Occ. Code 7020000

PAINTER, GRADE 12

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

NATURE OF WORK

A Painter performs journey level painting work and frequently supervises others in preparing surfaces and applying coats of paint, varnish and other finishes and stains to decorate and protect interior or exterior surfaces and fixtures of buildings, structures, furniture, equipment and materials.

            Painters are employed by many agencies with the greater number of positions in the Offices of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and in the State University.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA AND DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Characteristically, a Painter supervises on a project basis, a crew normally consisting of less than 10 maintenance assistants, helpers and laborers and occasionally other Painters doing interior and exterior painting in a State facility. Such a work crew generally contains two to three semiskilled or elementary skilled positions for each journey level painter. In an agency such as the Department of Correctional Services where inmates or residents perform painting tasks, a Painter may work with, lead, and provide practical instruction to a small group of such individuals.

Painters may on occasion work independently on painting projects requiring special surface preparation, remixing of paints to match specified colors, and painting calling for fine finish and decorative treatment.

The class of Sign Painter is distinguished from Painter by the performance of skilled sign painting work including the design of specialized signs requiring artistic creation usually involving hand lettering, and the use of a variety of processes, equipment, and materials.

Maintenance Assistant (Painter) as a semiskilled employee does interior and exterior painting not requiring fine finish or decorative treatment, assisting journey level painters in a variety of painting projects including those requiring high quality work.

Maintenance Helpers assigned to a painting crew assist maintenance assistants and painters in such activities as erecting scaffolds and ladders, preparing and cleaning surfaces prior to painting, applying paint while learning the trade, cleaning painting tools and equipment, unloading paint supplies, and cleaning the work area.

General Mechanics may perform journey level painting activities. However, such positions are classified only where the incumbents perform skilled and semiskilled level work in a combination of trades.

A Supervising Painter supervises a large scale painting operation involving ten or more skilled, semiskilled or relatively unskilled maintenance personnel. Such personnel may include those engaged in trades other than painting.

Employees engaged in other building and maintenance trades are classified under a variety of other commonly used titles descriptive of their work such as Carpenter or Electrician.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES, TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Supervises and instructs others in the preparation and painting of interior and exterior surfaces.

• Assigns work to painting crew.

• From measurements of area to be painted, may recommend to supervisor and order the kind, quantity and quality of paint and other materials to be used.

• Assembles materials, tools and equipment required to accomplish work.

• As required, gives verbal instruction and/or demonstrates proper painting techniques and the use of painting tools and equipment.

• Observes and inspects the work while in progress and when completed to insure that the job is done properly.

• When supervising persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility, a Painter must be aware of and account for their activity at all times while on the job and ensure that the rules and regulations of the facility governing such activities are followed.

Applies paint, varnish, stains, enamel or lacquer to interior and exterior surfaces, trimming and fixtures of buildings, to furniture, a variety of equipment, signs and like surfaces requiring protective or decorative treatment

• As required erects scaffolding, swing stages or ladders.

• Prepares surfaces for painting using a variety of tools and materials including sandpaper, brushes, or steel wool, and if required removes paints using paint remover, blow torch, wire brush or scraper.

• Fills nail holes, cracks or joints with putty, plaster or other filler.

• Uses premixed paints or prepares paint tip match specified colors by mixing the required portions of pigment, oil, and thinners.

• Paints surfaces using brush, spray gun paint roller or mittens.

May cover interior walls with wall coverings.

• Measures wall to compute amount of wall covering required.

• Erects scaffolding as required.

• Prepares and cleans surfaces to be covered and cuts wall covering to proper lengths.

• Mixes paste, brushes on back of wall covering, and places and smoothes strips on wall.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

The nature of a Painter's activities generally restricts relationships to employees working within the same organizational unit including artisans in other trades.  On occasion, however, incumbents may be required to verbally communicate with administrators and others in a State agency or facility on the reasons why work is being accomplished in the manner selected.

Typically, Painters supervise a painting crew which may include supervising persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility. Such relationships are characterized by frequent verbal communications in assigning work and providing instructions.  Written and verbal communications with the general public are not typical of this class. The tasks of this class are predominantly thing-oriented and the involvement with others is not a factor in determining the classification of individual positions.

NATURE OF SUPERVISION

Painters are usually supervised by higher level trades positions such as Supervising Painter or Maintenance Supervisor. Generally, work priorities and the nature and extent of the work to be performed are prescribed and materials are furnished. However, in the absence of such direction a Painter may set priorities, requisition materials and determine the work that has to be done.

Although the work of the Painter is inspected periodically by the supervisor, incumbents are expected to work with considerable independence as is typical of a skilled worker.

As assigned a Painter will supervise other craft positions including Painters and subordinate employees and/or supervising persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility in making assignments, giving instructions and observing and inspecting work performed to insure that instructions have been followed and that the quality of the work is satisfactory.

MACHINES, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Painters use the tools of the painting trade including rollers, spray guns including airless and electrostatic, paint brushes, paint mitts, as well as a variety of smaller hand tools such as scrapers, wire brushes, and putty knives.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Working knowledge of painting techniques and practices.

• Working knowledge of characteristics of common types of paints and finishes from the standpoint of durability, suitability for different purposes, and ease of handling and application.

• Working knowledge of the acceptable use of colors following color harmony schemes.

• Ability to erect and work from scaffolds, swing stages, and ladders.

• Ability to estimate quantity of paint and related materials required to complete a project.

• Ability to use the tools, equipment and materials of the painting trade.

• Ability to stand for long periods of time, to climb, and to bend.

• Ability to understand and carry out written and verbal instructions.

As assigned:

• Working knowledge of the rules and regulations of the facility governing the activities of persons for whom the State has custody or responsibility working under the supervision of a facility employee.

• Ability to supervise and train others.

• Ability to apply decorative wallpapers.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Four years of full time experience under a journey level painter which provided training equivalent to that given in an apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship training in painting or training gained by the completion of technical courses in painting at a school, institute or a branch of the Armed Services may be substituted for the above training and experience on a year-for-year basis.

Reviewed:  11/04

NOTE:  Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.