When deck framing in New South Wales (NSW) or during a deck building project, it is important to wear the right safety gear to keep yourself safe from injuries. As on any other construction job, you will need to protect your eyes, ears, and lungs when framing or building a deck.
When you talk to any carpenter who started building 30 years ago, you will realize that you have to shout for them to hear you. There are high chances that their hearing was damaged in the days when employees didn’t protect their ears when working on noisy sites. When you consider the handheld circular saw, you will realize that it makes noise over 110 decibels. It, therefore, makes sense to wear appropriate ear protection to save your ears for the years to come.
Ear protection
When working on your deck, you will need foam earplugs that expand in your ear to offer the best ear protection. However, this option is often uncomfortable and can easily fall out from your ear. The next best option is using earplugs on your cord or headband. However, these options offer the least protection and are often uncomfortable. While these options might be uncomfortable at first, you will get used to them and you will protect your ears in the long run. It is important to understand that your ears are not the only thing you want to protect when working with your decking supplies to build or frame a deck.
Eye protection
When you get sawdust in your eyes, you feel a lot of pain and discomfort. So just imagine something as dangerous as a rock or metal in your eyes. Concrete dust can cause problems as well. Splinters can be hard to remove from the eyes. When working on your deck, it is important to wear the appropriate safety glasses to protect your eyes. Since you are working outdoors, you can use the tinted variety to protect you from both dust and the sun.
Respiratory protection
This is another category of protection you need when working on your deck. Disposable fibre masks that have elastic bands are comfortable but don’t protect from fine dust. You should therefore go for true respirators as they are more protective.
Gloves
You will also need to protect your hands from splinters and cuts from your tools. While it is hard for a professional and experienced deck builder to cut himself with tools like drills, saws and knives, beginners sustain a lot of injuries on their hands. It is, therefore, important to get appropriate gloves for the job to avoid hand injuries.
Leg protection
You also need to protect your legs with the appropriate gumboots. Working with sandals is a bad idea. Just like your hands, you don’t want your feet to be exposed to harsh chemicals such as wood glues and concrete when building or framing a deck. With the right leg protection, your deck framing NSW will be completed without any injuries or inconveniences. You also need leg protection from sunburn. Remember your deck can get very hot when working on it on a sunny day.