There is nothing like a good accident to make you think, “I should have used safety gear.” I would know, I’ve had plenty.
Safety Footwear
Depending on where you live and the tasks you have outdoors, you may need proper footwear such as work boots to protect your feet. This is especially true if you are cutting larger tree limbs and heavy brush. A heavy limb could smash your foot without the right gear.
You may be doing some DIY home improvement that requires chemicals on the floor or driveway. To avoid injury from slipping, you may want slip-resistant and water-resistant footwear.
Whether you find work boots attractive or not, remember they protect your feet and they lessen foot, leg and lower back fatigue.
Safety Eyewear
From mowing the yard to cutting tree limbs and sawing wood, ophthalmologists recommend that you wear safety goggles or other safety eyewear while doing these tasks. Your vision is important and requires protection. If you are worried about appearances, manufacturers have made them more fashionable, they don’t have to be like your grandmother’s safety goggles.
Hearing Protection
Equally important is protecting your hearing. Whether you are mowing, using a power saw or other loud power tool, you should wear hearing protection. If you rarely have a need for hearing protection, you can simply buy disposable earplugs. If you prefer comfort or entertainment, you can buy what looks like stereo headphones that play music in addition to providing hearing protection.
Lung Protection
Did you know that many people use disposable fabric masks with elastic straps that hold in place over their nose and mouth to protect their lungs from dust while mowing? Moreover, did you know that you can protect your lungs while painting, sanding, stripping, or scraping? Respirators are available and they filter dust and fumes so they don’t enter your lungs.
Hand Protection
When using harsh chemicals around the house, you most likely wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. If you don’t, we would like to recommend that you do so. Chemicals can be harmful to your skin and possibly cause a trip to the emergency room. When cutting and removing tree limbs and brush, you should wear protection for your hands. They can protect you from the elements, from getting splinters, from thorns and more.
Our readers are very important to us and we ask that the necessary precautions to be safe – use safety gear as needed.
For information on other tools to put in your toolbox, be sure to check out our tool list.
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