What PPE suits you?

[TinkerLogic]

Evenin y'all I'm back looking for info once again!

As I'm slowly coming around to getting everything set up for the workshop, I'm starting to think about what types of PPE (personal protection equipment) that I want. It's mostly going to be wood projects but every now and then there will be soldering, painting, cleaning and other stuff going on that will put chemicals/dust into the air. I will have a fan going but it's not going to be doing that much.

Safety glasses never lasted long on any job I've ever used them on for various reasons, plus honesty I would forget them a lot of the time too because they got set down somewhere out the way or I would forget them on top of my head. I've never found a comfy pair either soooo I'm thinking face shield is the direction I want to go.

I've wore face shields over the years for different jobs and prefer it over any other eye/face protection. I'm looking for a face shield that would allow room under it for a dust mask or other lung protection as well. I'm hoping for something a little comfy so I'm not eager to get it off and then either forget about it or I keep "setting it out of the way"

What type of face shield and lung protection do y'all use in combination? Is there anything else you think I would need or find useful?

As usual I appreciate any and all thoughts you may have.

Have A Good'n!

 

[bdbecker]

I would strongly suggest trying to find a pair of safety glasses you like. They are really the first line of defense when it comes to keeping your eyes safe. There are hundreds of options available, which means there are bound to be at least a few options out there that will suit you. It is a bit of trial and error, and you may have to buy a few different pairs until you find one you like, but you only get one set of eyes.

The biggest mistake I see people make when it comes to safety glasses is only wearing them when they think they are needed. There is no need to have a half-dozen pairs laying around the shop by every machine. You only need one good pair that you wear whenever you are working in the shop. Just get in the habit of putting them on when you walk in the door and leaving them on until you are done. Avoid propping them on your head or taking them off when you think they aren't needed. If you feel the need to do this, then you don't have the right glasses.

I've found that I really like having two options when it comes to safety glasses. The first one is my standard glasses. They go on when I enter the shop. The second pair are more like goggle/safety glass hybrids and are what I like to wear with my dust mask and face shield. These have foam cups and an elastic band and sit tight to my face. As I said before, this is a very personalized choice. Just because they work for me doesn't mean they'll work for you.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07253G22T/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GPX8PMR/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Same as glasses, I tried a few different face shields before I landed on this one. It's a little more compact and fits nicely around my face than the more traditional frameless style of face shield.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CHV65DG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

For a dust mask, I use this one. It used to be a little annoying to wear, but now that I use a CPAP at night, it doesn't bother me at all.

Amazon.com: GVS Elipse Dust Half Mask Respirator with replaceable and reusable filters included : Tools & Home Improvement

Amazon.com: GVS Elipse Dust Half Mask Respirator with replaceable and reusable filters included : Tools & Home Improvement

www.amazon.com

I've been contemplating giving one of these a try. A couple of guys in the weld shop seem to like them.

Amazon.com: RZ Mask M2 Face Masks for Woodworking, Home Improvement, Construction and DIY Projects : Tools & Home Improvement

Buy RZ Mask M2 Face Masks for Woodworking, Home Improvement, Construction and DIY Projects: Shop top fashion brands Safety Masks at Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

As far as additional PPE is concerned, hearing protection is often over looked. Personally, I can't stand wearing earmuffs. My favorite earplug are the Radians FP80 Deviator (FP81 is the part number if you want the corded version). I can wear these all day without any irritation or pain.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FOS1MOK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Hope this helps a little.

 

[racecougar]

I wear prescription glasses. In the shop, I wear a pair of prescription safety glasses. When I'm doing anything that would warrant eye protection, I wear a face shield as well.

I use a 3M half mask respirator for lung protection. I believe it's model 6300. I use the appropriate particulate filters or OV cartridges depending on what I'm doing. I also run an air filtration unit that does an amazing job of keeping the air clear.

I prefer muffs to plugs. My go to are Howard Leight units, but I have some cheapo HF ones around, too.

 

[jrsavoie]

I concur with the previous post.

Find a good pair of safety glasses and wear them full time.

Find a face shield and wear it over the safety glasses.

I've got a lot of stuff in my eyes over the years - especially sawzalling steel. While wearing both safety glasses and a shield.
We started using a magnetic tape under the shield.

I know a guy that got a wood chip in his eye and is now all but blind in that eye after a couple surgeries.

I'm as bad as anyone about proper PPE. Don't do as I do.

Be especially careful running a wire brush, chisels, punches and stuff you strike with a hammer. Keep them ground.

I've had pieces of wire brushed go almost completely in.
I had one in my chin, that I yanked on and pulled out about 3/4" and it was still in there a ways.

I had a chip off a ground chisel in my thumb about 1/4" deep.

Had a friend hospitalized by an exploded cut wheel. That went in his gut.

I've kept N95 masks on hand for decades.

A good respirator is a good idea.

The N95 masks plug easily. Especially when sweating.

I find myself overheating and not wearing them when I should

You can't be too careful

 

[TinkerLogic]

I concur with the previous post.

Find a good pair of safety glasses and wear them full time.

Find a face shield and wear it over the safety glasses.

I've got a lot of stuff in my eyes over the years - especially sawzalling steel. While wearing both safety glasses and a shield.
We started using a magnetic tape under the shield.

I know a guy that got a wood chip in his eye and is now all but blind in that eye after a couple surgeries.

I'm as bad as anyone about proper PPE. Don't do as I do.

Be especially careful running a wire brush, chisels, punches and stuff you strike with a hammer. Keep them ground.

I've had pieces of wire brushed go almost completely in.
I had one in my chin, that I yanked on and pulled out about 3/4" and it was still in there a ways.

I had a chip off a ground chisel in my thumb about 1/4" deep.

Had a friend hospitalized by an exploded cut wheel. That went in his gut.

I've kept N95 masks on hand for decades.

A good respirator is a good idea.

The N95 masks plug easily. Especially when sweating.

I find myself overheating and not wearing them when I should

You can't be too careful

Thanks!

I won't use a wire wheel on a drill but maybe a grinder... if I decide to buy another bench top grinder.

Back in about 2009 or close to that, Home Depot sold these really sketchy cut-off wheels/disc's for grinders. They were so horrible that they got recalled or something because they shattered so easily or the center broke out and it went flying. The ones of us with a face shield were ok...the ones with just safety glasses got ate up with shrapnel.

I'm not sure if the masks I used in the body shop were N95 but I do remember they worked but the thing collected sweat easily and I had to keep taking it off to wipe down the seal to the face lol. Hopefully this time I'll find something that fits my situation.