Alberta, Canada Painters Beware

I showed up at another gig tonight and another health inspector was on site, waiting for me. He waited and watched as I unloaded all of my gear and questioned my procedures and practices. I wasn't worried, I got an A+, but just beware they are out hard core. This is the 3rd time in two weeks that I know of. I'm off to Calgary on Sunday for another gig and was told to expect another one waiting for me there.

Make sure you go over the practices of the health policy before you paint!

Geesh! Can't you ask on for a certificate so you aren't stalked all over the country? Seems like a terrible waste of funds for them to be stalking so many painters.

I kind of wish we had inspectors here...some of the things I've seen...

Criss wrote:I showed up at another gig tonight and another health inspector was on site, waiting for me. He waited and watched as I unloaded all of my gear and questioned my procedures and practices. I wasn't worried, I got an A+, but just beware they are out hard core. This is the 3rd time in two weeks that I know of. I'm off to Calgary on Sunday for another gig and was told to expect another one waiting for me there.

Make sure you go over the practices of the health policy before you paint!

i am just curious what your standards are. is there a website or some place that lists what you have to do?

thanks

Lady Jayde wrote:I kind of wish we had inspectors here...some of the things I've seen...

Be careful what you wish for... NO THANK YOU.

Ask and ye shall receive

http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/publichealth/envhealth/program_areas/special_events/documents/Requirements_for_Personal_Services_at_Special_Events_&_Trade_Shows_2007.pdf

Criss... are all these jobs in Calgary or Lethbridge?

thanks Shannon

Shannon Fennell wrote:Ask and ye shall receive

http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/publichealth/envhealth/program_areas/special_events/documents/Requirements_for_Personal_Services_at_Special_Events_&_Trade_Shows_2007.pdf

so what then do you use to sterilize your brushes and what type of system do you use to cycle them around as you are painting? sounds like a pain, but a good idea.

they should issue a certificate for you and then spot check you so they dont' bother you all the time!

I use 70% isopropyl alcohol.

I wash each brush after it has been used, with Ivory soap, then it is rinsed three times in successively cleaner water, then saturated and swished in a container of alcohol, and then stood upright (bristles up) in my water tub brush holder to dry completely before re-using.

do you use only synthetic bristles, seems this woudl dry out anything else

you must have a lot of brushes! do you have someone that helps you wash whiel you are painting. i keep thinking it woudl be a nightmare with a long line, or at least until you just got on the habit or routine of doing it

teri

I actually use mostly sable. And I wash them myself... it doesn't take that long.

Lately I take my mom with me on the public jobs and she sits behind me and washes the brushes. It does help with the speed as I can just keep painting.

Yes, I carry a lot of brushes but they dry fast, particularly outdoors in the heat and/or wind! I generally end up only using about 10 -12 (my favourites ones of course!) but multiples of the same - #4 round kolinsky sables and #2 and #6... and maybe a large filbert, and a 1" flat (used for split cakes).

Hey Shannon, sorry it took so long to respond. I have know 2 other events, (painters) plus my two events in the last week that were hit. These four events were in Lethbridge area, but I was told to expect another one tomorrow in Calgary where I will be painting, so I am prepared.

Now, I did have a list of questions to fire back at the inspector last night. He ate up 30 minutes of my time and the company that hired me.
I asked him the following questions;

-should I expect someone to show up at every event? - yes

-is there a way to get around that? -possibly

-how? -you can apply for a special paper or listing as a transient vendor,
(I will post the proper name later as I am currently in Calgary and left the
info at home.)

- how do I do that? -call the local health inspector office, ask to book an appointment, they will then come to your house, analyze what you do and then certify you for one year. However you are still under scrutiny at any time but most inspectors will accept the document and move on.

-is there a cost? -no

-why is soap and paper towel not listed on the website? -it's assumed you would have that at a hand wash station.

-Don't assume, especially when you are requesting hand sanitizers with 70% isopropyl alcohol to be used.

-are all health districts now adopting these policies across the province? - yes

-does each district, or the province, have an outline for painters to follow other than the Calgary Health listing? -not yet, no

So the only thing to do is to be prepared. I have a series of steps that I use, and I will post them tomorrow, for others to see and follow, that are based on the requirements set out by the province. Sorry it will have to be then, as i'm not on my pc at home.

