The Right Protective Gear for Every Activity

No one knows who said “Luck runs out, but safety is good for life,” but the way some people go about things, sometimes with no protective gear at all, one wonders how soon their luck becomes a statistic. Everything you do, whether replacing your brakes, cutting down trees, riding a bike, or mowing the lawn, comes with potential hazards. Inexperience usually increases the risk of injury, but neither training nor experience can eliminate the chance of injury at home, work, or play.

Eye on Protective Gear

So, what are you doing today? Whatever your activity, consider the potential dangers and use the appropriate protective gear to prevent possible harm.

• Protect Your Eyes: Use safety glasses, goggles, or a face mask to protect your eyes. Basic safety glasses are good for flying debris, but you may want a face mask to protect the rest of your face. Goggles are helpful where dust is a concern and a tinted welding mask or goggles are a must for welding.
  • Typical activities include general car repair, cutting, grinding, sweeping, logging, welding and four-wheeling.
    
• Now Hear This: Use earplugs or earmuffs to dampen loud noises. There are many styles of earplugs and earmuffs, rated by noise reduction. Some types allow for normal speaking, but clamp only sudden loud noises or even allow you to listen to music or take phone calls.
  • Typical activities include four-wheeling, dirt-biking, shooting, construction, demolition and using air tools.
• Hands-On Safety: Your hands are always in the thick of things, but gloves can give them an extra layer of protection against abrasions, cuts, heat or harsh chemicals. Be sure to match work gloves to the task at hand.
  • Typical activities include auto repair, cutting, grinding, welding, cleaning, painting, yard work and logging.
• Safety Step: Work boots or foot guards can prevent damage to your feet and prevent falls. Be sure to choose a work shoe appropriate for the job.
  • Typical activities include lawn mowing, weed trimming, dirt-biking, four-wheeling, logging and general construction.
• Safety Heads-Up: Because your brain is so delicate, protecting your head is critical. Helmets and hard hats are available for most activities and, while comfort is limited, head injuries are definitely less comfortable.
  • Typical activities include construction, demolition, logging, four-wheeling, dirt-biking, motorcycle riding, rollerblading and bike-riding.
• Get a Leg Up: Work pants are comfortable and offer better abrasion resistance than denim for most work around the house. Chainsaw chaps or gaiters are a must for certain activities.
  • Typical activities include logging, weed trimming, lawn mowing, four-wheeling and dirt-biking.
• A Breath of Fresh Air: Certain activities kick up dust or come with harsh vapors, which can cause allergic reactions or damage to your lungs, heart or brain. Dust masks and respirators keep these things out.
  • Typical activities include lawn and garden work, sanding, painting, and cleaning.

There’s no way we could possibly list all the activities and potential dangers you might encounter in a day at home, on the job, when traveling or on vacation. That’s why you need to be careful and take the necessary precautions. Regardless of what you’re doing, be fully aware of your surroundings and the task at hand, because your luck could run out at any moment. With the right protective gear, you won’t have to rely on luck to safely work on your car or around the house.

Check out all the safety products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on finding the right protective gear, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay.