DIY can be a fun hobby.  It’s so rewarding when you can skip hiring tradespeople and complete home improvement tasks by yourself.

However, when you’re using power tools it’s really important to take care and learn how to use them properly to prevent injuries.

Not only this, but you should also invest in safety gear to protect yourself from preventable harm to your body and senses.

Here’s a look at some of the protective gear you should use when completing DIY around your home:

Hearing protection

Using loud tools regularly is not good for your ears.  Make sure you invest in high quality ear protectors to cancel out the sound and prevent damage to your ears.

Ear muffs provide the best protection, but ear plugs can be used too.  Choose what’s comfiest for you and allows you to work safely without being distracted.

According to safety gear website prochoice.com “Construction workers regularly experience noise levels up to six times the legal exposure limit and up to 75 per cent are developing tinnitus or permanent hearing loss as a result of their job.”

Whilst your DIY projects may not be quite as extreme or long lasting as the sounds construction workers are regularly exposed to, there are some pretty noisy tools you can use in the home. 

Even short exposure to loud noises can cause a temporary tinnitus.  If you suffer with tinnitus and hearing protection isn’t helping then there could be another underlying cause.  Other causes include a build-up of ear wax which can be removed using a method called microsuction by doctors at Auris Ear Care. 

If you have any concerns about your hearing or whether you have caused damage by loud DIY projects, then it’s important to consult with an ear care specialist or your doctor to discuss any treatment needed.

You don’t want to lose your hearing from using power tools, so it’s important to always wear ear protectors when using loud tools and equipment!

Safety glasses

If you’re using saws or anything to cut wood and other materials then you must always wear a pair of safety glasses.

Safety glasses, or goggles, are cheap to buy and will protect your eyes from any bits of material like dust, wood or metal shavings that could otherwise land in your eyes.

If you wear glasses then you may find safety goggles more practical as they fit over your glasses.

Dust masks, respirators and filters

If you are renovating your home, you could be exposed to hazardous particles in the air such as asbestos, fibreglass, sawdust and mould.

Breathing these in can be toxic to your health, so invest in a dust mask or respirator from your local DIY store to filter out these particles. If you are working with highly hazardous materials then it’s best to use a half face respirator to offer ultimate protection. These offer the best protection against a number of different particle and chemical types.

If you’re a keen DIYer then it’s worth spending a little more for a respirator with interchangeable filters so you don’t have to keep buying disposable masks which will waste money and create unnecessary waste.

Work boots

If you’re lugging heavy materials around then it’s a good idea to protect your feet with safety toed boots.

You may be familiar with steel toe capped boots, but these are often heavy and bulky. Nowadays you can choose work boots with composite safety toes as a less cumbersome option.

Site gloves

A pair of all-purpose site gloves is another inexpensive way to protect your hands from splinters, cuts and other abrasions when handling different materials.

These gloves are not thick and bulky, but a convenient thin design which allows you to handle objects and equipment easily without restricting movement in your hands or fingers.

However, if you are handling something sharp or spiky then you’ll want a pair of thicker heavy duty gloves too.

Kneepads

If your DIY job involves a lot of kneeling, such as laying a deck, new flooring or fixing low down plumbing, then your knees can take quite the bashing!

Constantly kneeling can cause painful knees, so protect them with wearable kneepads or a foam mat to cushion the hard ground.

First aid kit

No matter how careful you are, there may be a time when you accidentally cut yourself and need to stop a bleed.

Make sure you have a first aid kit at home with plasters and bandages to stop any bleeding, so you can crack on.

Make sure you master safe DIY and don’t cause yourself unnecessary harm when there’s protective gear widely available.

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