Two Basic Safety Equipments

Safety is the primary concern when one undertakes a home improvement task. Oftentimes, a small accident, however simple, could result to grave injuries and it could have been avoided had there been safety equipment used at that time.

These simple inexpensive items when used would provide great protection and at the same time the confidence that the work can actually be done properly. Here are some of the items which are a must to be used when one is undertaking improvement projects.

1) Hard hat

The hard hat is one of the most basic and useful protective wear ever devised. Made of hard plastic, it is used to cover the cranial area of the head from falling debris. Basic physics dictate that the velocity (or the speed of an object) increases over distance traveled on a downward path. Thus, even a small nail, when falling from a high perch, can cause great damage and injury. To avoid that, the hard hat was designed to at least absorb the impact of the debris and protect the worker from injury. Many lives have been saved on job sites by this simple act of wearing a hard hat.

There is no standard design for the hard hat and it can come in many shapes and sizes. What is distinct about it is that the hard plastic shell is mounted on a head brace. This head brace sits on top of the cranium of the skull. The small distance between the shell and the brace is the impact absorption area and is the difference between safety and injury. Some designs even have chin straps to keep the brace in place.

2) Coveralls

Coveralls are clothing made of heavy fabric, usually denim, designed to protect the bodily area of the worker. Most often, it is a one piece suit, with a zipper up the front area of the wearer. It is long sleeved and with safety ties near the edge of the arm sleeves and leg sleeves. It comes in a variety of colors and with different pocket designs depending on the work requirements.

The coverall responds to several safety needs. It protects the torso, arms and legs of the worker from any flying debris or chemicals when performing the work. It absorbs the impact of the object, to a certain degree, and thus provides protection from skin abrasions and punctures. Also, it provides insulation from either chemicals or extreme temperature (heat, for example) without sacrificing the mobility and ability of the worker.

As one can see, what the worker wears is not some fancy uniform when performing the work. The hard hat serves to protect the head from injury caused by falling or flying debris. The coverall is specifically made to protect the arms, legs and body of the worker. Thus, these simple inexpensive items serve to protect the life and limb of the worker and avoid additional cost of hospitalization and rehabilitation when the worker is injured. It is a small investment which must be made in order to avoid greater risk and peril.