Ensure your become aware of any health & safety requirements before use by reading the individual product labels.
Safety Equipment (PPE):
The nature of stripping would deem it prudent to protect yourself from inhaling or being touched by the stripping products. The following is a general guide to the sort of precautions that should be taken.
- Industrial strength barrier cream (for any exposed skin)
- Solvent resistant gloves
- Safety glasses
- Respirators for organic solvents & for lead paint when using a heat gun, or for when adequate ventilation does not exist.
Lead Paint Removal
Unless you absolutely know the paint that is being removed has no lead assume lead paint is present and adopt safe removal practices.
Wet Stripping (Recommended method)
An example of this is the Cooper’s Restoration System. Cooper’s is a wet process which creates no dust and will leave no residue of paint in the grain (that may contain lead) that would otherwise need to be sanded.
Heat Gun & Naked Flame Stripping (Not Recommended)
- Fire hazard.
- Timber scorching potential.
- High lead poisoning risk.
- Any paint that is left attached to the substrate must be wet stripped.
Scraping, sanding or sandblasting. (Not recommended)
- High lead poisoning risk, lead dust easily migrates around the home causing ongoing exposure to occupants. Most vacuum cleaners do not provide adequate filtering and simply redistribute the lead.
All methods of lead paint stripping must allow for the collection and disposal of the lead in a way that conforms to local authority regulations.
Ventilation:
Work in an area that has a high rate of air exchange (is well ventilated), this can often be achieved by opening a door and window at opposite sides of the room you’re working in. The natural breeze that this creates is often enough to achieve the ventilation required.
- Where a door and window being open isn’t enough, place 1 or more fans in the open window, facing outwards, this will create the ventilation required.
Wearing a respirator mask that’s rated for organic solvents and dust will always increase the amount of protection that ventilation can provide.
Steel Wool Safety:
Cut the Steel Wool to the desired length with a pair of old scissors.
To avoid cutting yourself, Do Not cut the wool to length by tearing the Wool apart with your hands.
Keep the Steel Wool away from a fire source, as the protective coating on the Steel Wool is flammable.
To avoid being electrocuted, Do Not use Steel Wool near an electrical source.
Other people:
- Keep the products away from children & pets.
- Be mindful of the welfare of others in the surrounding area.
Stripping Waste
Stripping Waste is a combination of used stripping products, as well as the stripped paint / varnish.
Ensure the stripping waste is collected and removed as it’s made to a safe collection area for proper disposal that conforms with your local regulations.
Do not leave the Stripping Waste in the area you’re working, as the residue Stripper and Flusher in the waste will evaporate into the area being worked in.
The stripped paint / varnish will dry out and can be turning into toxic dust if it’s walked on.
Dust
People often think the dust they have is safe because it’s been tested to not contain lead.
All dust, no matter what its source, is bad for your health.
Avoid consuming any dust by either breathing it or by touching it with unprotected skin.
These dust warnings need to be applied to any other people or pets that are in or near by the project.
The Cooper’s Stripping System is wet and is therefore dustless.
Fire, Storage & Insurance:
- Do not spray any Cooper products near a naked flame.
- Store unopened product in another area to where you are working.
- Have available for immediate use a class 3 rated fire extinguisher in an appropriate location.
- We recommend that you inform your insurance company that you are renovating as in some cases this can affect your policy.
- Cold weather: In cold weather some of the waxes in the “Stripper” can solidify & fall out of suspension, clogging the filters & jets on the triggers. Warm the “Stripper” if needed by sitting the container of “Stripper” into warm water. Ideally the “Stripper” should be used at between 15 – 30 degrees C, Ensure you loosen the container lid before warming to allow pressure to escape and then re-tighten afterwards.