Painting and Road Striping Classifications on Hawaii State and County Projects

    

Painter - Thermoplastic striping

    There was a workshop last week on the Wages and Hours of Employees on Public Works Law, Chapter 104, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS).   A question that came up during the course of the session was very similar to questions we have received in the recent months.  It may be related to all the resurfacing of the roadwork going on  in the City and County of Honolulu.  The query asks what classification are the workers who are putting the lines on the road?

     Generally, if someone is painting, they are painters.  And this situation follows the general rule.  An excerpt from a recent decision letter we issued in August 2015 is below.

           "This is in response to your . . .letter . . . regarding the classification for placing pavement markings on highways, parking lots, play courts, airport runways and taxiways, on projects subject to Chapter 104, HRS.

           The proper classification for striping and/or pavement markings on roads, highways, airport runways and taxiways, is Painter. This also includes sweeping the pavement, hand casting glass beads onto pavement markings, carrying paint cans, and other related work to the striping and/or pavement markings.

          The proper classification for installing permanent raised pavement markings (reflectors) on any surface is Laborer II.

           The proper classification for thermoplastic striping and/or pavement markings on parking lots, play courts, and driveways is Painter. Pavement striping using a method other than thermoplastic striping may be performed by a Laborer II."

          Note that thermoplastic striping is always done by Painters no matter where the painting or road striping is.  Some painting i.e. by brush or spray painting of areas like parking lots or play courts or driveways may be done by Laborer II.