SPRAY FINISHING SAFETY CHECKLIST

This is not an all-inclusive checklist; it simply highlights some critical items. Other requirements exist
that are not included in the checklist. As appropriate, your organization will need to add to this
checklist for shop-unique requirements or situations.
General OK
Do functional managers ensure spray painting operations are closely supervised and
1 equipment is in serviceable condition?
On all air-type spraying equipment is a pressure regulator valve installed in the airline
2 between the compressor and painting equipment?
Is a pressure relief valve and a pressure gauge installed between the pressure regulator
3 and pressurized paint containers and (or) spray guns?
Are pressure relief valves set to open at pressures not more than 10 pounds above the
4 required working pressure?
Are painters’ ladders, scaffolds, lifelines, and other equipment inspected prior to use to be
5 certain they are in safe condition?
Is paint or dope mixing done in designated, adequately ventilated rooms constructed of
6 fire-resistant materials?
7 Are mixing rooms provided with a floor drain to make it possible to wash down spills?
Do local installations ensure collection sumps are installed in the floor drain system and
8 (or) that the wastewater treatment plant can process the spillage
If this is not the case have local installations developed alternate means of cleaning up the
9 spillage?
10 When possible, are paints mixed in covered areas out of doors?
11 Are all sources of ignition prohibited in mixing areas?
Do all electrical fixtures or equipment on or within 20 feet of designated paint preparation
12 areas meet the regulatory requirements?
Are all air hoses checked to assure they are properly connected to both their pipe outlets
13 and the equipment to be used?
To prevent hose whipping, is the loose end secured prior to connecting hose to a
14 compressed air outlet?
When compressed air is used in areas where employees are working, are necessary
15 precautions taken to avoid directing the air toward a fellow worker?
16 Are hose lines checked for evidence of wear and replaced as needed?
17 Are street clothing and protective clothing kept in separate lockers?
18 Is working clothing stored in metal lockers vented at top and bottom?
19 Are all wiping rags kept in self-closing metal containers?
20 Is paint stored in workshops kept in tightly covered metal containers?

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Do personnel engaged in painting and paint removal wear protective clothing, respiratory
21 devices if required, and appropriate face, eye, and hand protection?
22 Is clothing changed, as needed, to minimize body contamination and reduce fire hazard?
Do personnel engaged in the application of dopes and paints wear an apron or equivalent
23 protection impervious to paints, solvents, and dopes?
Are these aprons and clothing kept clean, and when not in use hung in ventilated metal
24 lockers?
Do personnel who are engaged in preparing surfaces for painting by abrasive techniques,
25 wear goggles to protect their eyes from chips and flying particles?
Are goggles and rubber gloves worn while acids, lye, or noxious cleaning materials are
26 being used?
Has the use of radioactive paint been approved by the base radiation protection officer,
27 prior to its use?
Is the base bioenvironmental engineer consulted for specific advice on respiratory
28 protection required for specific painting activities?
29 Do respiratory protective devices satisfy the requirements?
Has a program for the maintenance and care of respirators been established by functional
30 managers?
Do shop supervisors ensure workers receive instructions in the care and fitting of
31 respirators?
Do workers keep their hands and face clean, change contaminated clothes, and keep their
32 hands and soiled objects kept out of their mouths?
33 Is no food or drink brought into, or consumed, in paint and dope shops?
34 Do personnel wash their hands prior to smoking or consuming food in other areas?
Are liquid, solid, and gaseous waste products from painting and paint removal operations
disposed of according to local state air, water, and solid waste pollution control laws and as
35 specified and approved by the base bioenvironmental engineer and the base civil engineer?
Are personnel aware of flammable paints, lacquers, dopes, varnishes, shellacs, solvents,
36 thinners, dilatants, and paint removers?
Do solvent materials selected to do the residual clean up after the initial removal, have a
37 flash-point of 140 degrees F or above?
Is extreme caution employed to ensure there are no ignition sources in the area and
38 ventilation is adequate to remove flammable vapors?
39 Is storage of paints and solvents according to standard?
Are contaminated materials, i.e., solvent or paint-soiled rags, paper towels, and craft
paper, removed and placed in approved self-closing metal containers plainly marked to
40 indicate the contents?

