It’s critical that all painters, drywall finishers, and glaziers on union jobs are safe while at work. To ensure that guidelines are met, unions such as the Toronto-based IUPAT help regulate numerous elements of job sites, materials and procedures to reduce the risk of injury or fatalities. Some of the important considerations for IUPAT Trades that have led to safety measures include:
- Courses on working at heights. These courses are part of the fall protection training and are mandatory when working in construction. A new curriculum for working at heights in Ontario will be implemented as of April 2015. Painters and glaziers commonly work off the ground, so this type of education is essential to their security.
- Employer expectations in terms of potentially hazardous materials. Employers of painters and glaziers must meet safety processes when it comes to handling and storing products that contain ingredients such as asbestos, which can cause serious health problems.
- Employer expectations in terms of proper equipment. Workers in all trades that involve hazards, need to have personal protective equipment fitted for their jobs. For painters, this can include items like masks and gloves to minimize exposure to particulates.
- Workers compensation if on-the-job accidents happen. This eliminates glaziers’ and painters’ concerns for what could occur to their families financially should they fall, or get sick.
- Reporting procedures following a hazardous or dangerous experience. Understanding how to properly report an issue is critical to learning from it, and providing authorities with an exact understanding of how the experience came to be.
As the provincial government and private entities continue to work with unions like the IUPAT, the art and science of the trades will become safer for current and future workers.
More information about safety regulations is available through the IUPAT by calling (416) 630-9604.
