Blog / What PPE to Wear When Painting: A Comprehensive Guide

September 22, 2023

It is easy to overlook personal safety during a painting project. Regardless of whether you are a professional painter or DIY enthusiast, using the right personal protective wear is critical for any size job to minimize serious risks associated with painting. Let’s breakdown various protective wear options, recommendations and use cases for each type of ppe for painting.

Coveralls and Clothing

Painter’s coveralls are a staple in the painting industry. They provide full-body coverage and keep your clothes and your body clean from paint.

• Full Coverage: These coveralls typically include boots and a hood. We recommend wearing a full coverage coverall when painting with oil or solvent based paints. These types of paints can contain harmful chemicals and can cause irritation or allergic reactions.
• Spray Jacket: When painting or spraying in hot climates, or if full coverage safety just isn’t an issue, a spray jacket is the perfect option.
• Painter’s Pants: Pull over painter’s pants can be worn over any type of pants and will provide reliable protection against paint and overspray.

Respiratory Protection

Painting often involves exposure to harmful fumes and particles that are airborne, making respiratory safety a necessity. Respiratory masks and respirators are specifically engineered to filter out these airborne hazards, especially those found in spray paints or oil-based paints.

Eye and Face Protection

Your eyes and face are extremely vulnerable to paint splatters or overspray. Wearing appropriate eye and face protection is essential to prevent irritation and injuries.

• Safety Glasses: Goggles provide protection against paint splatters. Trimaco’s E-Z Clean Goggles are also impact and scratch resistant and can be easily cleaned with a damp microfiber after each use.
• Face Shield: Looking for full face coverage? A face shield is a great option when spray painting, protecting your full face, including your eyes.

Foot Protection

Foot protection not only protects your shoes from paint spills and splatters but can also provide additional slip resistant protection. Trimaco’s Smart Grip Shoe Covers feature a grippy backing, allowing you to walk safely on your job.

Head and Hearing Protection

• Hearing Protection: When working with loud equipment such as paint sprayers, utilize earplugs to prevent ear drum damage.
• Head Coverage: In addition to wearing a full coverage coverall, a spray sock or hood protects your head and neck from overspray

Don’t Compromise Safety

Ensuring your safety while painting is a non-negotiable on the jobsite. Equipping yourself with the appropriate PPE, such as coveralls, respiratory protection, eye protection and more, is a responsible and essential practice. Explore Trimaco’s full catalog and invest in quality PPE.