Shannon, I'm almost doing what you do, only at home after the gig. I could easily adapt it to between kids. I think I have enough brushes. How large are your 3 water rinsing containers? I use 3 plastic for dying Easter eggs(are these big enough to do the 3 tiered rinse?). Do you change water often? How long does it take for the brushes to dry after the alcohol?

Thanks so much ladies. I live close to the border and do a number of events on the Alberta side of Lloydminster every year. A couple of weeks ago I set up, following guidelines I'd learned here, not a lot of change but letting the alcohol dry on the brushes was new for me(using ivory soap is also a great tip). I'm still unclear about handwashing as I'm usually stuck outside. I use baby wipes and paper towels if my hands have paint on them otherwise it's just handsanitizer while they tell me what they want.
Someone from Cafaba told me they are working on guidelines for the entire country.
I know the health inspectors will probably be hassling us in Saskatchewan soon as they already made it nearly impossible for potluck suppers and church fall suppers to have all the good old homemade dishes they used to have.

No potluck dinners?!? That's just aweful & way to over regulated. Soon people won't be able to have dinner parties, kid's best friends over for dinner or taking meals to new moms. YIKES!

This is the tub I use for washing my brushes - there are three compartments. One side has ridges in the bottom for cleaning the brushes, the other is divided into two parts. And it has the handy holes for standing the brushes in to dry!

My alcohol is in a separate small container with a sliding lid. (I think it is a baby food container... I got a package of them at the dollar store.)

CAFABA may be talking about nationwide guidelines BUT that is an association, NOT health regulations.

Health Regulations are governed by local health boards/authorities.

In Alberta the provincial government amalgamated all the local health boards a couple of years ago and are now adapting the old Calgary regulations to the whole province.

So what happens here doesn't necessarily transfer to other provinces. But it doesn't hurt to operate to suit the toughest rules!

Are any of you interested in doing a short video tutorial? I think that would be so helpful. It would answer a lot of our questions and seen as I am a more visual person, it would help me to understand how quick it could be done between clients.

This is my set-up ... water tub, Ivory soap in yellow soap dish beside it, the alcohol is in the white container behind the soap dish.

The small (4 oz) squeeze bottle sitting at the corner of the water tub is how I add water to my cakes.

Brushes and sponges are clean and dry before use.

It really isn't difficult nor that time consuming. Yes, I can paint more people with someone washing the brushed for me, but it really only adds less than a minute to each person... but that does add up over a whole day!

Up until now I haven't been required to have the hand-wash station but I think I will start carting around a jug with spiggot like Criss is using just to cover my a**! I always have hand sanitizer.

Shannon.... super cute pooch avatar!

That is the late, great, Little Dog back in 1997. Our tiny toy poodle in shaggy mode.

So this is what I tell people for an explanation of how to make it work. I will also try to post a picture of my station so you can see.

*Remember that a sponge can only be used once per person. You can wash your sponges to use again in a chlorine solution.

Wipes are used to clean everything; artists hands, messy faces, boogers, etc..... Please keep in mind allergies when purchasing your wipes for use. This means; no scents, special gels or ointments added.

Spray bottle, to contain isopropyl alcohol (must be a minimum of 70%) for brush cleaning immediately after cleaning in your bleach solution.

You will require a 3 slotted container, or 3 separate containers for washing your brushes.
-first container is chlorine solution
-2nd container, plain water for rinsing
-3rd container, plain water for rinsing, not necessary if using alcohol
spray on brushes.

You must have enough water, for your event, to sanitize your brushes. This water must be contained in a separate container and a chlorine solution with the strength of 100ppm (2.5ml bleach per litre of water.) As well, your hand washing jug should be filled with regular tap water.

Any standard brush holders would work, as long as the brushes can be stored upright and exposed to the air for drying purposes after being sprayed with alcohol.

Liquid Disposal Container: Must be able to hold 5 gallons and placed under hand wash station. As well, one to have for your paint rinse water.

Water Jug: Must be a portable water jug with a free pour spout, similar to a water container used for camping and capable of containing 10 litres.

Hand Sanitizer: You should have hand sanitizer available on your table, to clean between customers. *Note that it should be a 70% ethyl alcohol*

Hair bands: must be impervious to moisture, ie; metal, plastic, etc....

A garbage in plain view for your personal use.

A first aid kit on site

A lysol (or proven bacteria killers,) wipes for wiping surfaces, ie; tables, chairs, etc...

A pump hand soap and paper towel at your hand washing station.

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