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At the end of each day or shift, are these containers emptied or removed to an approved
41 location outside the shop for pickup and disposal?
Do fire suppression sprinklers installed in spray finishing areas conform to applicable
42 requirements?
43 Are portable fire extinguishers installed near all paint spraying areas?
44 Are ventilation and exhaust systems according to applicable requirements?
Is mechanical ventilation in operation while spraying operations are being conducted and
45 for a sufficient time thereafter to assure vapors are completely exhausted?
46 Is adequate makeup air provided?
47 Are the fan-rotating element and its casing non-sparking?
48 Are ample clearances provided to prevent friction-caused fire hazards?
Are fan blades mounted on a shaft rigid enough to maintain alignment when the fan is
49 operating under full load?
Are exhaust ducts protected against mechanical damage, properly supported, and normally
50 have a separation of at least 18 inches from combustible materials?
51 Are ducts periodically inspected for accumulation of paint deposits and cleaned as needed?
Is air exhaust from spray operations directed so it will not contaminate makeup air being
52 introduced into the spraying area or other ventilation intakes?
Is the terminal discharge point at least 6 feet from any combustible exterior wall or roof,
53 unless the spray booth exhaust terminal is from a water wash spray booth?
Are freshly sprayed articles dried only in spaces with adequate ventilation to prevent the
54 formation of explosive vapors?
If adequate and reliable ventilation is not provided, are such drying spaces inside spraying
area and applicable precautions taken in consideration of the type of spraying being
55 performed?
56 Are electric motors driving exhaust fans not placed inside booths or ducts?
57 Are drive belts entering the duct or booth enclosed or guarded?
Storage and Handling OK
Are the quantity of paints, lacquers, thinners, solvents, and other flammable and
1 combustible liquids kept near spraying operations limited to a 1 day’s supply?
Is bulk storage of these liquids in a separate building, detached from other buildings, or in
rooms specifically designed and constructed to meet flammable storage room
2 requirements?

Are original closed containers, approved portable tanks, approved safety cans, or a system
3 of piping used for bringing flammable and combustible liquids into spray finishing rooms?

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Is the withdrawal of liquids from containers and the filling of containers including portable
mixing tanks done only in a mixing room or in a spraying area when the ventilating system
4 is in operation?
5 Are precautions taken to protect against liquid spillage?
When flammable or combustible liquids are transferred from one container to another, are
6 both containers effectively bonded and grounded?
7 Are piping systems used to transfer fluids properly bonded and grounded?
Are bulk liquid containers stored on/in a secondary containment system where applicable,
8 appropriate and required?
Electrical OK
1 Does electrical wiring and equipment conform to applicable requirements?
Is electrical wiring located in spray areas kept in rigid metal conduit, type MI cable, or in
2 metal boxes or fitting containing no tapes, splices, or terminal connections?
Is all electrical equipment within 20 feet of any spraying area of a non-spark-producing
3 design?
Are all electrical lamps within 20 feet of any spraying area totally enclosed to prevent hot
4 particles from falling should breakage occur?
Are all metal parts of spray booths, exhaust ducts, and piping systems conveying
5 flammable or combustible liquids or aerated combustible solids electrically grounded?
Are electric heaters used to raise the temperature of the spraying media approved for
6 specific application and location?
Location of Paint, Dope Shops, and Spray Finishing Operations OK
Are paint and dope shops located in separated one-story buildings with fire-resistant floors,
1 walls, and ceilings?
2 Are paint and dope shops provided with automatic sprinkler protection?
Are spray finishing operations located and protected to minimize possible damage to other
3 property by fire or by extinguishing agents?
Spray Painting of Aircraft OK
Is spray painting of an entire aircraft permitted only in hangars specifically designed for
1 this purpose?
When spray painting aircraft, are the aircraft isolated and adequate fire prevention
2 measures taken?
When such work is performed, is ventilation provided and does the bioenvironmental
3 engineer conduct periodic checks for adequacy of ventilation?
4 Are all aircraft properly grounded and all sources of ignition removed from the area?

