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Safety Precautions You Should Take When Paint Spraying

empty paint spray cans

empty paint spray cans

When spray painting, you should do a few things to ensure that everything goes over smoothly. Spray paint isn’t hazardous, but it isn’t exactly safe either. The fumes can be toxic, and it can pose a threat to your wellbeing if you don’t use them properly.

Luckily, most of the necessary safety precautions are pretty easy to do if you know about them. We’ll go over some of these essential precautions below.

paint brush divider

1. Stay Away from Heat

You should stay far away from heat and heat sources when spraying paint. You should avoid sparks and flame, of course, but heaters and hot machines should be avoided too. You should exhaust all flames, including pilot flames before you begin. Do not use electrical tools or other heat-creating appliances when spray painting.

Don’t smoke while you’re spray painting either – or after you’ve spray painted, for that matter. The fumes can hang in the air and on you for a while.

You should not spray in direct sunlight either, as surfaces can get quite hot after some time. You shouldn’t put the can in direct sunlight or near a heat source, as it may bust.

hand paint spraying wood panels
Image By: Vkochkin999, Shutterstock

2. Don’t Puncture the Can

Do not puncture the can. It is pressurized; puncturing and heat can cause it to burst. You should be aware of how you dispose of the can as well. Trash compactors are an obvious no-go. You shouldn’t put the can in a bag with anything that may puncture it either. You’d be surprised by how easy this is to do accidentally.

3. Ventilate, Ventilate, Ventilate

This is one of the essential precautions to take when spray painting. The vapors from spray paints are toxic. You should not breathe them in. You should spray paint outside whenever possible. If you need to spray paint inside for whatever reason, open the door and windows. Set up box fans to move the fumes outside. Wear a mask that can filter out the fumes.

Most hardware stores sell painting masks. When painting inside, these are essential.

Working,With,Paint,Spray,Gun
Image Credit: Marina Lohrbach, Shutterstock

4. Take Extra Precautions when Painting Lighting and Electronics

When painting light fixtures and electronics, you need to take some extra precautions. Ensure that everything is unplugged before you begin and make sure it is not hot. Do not paint lightbulbs or wiring. You should also not paint any damaged cords, as these may have exposed wires. You should check the cord for any damage before you start painting.

You should also not paint any part of the fixture that gets hot when the light is turned on. You may use high-heat paint for this purpose.

5. Keep Paint Off of Your Skin

Preferably, you shouldn’t get paint on your skin. Most paint is not skin-safe. While it may not cause serious issues, you can absorb many of the contents through your skin, and you may damage your skin while trying to get the paint off.

We recommend wearing gloves and taking a shower after painting – even if you didn’t get any prominent paint on you. You should wash your clothes too, as they can absorb the fumes. You should especially avoid getting it in your eyes, nose, or mouth – for obvious reasons.

spraying paint on metal work_Naronta_shutterstock
Image Credit: Naronta, Shutterstock

paint brush divider Safety is Essential

When spray painting, safety is essential. Spray paint may seem safe and straightforward, but the fumes are toxic. There is also the risk of fire, whether from the fumes or the can bursting. Because the fumes and paint are toxic, you also have to be aware of your skin absorbing the various chemicals in the paint, which isn’t safe in the least.

These safety precautions may seem like extra work, but they are essential for your health and well-being.

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Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

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