Safety Gear 101: Essential PPE

Much has been said about safety in DIY projects. Prevention is better than being sent to the hospital and coming out with a few fingers missing! It’s not just about injury. Accidents are expensive. They cause delays. Items need to be replaced. Injured personnel can be out of action for extended periods. All of it is preventable. Protective gear is cheap, when compared to the alternative

Here are some examples of PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment. It is used to minimize the likelihood of personal injury while working in the field.

We’ve all seen workers at construction sites wearing bright orange vests and hard hats. High visibility vests might feel unimportant in small scale DIY projects, but they matter. Remember that it is not your own focus or reaction time that you are worrying about – you are worrying about the awareness of the stranger walking up behind you, staring into their mobile phone. Give them every chance to notice you! This is particularly important for bigger projects, in dusty locations, and at night.

Unless you are working in a chemical plant or in the medical field, you probably don’t need a full-coverage body suit. When doing home DIY, what you need is a hard hat. When working on the electrical system or the piping, it’s surprisingly easy to hit your head – and a concussion means an immediate trip to the Emergency Room.

We’ve all had something heavy fall on our feet, but household accidents are nothing compared to a piece of construction equipment landing on your foot! If you are wearing steel toed boots or safety shoes and you have a little accident with the power drill, you end up with a funny story instead of crutches for the rest of your life.

If you see someone wearing thick glasses in a construction site or work area, it means they are prepared for any fumes or stray objects flying at their eyes. These are safety glasses or goggles, which serve to protect your eyes from exposure to the elements. They are essential when working with dust, irritating fumes, and chemicals. They are best combined with a respirator or a mask. For welding jobs, a full face shield is mandatory to keep your eyes safe from sparks while ensuring visibility.

Heavy duty gloves are also essential. Mechanic gloves are made of durable fabrics such as nylon, which are flexible and suitable for general repair work and handling, especially if you have sensitive skin. Some are water-repellent. Cut resistant gloves are made of heavier duty materials or wound thicker to prevent cuts and abrasions from handling tools and working with certain materials. Some are even made using stainless steel. Chemically resistant gloves, specifically designed for handling cleaning products, solvents, paints etc. which are made of latex, pvc, and other specially treated rubber substances. Last but not least, are electrical gloves, which are specifically insulated to safely handle wiring and protect you from electric shocks.

At Cebu home and builders, we take pride in ensuring that we not only help you build a home, but also do it safely!