protective equipment available. High-quality disposable protective clothing, full-face respirators, and other PPE help maintain worker health and safety for the long haul.

For the highest quality PPE for paint spray applications, check out Body Filter 95+® from International Enviroguard. Whether you need safety clothing for spray guns, working in a paint booth, using a simple brush or roller, or even PPE for painting a car, we have you covered from head to toe.