Be careful, when using a chainsaw...
It does not matter if you want to cut a tree with a chainsaw or only shorten your hedgerow with an electric hedge trimmer. Leave slippers and shorts at home. Even though modern saws have antivibration systems, brakes or chain catchers, you should not even start the saw without wearing protective equipment. If the saw slips on the stem right on your leg, the brake will not have the time to activate and you may bear consequences all your life.
You may protect yourself wearing resistant clothes and face protection, good shoes and, last but not least, hearing protection that is very important too (but underestimated). Each do-it-selfer with a chainsaw in his hands should wear 1XSP or Pluto trousers. The trousers comply with the European standard EN 381 for work with a chainsaw.
| 1XSP | Pluto |
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From the knees down, the trousers are reinforced with a special layer whose fabric will, immediately on the contact with the chainsaw, wind up on the chain and the chainsaw will get blocked in a second. The same layer is used also for protective gloves and safety shoes that represent essential protection equipment too. You may point the chainsaw directly to your leg and you will not get harmed.
You will appreciate an efficient ventilation system in the back part when working in hot weather. However, never take off the helmet with a wire face-shield, even in the sweltering heat.
Chainsaw noise (usually around 100 dB) may damage your hearing. You have learned how to protect your hearing in our previous article.
Neither the hammer or the screwdriver are without risk
No household may do without hand-held tools and they are used virtually permanently. That is why so many injuries are connected with these small tools, especially when they are used in a wrong way and are not maintained.
Good tools:
- must not be damaged,
- must be clean and sharp,
- must be used only by an experienced person.
These conditions are, however, rarely observed. Therefore, it is good to wear gloves when using hand tools. Most common injuries are injuries of fingers, the back of the hand, palms and forearms.
Seamless gloves that keep a good sense of touch and protect your hands are suitable for fine work. Thanks to their anti-slip surface it is easier to hold tools in your hand. If, in the course of work with tools, you are also carrying heavy objects like bricks or driving a wheelbarrow, you will appreciate gloves with a high degree of protection against abrasion. Combined gloves provide both properties.
| Seamless gloves | Abrasion resistent gloves | Combined gloves |
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Painting, coating and work with dangerous substances
When you prepare yourself for painting, you dress an old t-shirt, old trousers and old shoes. You do not care much about stains. However, you are exposed to much bigger risks during painting and work with dangerous substances. A drop of paint or dangerous substance in the eye, skin irritation or irritation of lungs by an aggressive substance is a too high penalty for underestimating protection during painting.
As we wrote before, the eye is the most sensible organ to irritation by chemical substances, which is why protective spectacles or goggles are a must. If you choose the spectacles with dark glasses, you will kill two birds with one stone, because you will not be dazzled by the sun when painting your fence.
I-Spector Halton
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Some substances contained in paints, varnishes or degreasing agents may be dangerous for your lungs too. A suitable respirator or a half mask is necessary. Always read through the enclosed safety data sheet where you will find what protective equipment is needed. If you do not want to breathe unpleasant odours, wear an active carbon respirator,
You do not need to care much only about clothing. You should, however, make sure that all your body is covered, if necessary. In such a case do not get your expensive overall destroyed. Buy a cheap disposable overall instead.
Work in the garden
Gloves are standard protection equipment for work in the garden. You should, however, use those that suit the purpose. Old gloves often suffer from material fatigue and may not protect your hands well. Always choose the model of gloves suitable for a given work.
- Leather gloves with lining and a longer cuff for work with thorny plants - e.g. Undulata.
- When working with knives use gloves protecting against cutting - Cooper strong.
- Rallus gloves will give you better sense of touch for fine work
- Tetrax gloves offer an excellent grip so tools will never slip thanks to latex coating. They are also water-proof.
- The ladies who like to look elegant during gardening will appreciate the KIXX design line. You may choose from multicolour gloves for you children.
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When gardening, do not forget about your feet. Stout shoes are necessary for work on loose surface. Especially in spring, earth is muddy and watterlogged and walking in unsuitable shoes may be dangerous not only for your ankles, but also for your back if you fall.
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Choose between work and safety shoes, depending on the risk level of your activity. Work shoes suffice for planting, safety shoes may be better if you are spading.
- Work boots are suitable for walking on loose surface - e.g. Ginocchio. In colder weather, it is better to wear insulated Gumofilc.
- Safety boots have reinforced tips and they protect against impact of a falling object or puncture e.g. Eurofort or Steplite pu boots.
- Classic shoes should be ankle boots. You do not want to have earth in them. A sought after type of ankle boots are so-called farm boots - e.g. Black Knight.
- Safety classic shoes with a reinforced tip are e.g. Wuja ankle.
Gentlemen do not care much about clothing itself and they are usually satisfied with conventional blue overalls. For ladies, we have a beautiful collection of clothing, Yowie . If you need clothing that will stand rough treatment, choose the Assent or OS collection.
