Examples

• Level 1 read notes and memos from the company detailing such things as changes in company and safety policies.
• Level 2 read labels on equipment such as spray equipment. This is especially important when troubleshooting, setting up equipment, or operating equipment for the first time and may require background knowledge from technical training or company training.
• Level 2 read paint labels to determine the type of thinner to use, square footage per gallon and opacity. They may compare one product to another to determine which one would be the best to use, for example, primer has the best adhesion.
• Level 2 read permits specifying where workers can and cannot be because of the general contractor's policies and safety regulations.
• Level 3 read MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) in order to understand the safety and personal equipment requirements when using a particular material.
• Level 3 read the instructions that come with equipment such as mask filters and products to ensure the correct filter or product is being used for the situation. These require information from MSDS sheets.
• Level 3 read Occupational Health & Safety Regulations to determine correct and safe procedures, for instance, fall protection and proper ladder use. This requires the ability to locate, skim, scan and synthesize information from several sections of the regulations.
• Level 3 read Hazard Assessments detailing all possible hazards that may be encountered and how they should be handled. This may require looking up specific MSDS information, equipment manuals and pamphlets from WCB, and then synthesizing the information.
• Level 3 Read Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and safety handbooks on topics such confined space, latex allergies and chemical substances.

Examples

• Level 1 read lists of materials.
• Level 1 record lists of materials used on the job site for accurate record-keeping and future reference, for example, maintenance work.
• Level 2 complete time sheets on a weekly basis including job site, amount of time spent and may include a record of the tasks completed and the time spent on each.
• Level 2 record batch numbers, temperatures, drying times, weather conditions, humidity levels and wind direction on industrial job-sites because all of these factors affect how the coating dries. These records may be used to settle future problems.
• Level 2 use graphics and illustrations included with instructions for mask filters and other products to ensure the product has been assembled correctly.
• Level 2 read tables to determine exposure limits to different chemicals and to choose filters for a respirator.
• Level 2 refer to colour codes on blueprints to determine what coating in what colour goes on specific walls, doors, trims, ceilings, etc. On a large job, there may be 21 different materials being used.
• Level 3 refer to blueprints to determine what colour and type of covering is going to be used. This requires knowledge of blueprint symbols and numbering systems.

Examples

• Level 1 sign for materials received.
• Level 1 may write a list of tasks that need to be completed and sequence them.
• Level 2 sign and complete time sheets which may include a record of the tasks completed and the length of time spent on each task.

Examples

• Level 1 measure out quantities of paints, thinners, solvents and epoxies.
• Level 1 add up hours on a time sheet to ensure everything is correct.
• Level 1 estimate the amount of paint or stain needed to complete a job.
• Level 2 convert within the metric or Imperial system to calculate area, taking into account doors and windows, number of coats, and/or type of repeat on the wallcovering, so that the amount of material needed can be calculated.
• Level 2 estimate how long it will take to complete a task or an entire job. Complexity increases with the size of the job and the size of the crew.
• Level 3 use ratio to calculate the weight that can safely be taken up on a swing stage or manlift. There is a formula, but many painters are able, with experience, to accurately estimate.

Examples

• Level 1 talk to co-workers to determine who will complete which task, in what order and how it will be done so that work is completed efficiently with little or no downtime and no repaints. For example, if several painters are painting a number of doors the same colour in the same hallway, they will decide whether to use a brush or a roller so that all the doors will look the same.
• Level 2 ask other painters and/or the foreman questions as well as respond to questions from apprentices and coworkers about materials, preparation methods and application procedures. This could mean explaining a new procedure or why one product was chosen over another (e.g. shorter drying time, application over an oil-based product).
• Level 3 on rare occasions, talk to the architect and/or client to explain what has been completed, a process or to receive a directive, for example, "This is approved. It's a go".
• Level 3 may present safety information to small or large groups, depending on the size of the group, to teach safety information, how to use a new product, or a new process.
• Level 4 talk to members of other subtrades (e.g. tilesetters, glaziers, floorlayers) to determine when a task will be completed so other tasks can be co-ordinated. This may require some negotiating depending on how smoothly the work is going and if tasks are being completed on schedule. Miscommunication means work has to be redone costing a great deal of time and money.

