Basic Safety Gear Every Homeowner and DIY Enthusiast Should Have

Projects are more fun if they don’t result in an injury.

What seems like a simple DIY project involving chipping wood could turn into an eye injury, which could take months to heal, without proper eye protection.

At Kaufman Lumbar we are encouraged to see homeowners and DIY-ers take on new projects. We’d like to help as much as we can. That’s why we offer equipment rental. There are some pieces of equipment that are expensive and really only meant for very specific tasks. We recommend saving your money by renting. Contact us to learn more.

Eye safety.

Ever get an eyelash in your eye? If something as small as an eyelash can disrupt your day, imagine what an injury would be like. Safety goggles are not expensive. If you get the right ones, you won’t even realize they are there once you begin working.

When you are shopping for safety glasses look for name brand glasses. Try to find ones that say they are OSHA-regulated. The HT and CT on the labels indicate that the goggles are tough enough for jobs that require brick cutting, chipping, hammering (a common handheld tool that tends to reach back towards your face), or using wire.

Ear safety.

There is a reason why the HOA for your area doesn’t want you working on your project at 3AM. DIY projects can get very loud. Some power tools, like saws and nail guns, can reach decibel ranges from 90 to 105. Prolonged exposure to noise that loud could cause permanent damage to your hearing.

Play it safe, and make operating a drill a little more comfortable, by wearing earplugs or earmuffs.

Lung safety.

Protecting your lungs is especially important when you are doing renovation DIY projects. In an old house, you could run into dangerous amounts of asbestos and/or mold. In any house you can be sure to find some sort of insulation, fiberglass batts are most common. A disposable mask won’t do a good job if you are cutting into walls. Look for a comfortable, yet durable dust mask to keep on hand — maybe keep an extra one should yours malfunction in the middle of a project.

Hand safety.

Every DIY enthusiast should have a good, lightweight pair of work gloves. Work gloves aren’t for DIY projects that require power tools or hammering nails. Since DIY-ers tend to jump from one craft to another, these are always good to have readily accessible. You’ll thank yourself for wearing them working in the garden or doing arduous yardwork.