Students taking The Bournemouth & Poole College Decorating Skills course have a new labour saving and safety device thanks to the generosity of a Ringwood based company, which has kindly donated Betsy Paint Mates to the college.
The Betsy Paint Mate tool has really impressed course leader Scott Oliver, a man with years of experience in paint techniques and labour saving devices.
The Betsy straps securely around the waist of the painter and easily takes the weight of a sizeable pot of paint, leaving both hands free to climb a ladder and apply a coat of paint
A spokesman for the Betsy Group said: “ The importance of safety whilst up a ladder cannot be over-emphasised. This little waist device will make trainee decorators realise that this decorating tool could not only make a paint job a lot easier but help save them from a serious accident.”
The Betsy Paint Mate is the brainchild of Steeve Betsy. It came about because of a near accident Steeve had when painting.
"Whilst decorating the outside of a house in 2010 using a small ‘A’ frame ladder, the ladder gave way as I over-stretched and I found myself flat on my back on the floor. Although not seriously injured, it became immediately apparent that this accident, with all its serious risks, could have been avoided.
“The solution was to find a way to balance safely with one hand on the ladder whilst still being able to paint with the other. After searching in several merchants, DIY chains and on the Internet, it soon became apparent that such a tool for decorators was not available.
"It was while playing with a Frisbee in the garden with our daughters that the idea of using a similar material for a paint holder and carrier started to evolve. And so the Betsy Paint Mate was born."
Scott Oliver, course lecturer, thanked Steeve for the new kit and said his students were impressed by its simplicity and how practical it is.
He said: “Normally I’m sceptical about claims for new ideas about making the job easier, but I can say these little devices are a great help and they definitely make painting more efficient."
