Commercial Painter Work Injuries

Commercial painters and commercial painting companies are hired to complete large-scale painting tasks for businesses and communities. They may be hired to perform substantial painting work in connection with a new construction project or a rebuild or renovation, or they may be hired to complete routine large-scale repainting jobs in schools, retail stores and malls, hospitals, large apartment and condominium complexes, and much more. They perform both interior and exterior work. And because of the significant size of commercial painting jobs, they work with a range of machines and tools to get the job done.

Like other laborers, commercial painters in Maryland are routinely at risk of suffering on-the-job injuries. Our Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers can tell you more about the injury risks, common commercial painting injuries, and seeking workers’ compensation benefits through the Maryland workers’ compensation system.

Commercial Painting Work Duties and Injury Hazards 

What do commercial painters do, and why are these jobs hazardous? According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), commercial painters must prepare and then paint a wide range of interior and exterior surfaces in various types of buildings, including offices, commercial structures, community buildings, and more. Their jobs tasks include many of the following, according to the BLS:

• Installing scaffolding for preparing and painting surfaces above ground level;
• Filling holes and cracks in interior and exterior surfaces;
• Scraping paint and removing paint and debris to prepare materials for painting;
• Applying primers, sealers, and other preliminary materials; and
• Applying paints, coatings, and finishes to interior and exterior surfaces at various heights.

Similar to construction workers, as a result of working at heights and on scaffolding, as well as working on ladders and using heavy machinery for some types of preparation work, commercial painters can be at risk of many types of work injuries. According to the BLS, commercial painters sustain the second-highest rate of injuries in comparison with all types of workers on construction projects, second only to roofers.

Common Types of Accidents and Injuries

What kinds of accidents and injuries result in harm to commercial painters? Some of the most common accidents include the following:

• Falls from heights;
• Slips and falls; and
• Exposure to hazardous substances.

Frequent injuries include but are not limited to:

• Traumatic brain injuries;
• Spinal cord injuries;
• Broken bones;
• Diseases related to hazardous substance exposures, such as asbestos or lead;
• Contusions;
• Lacerations;
• Back injuries;
• Neck injuries;
• Repetitive motion injuries; and
• Overexertion injuries.

Contact a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

Were you injured while working as a commercial painter? These kinds of work injuries are, unfortunately, common. Yet the important thing to know is that you may be eligible to obtain workers’ compensation benefits through the Maryland workers’ compensation system. Workers’ compensation coverage can pay for the medical care you need to recover from your injury, can provide you with wage-replacement benefits, and can provide disability benefits if your injury has resulted in a temporary or permanent disability. One of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC can discuss your case with you today and can assist you in seeking workers’ compensation benefits.

Sources:

bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/painters-construction-and-maintenance.htm

bls.gov/opub/ted/2018/roofers-and-painters-had-highest-rates-of-nonfatal-falls-to-a-lower-level-in-2016.htm#:~:text=Roofers%20and%20painters%20were%20the,per%2010%2C000%20full%2Dtime%20workers