1. Painting industry
Jeremy Mohon
Indh 5335 Fa 16

2. What is painting
“Painters apply paint, stain, and coatings to walls and ceilings, buildings, bridges, and other structures (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).”
Tasks that Painters perform are
Cover floors, furniture, and trim with drop cloths, tarps, and masking tape, to protect surfaces
Remove and replace pictures and outlet and switch covers
Fill holes and cracks with putty or plaster
Prepare surfaces by scraping, wire brushing, or sanding to a smooth finish
Calculate the area to be painted and the amount of paint needed
Apply primers or sealers so the paint will adhere
Install scaffolding and set up ladders
Apply paint or other finishes, using hand brushes, rollers, or sprayers
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016)

3. More about Painters
“Painting requires a lot of climbing, bending, kneeling, and reaching. Most industrial painters work outside, almost always in dry, warm weather. Those who paint bridges or buildings may be exposed to extreme heights and uncomfortable positions (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).”
Most of a painters training come from on the job training, however The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) has a skilled craftsman program for painters. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016) and ("NCCER Painting", 2016)
The median wage for painters in 2015 was $36,580.
Painters careers is expected to grow by 7%
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016)

4. Ergonomic Exposures in Painting
Performing repetitive physical tasks.
Lifting heavy objects
Extended work hours
Sprains and Strains
("Painter : OSH Answers - CCOHS", 2016)
Contact Stresses
Working arms overhead
Standing for long periods of time.
Working in Awkward positions

5. Men and Women differences in painting
A study analyzing differences between men and women painters to determine if there are differences in muscular loads when conducting the same tasks (Meyland Et. Al. 2014).
“The researchers used Unilateral electromyography (EMG)recordings obtained from the supraspinatus muscle by intramuscular electrodes and from the trapezius, extensor and flexor carpi radialis muscles by surface electrodes (Meyland Et. Al ).”
“The researchers found Women worked at about 50 % higher relative muscular loads than men in the supraspinatus and forearm muscles at all percentiles and in all tasks (Meyland Et. Al. 2014).”
This may explain why more women in the industry have complaints of MSD’s than men due to using a higher muscular load than men (Meyland Et. Al. 2014).”

6. Painting work height
In a study by Rosati, Chopp, and Dickerson (2014) on work height, gender, and paint tool design, they found that painting at a middle height is best in order to prevent upper extremity damage. They found that using a ladder to paint at middle height helped workers to become less fatigued. For women they found that a roller designed for two hands would help to decrease muscle fatigue.

7. Ergonomic Exposures in Painting pictures

8. Ergonomic Syndromes in Painting
Supraspinatus tendinitis- Painters Shoulder
Lateral epicondylitis- Painter’s Elbow
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Rotator cuff syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Bursitis
Sprains and strains
Low Back Pain

9. Body parts affected from painting
Rotator cuff syndrome - For painters this can effect the tendons and muscles in the shoulder from the repetitive use of the shoulders from painting (Mayo Clinic, "Rotator cuff injury", 2016).
Supraspinatus tendinitis - can affect elbow, shoulders, and wrists from overhead repeated painting (DeBerardino, 2016)
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome- can cause arm and hand fatigue. It can also cause pain in the neck and shoulder region from overhead work (Mayo Clinic, "Thoracic outlet syndrome", 2016)
Sprains and Strains- can effects wrists, elbows, and shoulders from falls and lifting heavy objects (Mayo Clinic, "Sprains and strains", 2015).

10. Body parts affected from painting continued
Carpal tunnel syndrome- causes pain in the wrist and hands from repetitive motion and contact stress (Mayo Clinic, "Carpal tunnel syndrome", 2016).
Lateral epicondylitis- Painter’s Elbow – Causes pain in the elbow and wrists from repeated movements of the wrist and elbow (Mayo Clinic, "Tennis elbow", 2016).
Bursitis – can effect the shoulders and elbows from repeated movements from painting (Mayo Clinic, "Bursitis", 2014)
Low Back Pain – pain, numbness or tingling in the back or all the way to the knee from lifting and awkward postures (Mayo Clinic, "Back pain: Symptom", 2015).

11. Risk Factors from painting

12. Prevention Methods to prevent injuries while painting
Use of ergonomic paintbrush handles
Using ergonomic paint roller handles
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment and footwear.
Keep work areas clear of clutter and equipment.
Learn safety procedures for working in confined spaces.
("Painter : OSH Answers - CCOHS", 2016)
Learn correct procedures for working at heights.
Select the correct ladder for the job.
Avoid awkward body positions or take frequent breaks.
Learn safe lifting techniques.
Keep tools and equipment, and their safety features, in good working order.
Work at middle height as much as possible to prevent injuries (Rosati & Dickerson, 2009)

13. Ergonomic painting equipment
$ on Amazon
$ on Amazon

14. Ergonomic painting equipment Continued
$24.99 at Target
$4.50 at Amazon

15. Ergonomic painting equipment Continued
$ on Amazon
$47.90 on Amazon

16. References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Edition, Painters, Construction and Maintenance, on the Internet at (visited October 25, 2016).
DeBerardino, T. (2016, May 23). Supraspinatus Tendonitis. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from
Meyland, J., Heilskov-Hansen, T., Alkjær, T., Koblauch, H., Mikkelsen, S., Svendsen, S., & ... Simonsen, E. (2014). Sex differences in muscular load among house painters performing identical work tasks. European Journal Of Applied Physiology, 114(9), doi: /s
NCCER Painting. (2016, October 24). Retrieved October 24, 2016, from Painting.pdf
Painter : OSH Answers - CCOHS. (2016, October 24). Retrieved October 24, 2016, from
Rosati, P., & Dickerson, C. (2009, January). THE INFLUENCE OF WALL PAINTING ON SHOULDER MUSCLE ACTIVITY AND HORIZONTAL PUSH FORCE [Scholarly project]. In Options Incorporated. Retrieved October 10, 2016, from
Rosati, P. M., Chopp, J. N., & Dickerson, C. R. (2014). Investigating shoulder muscle loading and exerted forces during wall painting tasks: Influence of gender, work height and paint tool design. Applied Ergonomics, 45(4), doi: /j.apergo
Staff, M. C. (2016, June 15). Tennis elbow. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from
Staff, M. C. (2016, October 26). Carpal tunnel syndrome. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from syndrome/basics/definition/con
Staff, M. C. (2016, August 27). Thoracic outlet syndrome. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from outlet-syndrome/home/ovc

17. References continued
Staff, M. C. (2016, June 28). Rotator cuff injury. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from injury/home/ovc
Staff, M. C. (2014, August 20). Bursitis. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from
Staff, M. C. (2015, January 24). Sprains and strains. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from strains/basics/definition/CON
Staff, M. C. (2015, June 23). Back pain: Symptom. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from pain/basics/definition/sym