Every year, painters and contractors suffer serious injuries due to unsafe working conditions, faulty equipment, and employer negligence. Falls from scaffolding, chemical exposure, and defective spray systems are among the most common causes of accidents. When these incidents occur, victims may be entitled to file a painting accident lawsuit to recover compensation for their losses.
Legal Responsibility and Potential Claims
Painting accidents can involve multiple layers of liability. In many cases, employers, contractors, or equipment manufacturers may be responsible for unsafe working conditions. Depending on the circumstances, injured workers may have one or more legal claims, including:
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Workers’ Compensation Claims: Most injured painters qualify for workers’ compensation, which provides coverage for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. However, these benefits do not compensate for pain, suffering, or long-term disability.
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Third-Party Lawsuits: If a negligent subcontractor, property owner, or equipment manufacturer contributed to the accident, a separate civil claim can be filed.
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Product Liability Claims: Injuries caused by defective sprayers, scaffolds, or safety equipment may lead to lawsuits against manufacturers or distributors.
Painting injuries may include physical falls and construction-related trauma, or acute toxic exposure from paint fumes and other chemicals. Common injuries can include lung conditions, eye injury, and various bodily harm due to slip and fall accidents.
Painters experience accidents in a variety of workplaces and situations, in large-scale building and remodeling operations and small painting jobs. Workplace safety experts urge employers and painters to protect their well-being with basic precautions including well-ventilated work areas and utilizing personal protective gear.
Repeated exposure to paint fumes over long periods can have harmful health effects. The inhalation of paint fumes can lead to blood deficiency and kidney, brain and liver damage. Whether workers are painting the interior of a house or removing older paints, workers risk the silent dangers of toxic chemicals from paint strippers, solvents or paint dust.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Catastrophic Injury lawyer and employer negligence attorney. Mr. Lyon has represented plaintiffs nationwide in a wide variety of workplace injury and toxic exposure claims.
Painting Injuries & Accidents
- Improper set ladders, platforms and scaffolds
- Workplace Ventilation Risks
- Fatigued Worker Accidents
- Slip, trip and fall hazards
- OSHA Fall Safety Violation
- Exposure to mold
- Lead Poisoning
- Working with toxic paint products and solvents
- Working with combustible materials
- Climbing ladders with equipment in tow
- Electrical hazards
- Spray Paint Exposure
Prevention of Painting Injuries
Preventing hazardous exposure to paint fumes is pretty straightforward, yet some employers take safety measures lightly and endanger workers. Any painting operation requires proper ventilation.
Any worker who begins to experience symptoms of toxic exposure should leave the immediate work area and seek medical attention. Inhaling paint fumes for an extended period can lead to a headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness and confusion.
If you get paint or a chemical in the eyes, you should immediately wash it out with water and immediately visit a medical professional. Eye protection and a mask is recommended for many painting jobs.
Painters Risk Workplace Toxic Exposure
Paint stripping with solvents can be extremely hazardous, with pollutants up to a thousand times more toxic than outdoor levels. Lead poisoning can be an issue with older paints and painters should protect themselves against exposure. Paints, paint thinners or strippers release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which may include:
- Toluene
- Xylene
- Ethyl acetate
- Formaldehyde
- Methylene chloride
- Benzene
High exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) for long periods of time, as with professional painters, has lead to serious damage to the liver, kidneys and nervous system. Workers are encouraged to follow safety regulations set forth by the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration limiting toxic paint exposure.
Toxic effects and painting injuries in Ohio may include cardiac and kidney injury, lung cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and others cancers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies painting as a “carcinogenic occupation.”
Lung disease and respiratory diseases are long-term risks for painters. Continual exposure to hazardous materials may lead to asthma, bronchitis or emphysema. Also, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that hundreds of workers suffer eye injuries and many are blinded every year from paint and other chemicals at the workplace.
Common Causes of Painting Accidents
Painting work often requires employees to perform tasks at significant heights or in confined, poorly ventilated spaces. These environments create serious risks if safety procedures are not properly followed. Common causes of injuries include:
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Falls from scaffolds or ladders: Many painters work on elevated platforms without proper guardrails, safety harnesses, or stable footing. A fall from even a short height can lead to fractures, spinal damage, or fatal injuries.
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Toxic exposure: Paints, solvents, and coatings may contain hazardous chemicals such as lead, benzene, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Prolonged or unprotected exposure can cause respiratory illness, chemical burns, and long-term organ damage.
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Defective equipment: Malfunctioning sprayers, compressors, or lift systems can cause explosions, electrical shocks, or severe burns.
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Poor ventilation and confined spaces: Working indoors or in tanks and tunnels can lead to oxygen depletion or inhalation of dangerous fumes if proper ventilation is not provided.
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Lack of protective gear: Employers who fail to provide respirators, gloves, eye protection, or non-slip footwear expose workers to preventable harm.
ABOUT THE LYON FIRM
Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.
The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.
NO COST UNLESS WE WIN
The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.
Why are these cases important?
Victims may recover damages for medical treatment, lost income, permanent disability, emotional distress, and other losses. Families of painters who suffer fatal injuries may also pursue wrongful death claims.