Transport equipment painter

Transport equipment painters use painting machines and hand tools to coat individual parts and to paint the surface of all types of transport equipment such as cars, buses, boats, aircraft, motorcycles and railway cars. They prepare the surface of the pieces for the paint and apply the coat. Transport equipment painters can perform industrial painting or individual customisation. They may also remove or repair painting errors such as scratches.

Transport equipment painter typically do the following:

• Set up and operate machines that paint or coat products
• Select the paint or coating needed for the job
• Clean and prepare products to be painted or coated
• Determine the required flow of paint and the quality of the coating
• Apply paint or coating
• Measure the thickness of paint or coating material applied
• Clean and maintain tools, equipment, and work areas

Painting and coating is usually done in specially ventilated areas. Workers wear masks or respirators to protect themselves from inhaling microscopic particles or harmful chemicals. They also may wear gloves and other protective equipment to shield their skin and clothing.

Painting and coating workers often stand for long periods. They also may have to bend, stoop, or crouch in uncomfortable positions to reach different parts of the products they work on.

Painting, coating, and decorating workers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Hazards include muscle strains and exposure to toxic materials. Factories have installed sophisticated paint booths and fresh-air ventilation systems to create a safe work environment.

Most painting and coating workers are employed full time.

The following job titles also refer to transport equipment painter:

vehicle paint sprayer
vehicle painter
truck painter
motor vehicle refinisher
van painter
railway carriage painter
vehicle paint technician
vessel painter
van refinisher
automotive paint sprayer
motor vehicle painter
car painter
vehicle body painter
automotive paint technician
car refinisher
automotive refinisher
truck refinisher
aircraft painter
automotive painter

Transport equipment painters usually need a high school diploma or equivalent for entry-level positions. However, some employers hire candidates who do not have formal educational credentials.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Transport equipment painter is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to transport equipment painter.

vehicle maintenance attendant
bicycle assembler
furniture finisher
motorcycle assembler
surface treatment operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of transport equipment painter. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of transport equipment painter with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

construction painting supervisor
bridge inspector
petroleum pump system operator
desalination technician
performance rental technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of transport equipment painter.

• Types of paint: Varieties of paint and chemicals used in their composition.
• Industrial paint: The various kinds of paint used as coating in manufacturing finishing processes, such as primers, intermediate coats, finish coats, stripe coats, and others.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Paint spraying techniques: Field of information which distinguishes different kinds of paint spraying equipment and spraying techniques., and the order in which parts should be spray-painted.
• Lacquer paint applications: Have knowledge of the characteristics and applications of lacquer paint and primers, such as the level of sheerness, the varying results of a lacquer treatment on different materials, and others.

These skills are necessary for the role of transport equipment painter.

