DIY Essentials: Six Pieces of PPE You Must Have Available

Whether you are performing some essential home maintenance or redecorating, it is important that you wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is designed to make it safer for you to do work around the house that is inherently dangerous – for example, working with chemicals, blades or other sharp objects.

It can be easy to simply begin carrying out DIY wearing your normal clothes and without worrying too much about the risks. But if you do not prepare properly, even the most basic DIY can be dangerous for you. Here are six piece of PPE that will help keep you safe as you carry out DIY around the house.

Ear defenders

Don’t underestimate the importance of protecting your ears when you are carrying out DIY. Carrying out any kind of maintenance or construction work around your property makes you more likely to experience loud noises which from the general sounds of work or accidents.

There are different types of ear protection available including large ear muff style which offer a greater level of protection, and in-ear defenders which can be worn with other forms of headgear. The right kind of ear protection will depend on the situation that you are in and what you also need to be wearing for the work.

Eye protection

Another often-overlooking appear of PPE is eye protection. So much of DIY work uses materials and chemicals that can be extremely damaging your eyes, from the chemicals to sharp objects and debris from the work you are carrying out.

Once again there are many different forms of eye protection that are suitable for specific circumstances, depending on what you are protecting your eyes against. Safety glasses offer some protection and can generally worn with other headgear. Safety goggles can offer a greater level of safety, but also have a tendency to steam up which can make them difficult to use for long periods.

Alternatively, you could opt for a safety visor which protects the whole of the face. Even with this in place it can be sensible to wear safety glasses as well, to remove the risk of material being able to get under the visor.

The right gloves for the job

Of course, it is also essential that you should wear the right kind of gloves when you are conducting home DIY. The gloves that you require are that will give you the maximum amount of protection without compromising on the dexterity that you need for the task.  

For example, some gloves, such as Kevlar lined gloves, are designed to be resistant to cuts but may offer no resistance against chemical splashes. This means that you need to select gloves based on the work that you are carrying out – don’t simply pull on the same pair every time.

Respiratory masks

You need to protect your lungs, as DIY can create a lot of dust and put a lot of chemicals into the air that can aggravate your lungs as you breathe. Once again, however, it is important to understand the limitations of the different types of facemasks, and not trying to use them in a situation where they are not applicable.

For example, there are certain materials that a standard respiratory mask will not defend against. Asbestos particles are a good example of this – standard dust masks that you can buy from DIY stores will not protect you against asbestos exposure.

Protective footwear

You should have the right sort of footwear for the task at hand. Standard working boots are fine for the majority of tasks, but in some cases, you may require something specific. For example, safety boots with a steel toe cap can protect against heavy objects falling on your toes, while rigger boots may be made with heat resistant materials.

Workwear

It is also important to remember that you should have the right kind of clothes to wear as you carry out your DIY. The use of good working trousers, for example, can be vital. Helpful features such as extra pockets, reinforces knees and belt loops designed for tool belts all add up to make it easier for you to carry out work.

It might sound like a small issue, but wearing the right gear can simply make every much more convenient and easy.