Examples

• Level 2 learn to expect the unexpected, for instance, a member of the crew doesn't show up, or the paint doesn't match exactly, and need to be able to apply background knowledge, and knowledge gained from other painters to the situation at hand. Background knowledge includes such information as knowing how different materials perform, mixing glazes, and using the colour wheel to alter colours. It also includes jargon, for instance, knowing a "fiver" is five gallons.
• Level 2 troubleshoot problems with equipment, for instance, if an air compressor "goes down" the procedure may be check the line, check the equipment, check the person using it. Often there is a list to follow and past experience helps as well.
• Level 3 figure out what to do if their respirator mask is leaking. This includes checking for a proper seal to their face, ensuring the correct filter is being used and determining if it is possible the chemical is being absorbed through exposed skin and causing the reaction.
• Level 3 figure what to do when the product doesn't perform as expected, for instance, doesn't cover properly, bubbles or cracks, or doesn't dry in the time stated. While past experience and background knowledge help to solve the problem, it is often difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for the failure because there are so many factors to consider: temperature, humidity, wind direction, application procedure, how the coating was mixed or thinned, how long the paint stirred, and even how the coating was made.

Examples

• Level 1 decide what to do next when a task has been completed so there is less downtime.
• Level 2 decide how to prepare the surface for painting. The decision is not easily changed and costs time and money.
• Level 2 decide whether to fix equipment, for example, a spray machine even if it is temporary in order to get the work done on time or call someone in. Wasting time on repairs means deadlines aren't met, at the same time, waiting for another machine to be sent over also increases down time. Options have to be carefully weighed and good judgement used.
• Level 3 decide whether or not the colour is a good match, making a wrong decision costs time and money. Depending on the type of job, the error may or may not be easily fixed. Complexity increases with the type of project, for example, a heritage project requires knowledge of how coatings age and how to make a coating look aged.
• Level 3 decide when a new drywall surface has been sanded and prepared properly and whether or not to notify the foreman. Once the decision has been made to begin applying the coating, any surface problems (e.g. repairs, repaints) become the painter's and not the drywaller's.
• Level 4 decide how to approach a job including surface preparation, application, and cleanup. Depending on the company and the size of the job, the painter may be responsible for all of or part of a job. Making the wrong decision increases downtime and costs to the company.

Examples

• remember how different products behave in different situations and how the application of one product or surface preparation affects what can be applied next and when it can be done.
• remember which colour or material goes on which wall or trim.
• remember past experiences of self and co-workers when problem solving a situation or making a decision. "We talk jobs all the time - what went wrong, what worked, why things happened the way they did."
• remember information from technical training about surface preparation, wood finishing, coating applications and spray systems.
• remembers how jobs and tasks have been organized in the past decreasing the amount of downtime and the possibility of having to do some of the work over again. For example, remembering to paint the trim on the windows after the surface preparation person has taped the windows.
• remember "recipes" for glazes and colour mixing.

Examples

• Level 1 ask each other and the foreman and/or supervisor questions about products, application procedures and solutions to problems.
• Level 2 contact paint stores and salespersons for information about products including availability, proper selection of materials and new products on the market. Often the information is compared to the information received from another company.
• Level 3 occasionally use the Internet to research specific product information.

Examples

• Level 2 may use the Internet to look up product and safety information, for instance, MSDSs and to up-date knowledge.

Physical Aspects

Attitudes

Reliability, patience and the ability to get along well with others were stressed. The ability "to visualize a procedure and see everything in your mind" was described. This means being able to plan the steps in the right order while taking into account possible problems and interruptions.

Future Trends Affecting Essential Skills

Because of increasingly stringent environmental controls, there will probably be a move away from oil-based products making it healthier for painters and better for the environment. In the future, there will be a greater demand for qualified, certified painters who can meet the challenges of new technology and products. The constant development of new products requires ongoing learning in order to keep skills up-to-date.