• Inspect paint quality: Inspect paint to ensure it is of a good quality by testing the viscosity, homogeneity and other factors.
• Follow control of substances hazardous to health procedures: Adhere to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) procedures for activities that involve hazardous substances, such as bacteria, allergens, waste oil, paint or brake fluids that result in illness or injury.
• Protect workpiece components from processing: Cover parts from being treated with chemicals in order to protect them.
• Fix minor vehicle scratches: Fix minor vehicle dents and scratches with touch-up paint.
• Check paint consistency: Before application of the paint, check paint viscosity by using viscosity meter.
• Apply preliminary treatment to workpieces: Apply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.
• Monitor painting operations: Monitor the painting in progress to prevent flaws.
• Use color matching techniques: Apply specific techniques in order to match different colours.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Apply colour coats: Spray colour coats onto vehicle parts, operate painting equipment and leave freshly sprayed vehicles to dry in a temperature-controlled and dust-proof environment.
• Dispose of hazardous waste: Dispose of dangerous materials such as chemical or radioactive substances according to environmental and to health and safety regulations.
• Paint with a paint gun: Use a paint gun to coat or paint surfaces of items which are stationary or moving on a conveyor belt. Load the equipment with the suitable type of paint and spray the paint onto the surface in an even and controlled manner to prevent paint from dripping or splashing.
• Handle chemical cleaning agents: Ensure proper handling, storage and disposal of cleaning chemicals in accordance with regulations.
• Maintain work area cleanliness: Keep the working area and equipment clean and orderly.
• Use power tools: Operate power driven pumps. Use hand tools or power tools. Use vehicle repair tools or safety equipment.
• Use drying equipment for vehicles: Employ air compressors and other specialist equipment to dry inside as well as outside surfaces of a vehicle.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Use paint safety equipment: Wear safety equipment appropriately such as face masks, gloves and overalls, in order to stay protected from toxic chemicals emitted during paint spraying.
• Analyse the need for technical resources: Define and make a list of the required resources and equipment based on the technical needs of the production.
• Prepare vehicles for application of paint: Set up vehicles for standard or custom paint job; prepare painting equipment; cover vehicle parts that should be protected from paint.
• Mix paints for vehicles: Select appropriate paint varieties and mix paint using mixing equipment and according to the colour formulas presented by vehicle manufacturers.
• Use painting equipment: Use brushes, rollers, spray guns and other painting equipment in accordance with the work.
• Clean painting equipment: Disassemble, clean, and reassemble paint sprayers and other vehicle painting equipment.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.
• Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of transport equipment painter. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Fibreglass laminating: Process of applying multiple layers of fiberglass, a strong lightweight plastic reinforced with glass fibre woven into mats, using various techniques such as applying pressure or adhesives, welding or heating in order to provide strength and stability to the composite material. The fibreglass can also be sprayed in liquid form onto products.
• Dip-coating process: The various steps in the process of dipping a workpiece in a coating material solution, including immersion, start-up, deposition, drainage, and, possibly, evaporation.
• Mechanical tools: Understand machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Sanding techniques: The various sanding techniques (such as gang sanding), as well as the different sanding papers necessary for which surface.
• Teamwork principles: The cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of transport equipment painter. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manage consumables stock: Manage and monitor consumables stock to ensure that the production demands and deadlines can be met at all times.
• Ensure customer focus: Attitude that puts customers at the centre of the business in all cases.
• Remove paint: Remove paint by using chemical strippers, a heat gun, sanding or scraping the surface.
• Repair aircraft’s body: Repair superficial damages on the body of the aircraft by using fiberglass and sealants.
• Clean vehicle exterior: Wash, clean, polish and wax vehicle’s exterior glass and chrome parts.
• Carry out repair of vehicles: Provide repair for vehicles and routine level checks, such as engine tune-ups, oil changes, tire rotation and changes, wheel balancing, replacing filters, repair engine failures; repair mechanical and electrical systems malfunctions; replace parts and components; repair body damage.
• Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
• Add paint hardeners: Mix hardeners with the paint in order to partially or completely solidify paint.
• Ensure maintenance of railway machinery: Keep rolling stock in functional condition and maintain railway machinery.
• Operate rust proofing spray gun: Operate a semi-automatic or handheld spray gun designed to provide the surface of a workpiece with a permanent, corrosion-protective finishing coat, safely and according to regulations.
• Perform maintenance on locomotives: Perform general maintenance of locomotive parts such as wheels, springs and brake rigging traction motors; test and repair safety appliances, air compressors, safety valves, fuel systems, shutters and radiators; install, assemble, disassemble, repair or replace locomotive diesel engine components.
• Apply a protective layer: Apply a layer of protective solutions such as permethrine to protect the product from damage such as corrosion, fire or parasites, using a spray gun or paintbrush.
• Perform minor vehicle repairs: Repair/replace non-essential vehicle parts such as turn signals, lights, fluid hoses, etc.
• Remove rust from motor vehicles: Remove corrosion from surfaces of motor vehicle bodies.
• Sand between coats: Smoothen the surface of a workpiece by sanding it in between applying coats in order to obtain a clear, stronger coat.
• Mix paint: Thoroughly mix different types of paint manually or mechanically. Start from basic paints or from powder and mix in water or chemicals. Check the consistency of the resulting mixture.
• Perform general maintenance on ship exteriors: Perform maintenance tasks on ship exteriors e.g. cleaning, painting, sanding, fibreglass restoration, varnishing, polishing, finishing, carpentry, etc.
• Recognise signs of corrosion: Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion.
• Determine colour shades: Determine and use the correct colour to be applied to a surface, according to requirements, by using instruments and software.
• Add paint thinners: Add paint thinners in accordance with recipe.
• Tend dip tank: Tend a manufacturing machine designed to coat workpiece surfaces by applying dip-coating machine processes, monitor and operate it according to regulations.
• Set up automotive robot: Set up and programme an automotive robot working on machine processes and substituting or collaboratively supporting human labour, such as the six-axis automotive robot.
• Perform manual work autonomously: Show the ability to pursue basic manual tasks without the help or assistance of others, not needing supervision or guidance, and taking responsibility for one’s actions.
• Inspect aircraft’s body: Inspect the body of aircraft for superficial damage and corrosion.
• Apply decorative design to vehicles: Apply decorative designs or other decorative elements to vehicles at the customer’s request; work with paint sprayers, paintbrushes or spray cans. Apply decorative items such as logos, lettering and others to the finished surfaces by using paint brushes or sprayers.
• Buff finished paintwork: Buff and wax painted surface.
• Follow safety procedures when working at heights: Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

7132 – Spray painters and varnishers

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References

1. Transport equipment painter – ESCO
2. Painting and Coating Workers : Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Featured image: Photo by Clarity Coat on Unsplash