Personal Protection
No matter how well you know a tool and how many times you have read its manual, personal protection is essential to workshop safety. While everyone is generally responsible for their own PPE (personal protective equipment), some commonly needed items are suitable for sharing.
Goggles
| ToolInfoBox Goggles | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | safety glasses, safety eyewear; DE: Schutzbrillen |
| Type: | safety gear |
| Material: | shrapnel, dust, liquids |
Wear goggles for any task involving dust, sparks, shards, chemicals or overhead work!
Ear Defenders
| ToolInfoBox Ear Defenders | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | acoustic earmuffs, "Mickey Mouse"; DE: Ohrenschützer, Kapselgehörschutz |
| Type: | safety gear |
| Material: | sound waves |
Ear defenders protect your ears against noise (and, technically, also wet willies).
- explanation of rating system: (DE)
- in short, SNR (single number rating) expresses the average noise reduction and the other values correspond to reduction of high, medium or low frequency sounds
Gloves
| ToolInfoBox Gloves | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | DE: Handschuhe |
| Type: | safety gear |
| Material: | splinters, chemicals |
Common types are "work gloves" for mechanical protection (e.g. sharp edges, heat) and disposable latex gloves for liquid and adhesive handling.
Never wear gloves when operating a drill press or similar rotating tool!
Dust Masks
| MaterialInfoBox Dust Masks | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | DE: Staubmaske, Atemmaske |
| Suggested Tools: | - |
Hooking up the shop vac to power tools whenever possible greatly reduces the need for these and keeps the room around you clean as well.
