Over lockdown, doing a bit of DIY or upcycling has been a lifeline to some to prevent boredom. Hours of labour-intensive work can result in a masterpiece, passing the time in an extremely satisfying manner.
Whether it’s “you time” that you’re craving, or a bit of a bonding session with your partner or housemate, decorating your home can be one of the most rewarding hobbies.
However, when it comes to DIY projects, we need to be careful to pay close attention to safety as there can be some dangerous tasks at hand. The last place you’d rather be is A&E, instead of enjoying your hard work at home! That said, home décor is no mean feat and there are plenty of health and safety issues you need to consider protecting you from harm at home.
DIY hazards can appear where you least expect them, especially if you’re handling potentially dangerous tools such as hammers, nails, drills, saws and so on. The correct personal protective equipment for DIY is vital to safeguard you from any nasty accidents.
The main areas of the body that are of the utmost importance when choosing your PPE to keep protected from any sharp objects or flying particles whilst decorating your home includes hands and eyes.
To help you get the best out of your DIY project, we’ve chosen some of the best protective equipment so you can complete your task with peace of mind.
Hand protection for DIY
Firstly, when looking at safety gloves, there are a number of questions you need to ask yourself, including:
- Are you handling chemicals?
- What will the conditions be whilst completing your DIY – i.e. wet, dry, greasy?
- Will you be completing the project somewhere warm or will you need thermals?
- What tools will you be working with?
Handpicked by us, our best gloves for safety whilst undertaking your DIY would be:
The Showa 310 is perfect for those tasks needing exceptional grip. The flexible and robust glove offers excellent dexterity with good resistance to tearing – perfect for those heavy-duty DIY projects.
With a seamless liner, you can eliminate irritation if you’re having to wear the gloves for a long period of time, and the breathable nature of the product will stop your hands from getting hot when you’re getting hot and sweaty trying to sort out your décor.
This glove is ideal for the little DIY jobs which just require small hand tools such as hammers, shovels and spades. The product has a double latex coating for grip and to provide maximum resistance to rips.
If you’re putting together any furniture or upcycling, then this is the glove for you!
For the more ‘tough’, heavy impact jobs such as bricklaying, then the Showa 381 is the ultimate protective glove for DIY. If your at-home job requires you to really get down and dirty, then this glove offers the high-abrasion resistance that you need complete with fingertip sensitivity for all-day comfort.
Ultra-fine materials ensure the glove stays moisture-free for excellent breathability and the palm coating enables dry or oily components to be gripped confidently.
There are a whole range of chemicals out there that you may potentially be working with, so you need to be prepared with the correct protective glove before you even think about going near them.
The Showa 720R is a fully coated with 100% nitrile glove, offering high resistance to chemicals and excellent dexterity and protection against abrasion. It’s perfect for manual DIY when you require that extra exertion and need complete control when in wet handling conditions.
Eyewear for DIY
If you’re chopping up wood or any furniture, you need to be careful from woodchips, dust and any flying particles entering your eyes.
Eyewear specialists Riley offer protection that is second to none. Brand designers have incorporated traditional shapes and reinvented them with a modern edge so you can stay stylish for your DIY selfie.
Final thoughts
Now, you’re all set to start your DIY project – you just need to figure out where to begin.
For the ultimate home décor PPE package, you should ask yourself what materials you’ll be working with and what elements you need protecting from, whether that be a chemical, sharp objects or flying particles, to give you an idea of what type of protection you will need.
If you’re a DIY beginner and want an all-rounder glove, then the Showa 310 is the one for you, flexible and robust enough to withstand all heavy-duty projects. Check out our range of protective eyewear from Riley to keep your eyesight from becoming impaired during the task.
Finally, if you are going to encounter dust or fumes whilst completing your home project, we’d recommend investing in respiratory protection. The 8020 CV FFP2 mask has been designed to improve comfort and performance whilst maintaining a secure fit.