Even the most experienced commercial painters in Hayward still feel some jitters whenever they climb on a stepladder or an extension ladder. This means that, despite their skill and experience, they also mind their own safety first and foremost over providing a quality paint job.
In every field of work, such as house and commercial painting, safety is of paramount and critical importance. It doesn’t take a lot to cause an accident, from a paint spill to a serious injury. That is why extra caution should be exercised especially when stepping up on the ladder. Here are some suggestions that will ensure safety when you have to climb to paint certain high areas of a house or a commercial building:
1. Choose the right type of ladder.
Do not forget to read the safety and warning labels when you purchase the ladder.
If you intend to paint the interiors of your home or a small coffee shop, for example, a six-foot stepladder will do just fine. Extension ladders are best used for painting exteriors or vaulted ceilings.
2. It is important to check your ladder’s condition before you use it.
Check the rungs, rails, and base carefully for wear and tear. When inspecting a used ladder, make sure all parts are well secured and never come loose. Ladders also experience structural conditions due to dust accumulation or changes in weather that may cause it to experience rusting.
3. Do not use the ladder if you are not up to the job.
If you are feeling weak, dizzy, drunk or under the influence of substances, do not attempt to climb the stepladder. It is critical that you are of sound body and mind before taking a potentially risky job such as climbing the ladder. If you choose to climb a ladder while not feeling well, you may end up sitting in the hospital emergency room!
4. Do the test.
This advice is the most ideal when doing exterior painting. Begin by stepping on the ladder’s rung carefully, grabbing both rails, and giving a good shake with your weight. Then jump in a little. If you feel a significant wobble, it means that the ladder is tilted due to a rocky or an uneven surface. Reposition the ladder until its base or feet find a more stable surface.
5. Do not forget the right angle.
When propping an extension ladder, make sure that you get the right angle before you step on it. The ideal range between the floor or the ground and the ladder’s base should be about 60 degrees – not too steep as the ladder becomes so straight and leaning too close against the wall, nor not too low that the base of the ladder will slide down when you step on it.
6. Make sure the area is clear of clutter.
For the DIYers, in particular, this advice applies to interior painting. Make sure that your room is clear of clutter and obstructions that will make setting up and moving the ladder around difficult.
If you choose to hire the best commercial painters in Hayward, you want to make the job as easy and safe as possible for your professional painting team. Remove all scattered toys, books, furniture and other odds and ends so that the painters have more room to maneuver the ladder when it is needed.