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5 Are all electrical devices and equipment of an approved explosion-proof type?

6 Is smoking prohibited?
7 Are all spray areas kept free from the accumulation of deposits of combustible residues?
8 Are all scraping tools non-sparking?
Is the use of solvents for cleaning purposes restricted to those having flashpoints at or
9 above 100 degrees F?
Are rags, waste, and other paint and dope-saturated materials placed in safety containers
10 with self-closing lids?
11 Are containers emptied daily?
Whenever operations involving sanding, rubbing, or wiping surfaces are to be performed,
12 are aircraft surfaces grounded to preclude the build-up of static electricity?
Painting Radio and Radar Equipment OK
1 Is smoking prohibited within 50 feet of painting operations?
Do paint shop personnel wear approved respiratory protective devices as recommended by
2 bioenvironmental engineering?
While painting, do personnel wear gloves or coat their hands with approved creams to
3 guard against skin irritation?
Are radio and radar equipment that have been sprayed, placed in the open air for several
4 hours to prevent vapors from being ignited?
Is emery paper or steel wool restricted from use on radio or radar equipment until the
5 vapors have totally dissipated?
Is fire prevention equipment checked regularly with particular attention given to automatic
6 sprinkler heads?
Are sprinklers protecting spraying areas kept free from deposits by frequent or daily
7 cleaning?
8 Is the entire electrostatic unit checked daily?
Are insulators on electrodes and conductors kept dry and cleaned frequently to prevent
9 flashover?
Are the power unit and ground nozzle turned off to discharge any remaining charge within
10 the system before cleaning a nozzle or attempting to work on any gun?
11 Are only spark-resistant tools used during cleaning operations?
Are manual grounding wires available and are employees who work with electrostatic
12 equipment familiar with their use?
Are all metal parts, including guard rails, shields, barriers, and enclosures in the vicinity of
13 a unit, grounded to prevent static buildup?

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During manual spraying operations, do painters hold electrostatic spray guns in their bare
14 hands?
15 Are spray room floors grounded?
When a gun is not in use is it hung so the nozzle is within 4-inches of a grounded
16 conductor?
Are only properly trained, qualified, and physically-fit personnel permitted to work around
17 electrostatic apparatus?
18 Are warning signs designating the process zone as dangerous posted?
19 Is a red “ON” light, interlocked into the power transformer circuit, also provided?
20 Do workers ensure they NEVER point an airless spray gun at any part of their body?
Do workers make sure they do not disconnect a gun from the fluid hose, or the hose from
21 the pump, until the pressure has been released from the hose?
Are guns equipped with trigger guards and a safety lock? Is the lock locked in the
22 non-operating position, except when the gun is actually in use?
23 Are all hose connections and fittings tight and not leaking?
24 Are all fluid hoses checked for weak or worn spots?
25 Do workers ensure they do NOT pass their fingers over the gun orifices to clean it
Is the object being sprayed, as well as the spray gun, grounded to prevent static electricity
26 from being created?
27 Are periodic continuity checks performed to ensure the hose ground wire is intact?
Does the operator wear eye protection and gloves to guard against accidental contact with
28 the spray?
29 Is respiratory protective equipment worn if exhaust ventilation is not available?
Paint Spray Booths OK
Are filter pads and filter rolls inspected after each painting operation and replaced when
1 necessary?
Are interlocks used with automatic-advanced roll filters to stop the spraying operation
2 should the roll advance mechanism fail to work?
Are both filter pads and rolls changed when changing from one type coating material to
3 another if the two materials are chemically dissimilar?
Are discarded filter pads and rolls removed from the area daily unless water-filled metal
4 containers are provided to hold them safely immersed until disposal?

