19 Jul Proper Paint Disposal

Paint may not be the first item that comes to mind when we think of “hazardous materials,” but that’s precisely why we’d like to highlight the workplace safety aspects of paint disposal. Whether your workplace handles paint regularly or once every few years, your corporate responsibility to properly store and dispose of paint is critical to the safety of your workers and overall environment. At Creation World Safety, we offer tips and full trainings for your needs with relation to dangerous materials or work safety concerns of any kind. We’ll break down how to handle paint specifically here, as well as how to get further certified to handle hazardous materials in general.

Why Paint?

Considered “Household Hazardous Waste” by the EPA, improperly disposed of paint can pose a threat to your facilities and local environment. Mishandled paint can be:

• Hazardous to soil
• Damaging to pipes
• Harmful to water supply

Oil-based paint also presents a fire hazard when stored in an unfavorably hot environment, something to be especially cognizant of in warm and sunny Los Angeles. It is critical that employees are aware of these potential negative side-effects of paint, especially if they are unaccustomed to dealing with hazardous materials.

Know Your Options

Most paint will include specific storage and disposal recommendations, depending on the type of paint you pruchase. In the right storage environment, latex paint has the potential to be stored up to ten years while oil based can last up to fifteen years.

Latex paint should be sealed and stored in a dry, cool environment. When discarding latex paint, consider purchasing a paint hardener or cat litter to mix with remaining material until dry before disposal. Oil-based or hybrid paints will need to be taken to a hazardous waste facility.

Identify a local community paint recycling facility or local hardware store for professional removal assistance and post these businesses’ contact information for easy employee access. Sites where hazardous waste is dumped require their employees to have Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification and are equipped to handle hazardous materials.

Further Training and Certification

While HAZWOPER certification may not be required for all work environments, all of our trainings at Creation World Safety comply with OSHA regulation and support the wellbeing of your workers and communities. To find out how to become certified or learn about our other training options for workplace safety in the Los Angeles area, contact Creation World Safety at 310-538-1297. Our team will connect with you as soon as possible to help keep your workers safe and knowledgeable. It’s never too early to prevent something from going wrong. Thank you for choosing Creation World Safety!