DIY safety tips: Protective clothing and equipment

There are a few essential pieces of equipment that every DIY superstar needs to have in their arsenal. These basic items can make working on a project much easier and far safer. We're not talking about power tools or anything like that, though - what we're going to focus on in this article is safety equipment, along with the clothes you should wear when getting down to business in your garage or around the home.

This article is part of our continued focus on staying safe while performing DIY activities, and how hiring a few essential items can make this a much safer endeavour. 

Protective clothing and safety equipment

Different jobs have different safety requirements, so you can never be fully protected unless you've got the exact set of equipment for a particular task. There are certainly a few things, such as goggles, that can be purchased cheaply and are invaluable to have on hand, but for anything else you should be tailoring your safety gear to the situation. 

For example, if you know that you'll be doing some welding or cutting a material that has the potential to splinter, you'll need a heavy-duty visor for protection. This is a more expensive piece of kit, and unlikely to be lying around at home. Renting a visor or specialised welding goggles is a great solution, saving you money if it's a 'one and done' job and reducing unnecessary clutter in the tool shed. 

Along with safety equipment, DIY-ers should also consider their work attire. Unless you're only performing a very small job, you'll want to have a specific set of clothes that you use for any DIY work. These will need to be rugged enough to withstand hard work, but also comfortable and not so precious that they can't get a bit of grime on them. Another key consideration should be the fit. Your DIY outfit should be tight-fitting, as any loose or billowing pieces of fabric can be hazardous if they get caught on a sharp edge or in a tool's mechanism. The same goes for jewellery, but why would you want to risk damaging a valuable ring or necklace anyway?

The right equipment

In terms of clothing or protective equipment that you'll need to hire or purchase specially, sturdy boots should be at the top of your list. Yes, the Australian and New Zealand summers can be hot, and it's sometime tempting to get down to business in jandals or thongs, but exposed toes simply aren't worth the risk. While most of your equipment can be easily hired from the team at Kennards Hire, boots are one area where you should purchase to ensure a comfortable pair that fits you perfectly.

There are plenty of other situations where a DIY fanatic may need more specific pieces of equipment. A great example is working at heights, where anything more extensive than a ladder or basic scaffold requires a harness or all sorts of other height safety items. It goes without saying that this sort of work should only be undertaken by experienced DIY-ers with the necessary experience and skills to complete a job properly. Even so, it never hurts to be prepared with high-quality protective equipment to help prevent any mishaps.

A final point to keep in mind is that you should always make sure your safety equipment is in good condition. A cracked hard hat isn't going to provide the best protection, so if you're in any doubt, talk to Kennards Hire about hiring some gear.