Are baffle plates, if used, made of noncombustible material and readily removable or
5 accessible on both sides for cleaning?

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 SPRAY FINISHING SAFETY CHECKLIST

Are adequate fire extinguishers provided to handle the most flammable of coating materials
6 being used?
Is the use or carrying of matches, lighters, or other spark or flame-producing devices
7 prohibited in or adjacent to spray booths?
Are containers supplying spray nozzles of the closed type or provided with metal covers
8 that are kept closed?
Are containers under pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure provided with a visible
9 pressure gauge and provided with both a relief valve and a shut-off valve?
Are pressure hoses and couplings regularly inspected for poor condition and replaced as
10 needed?
Portable Paint Spray Equipment OK
Is the air compressor equipped with an ASME-rated air tank, a visible pressure gauge on
the tank, a pressure reducer with its own gauge, a guard fully enclosing the drive belt and
pulley, and a pressure-limiting switch to shut down the compressor when the system’s
1 working pressure has been reached?
2 Is the equipment securely mounted on a wheeled carriage for portability?
If separate paint pressure tanks are used, are they equipped with a gauge and a relief
3 valve to prevent overpressure?
4 Are hoses rated for the maximum working pressure of the system?
Has a preventive maintenance program been implemented by all organizations using this
5 equipment to cover periodic inspections and testing of all components?
Is the storage of compressors, hoses, paint pressure tanks, and spray guns in areas
6 designated and approved by the base civil engineer?
Are all paint pressure tanks and spray guns cleaned after each use and before being
7 stored?
Aerosol Cans of Spray Paint OK
1 Are pressurized cans of spray paint stored according to flammable standards?
Do supervisors ensure office desks are NOT used for the storage of pressurized cans of
2 spray paint?
Are office storerooms being used for storage of pressurized cans of spray paint approved
3 by the local fire department?
4 Is the disposal of empty cans according to Standard?
Are malfunctioning cans still containing paint under pressure disposed of according to EPA
5 standards?
Do supervisors ensure office waste cans are NOT used for the disposal of cans of spray
6 paint or for the disposal of wiping rags?

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Are wiping rags and other waste materials disposed of in self-closing metal containers
7 labeled to indicate the contents?
8 Is protective equipment utilized?
Drying Ovens OK
1 Do ovens used to dry flammable finishes, meet the criteria in NFPA 86 for Class A ovens?
2 Do workers avoid using the spray booths or rooms for drying purposes?
3 Do supervisors ensure open-flame drying ovens are NOT installed in a spraying area?
4 Is the exhaust air adequately vented from the oven?
Does the wiring for drying ovens and associated equipment conform to applicable
5 requirements?
6 Are metal parts of drying ovens bonded and grounded?
7 Do supervisors prohibit spraying operations in the proximity of an operating drying oven?
Are signs posted in the vicinity of operating drying ovens to warn of heat and caution
8 against conducting spraying operations?
Powder Coating OK
1 Is forced exhaust ventilation mandatory?
2 Are collectors incorporated with the ventilation system to trap all excess powder?
3 Is the area free of powder dust?
Are the electrostatic fluidized beds that utilize transformers located outside the powder
4 coating area?
5 Are all metal parts of the fluidized bed electrically bonded and grounded
6 Are electrostatic handguns grounded?
Organic Peroxide Coating OK
Is equipment used for organic peroxide coating prevented from interchange with that used
1 for any other application?
2 Are noncombustible materials used for clean-up purposes?
3 Do supervisors ensure organic peroxide materials are NOT near any source of heat?
Is smoking not permitted and “NO SMOKING” signs posted in areas where organic
4 peroxides are stored, mixed, or applied?
5 Are non-sparking tools used in areas where these materials are stored, mixed, or applied?
6 Are respirators, gloves, and protective clothing required?
Do spraying operations involving the use of organic peroxides conducted in sprinkler spray
7 booths meet the requirements of Standard?

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Is the quantity of peroxides kept in the processing area the minimum required for daily
8 operations?