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PPE and Safety Tips
One of the most overlooked aspects of construction or tool use in general is proper PPE. So what is PPE? PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment. This ranges from work gloves and porper footware to dust masks and respirators.
Work Gloves
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Now you probably wont see work gloves on any required tools list and really a lot of the time it's personal preference. For example, some people where gloves when they dig, to avoid blisters, others wear cut gloves, to avoid slicing yourself on sheet metal.
I recommend wearing gloves whenever you are doing any demolition work. You should also wear proper cut resistant gloves when handling sheet metal. In either of these situations, it's almost impossible to prevent cutting yourself or getting some serious splinters. Even if you can avoid it you working so slow it's just not worth it. I've seen people have to leave a site and go to a hospital multiple times from sheet metal cuts. Wear the gloves. Gloves are good. |
Respirators and Dust Masks
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These are not the same thing. A dust mask will filter air of particles, but not vapors from different chemicals. Always read a products warning label. If it says to wear a respirator, than you need a respirator. A dust mask will not help in any way. Wear a dust mask whenever you are working with friable materials. Friable materials have particles that become airborn when disturbed. This includes things like fiberglass insulation and drywall cutting. Don't use a dust mask for painting. You will need a respirator.
My recommendation is to just buy a reusable respirator. You can use this for anything and just replace the filters when they get dirty. If you have a reusable one you're more likely to wear it, and in situations it will keep you from injury and even death. |
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