Rules, authorisation and certificates in painting

Many think all craft trades require a license. They do not. House painter is not an authorised trade in the same way that electrical and plumbing work is where the law requires special approval to perform the work at all. So you are allowed to paint once you have learned the trade. But it does not mean there are no rules — there are and some of them are very important to know.

§The journeyman's certificate is your professional proof

The most important paper in the trade is the journeyman's certificate. It is not an authorization in the legal sense but it is the documentation that you are fully trained as a house painter. If you eventually want to start your own business or become a paint master it builds on this foundation. The journeyman's certificate is your ticket to skilled work and to further and continuing education.

§Statutory certificates — chemistry and height

Although the trade does not require authorisation certain tasks require a legally required certificate. This is especially about safety and the rules are enforced by the Working Environment Authority.

Epoxy and isocyanates

If you are to work with products containing epoxy or isocyanates — for example certain floor coverings two-component products and some industrial paints — the law requires that you have completed special safety training first. It is not something you choose to do or not do yourself: without the certificate you are not allowed to perform the work. The course teaches you to protect yourself against substances that can cause serious allergies and respiratory problems.

Work at height and on scaffolding

Painters often work at height — on ladders, lifts and scaffolds. If you yourself set up, modify or dismantle certain types of scaffolds, it requires special scaffold training when the scaffold exceeds a certain height. Here too, the rules are set to prevent accidents, and they apply regardless of how skilled you feel.

§Other rules you encounter in everyday life

• 01Requirements for safety data sheets and correct storage of chemical products
• 02Rules for disposal of paint residue and hazardous waste
• 03Requirements for personal protective equipment in dusty or steamy work
• 04Special precautions if lead is suspected in old paint or asbestos in substrate
• 05Occupational health and safety rules on lifting working positions and breaks

§Who keeps an eye on the rules?

The Labour Authority oversees the work environment on construction sites and can issue orders if things are not in order. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure the work environment is safe but you as an employee also have a shared responsibility to use protective equipment and follow instructions. The education content itself and the journeyman examination are developed and maintained by the professional committee for the painting trade.

“The rules are not there to bother you – they are because some of the substances and situations you encounter as a painter can cause lasting damage if you don't know what you're doing.”