Safety gear in the metal room

In the metal room at school there are a variety of hazards. Safety gear can lessen the dangers of these hazards but it's important to know what type of safety gear to use for what situation.

               Overalls

Complete Overalls

Bib Overalls

There are two types of overalls you can wear; Bibs and complete overalls. Bibs only cover the legs and torso while a complete overall covers your whole body, arms included. Complete overalls are best to use for activities such as wielding.

Gloves

There is only one type of safety gloves in metal and that's wielding gloves. These gloves are heavy duty and protect your hands from getting burns. Of course there is a downside; the more heavy duty the glove the harder it is to hold hot items.

Wielding gloves

Ear protection

In metal it can get loud. This could cause damage to the ear and/or the noise can get very annoying. There are three ways to block this sound out. Neckband earmuffs are best for when you're wearing a hard hat or can't find comfortable banded earmuffs. Banded earmuffs are the most common type of earmuffs and work for most things. Earplugs are best for short periods of loud work and are disposable.

Left to right: Banded ear muffs, earplugs, neckband earmuffs

Eye protection

Eye protection is able to be used anytime in the workshop. Eye protection equipment is there to protect your eyes from debris landing in your eyes. Debris can come from almost anything, that's why it's important to wear eye protections especially around drills. The three ways your can protect your eyes are with safety glasses, which are best used around drills and for general use, safety goggles, best use is around grinders and drills for long periods of time, and a face shield, best use is around quickly turning machines and protect the whole face.

left to right: glasses, mask, and goggles

Head protection

We don't use head protection in the workshop often but on construction sites your meant to wear them constantly, especially if there are items above you that could possibly fall.

Hard hat

Respiration

Respiration mask

Dust mask

Respiration is used to prevent toxic fumes from entering your lungs. The two types of masks we use are dust masks and respirators. Dust masks are used for when there is minimal dust and shouldn't be used when there's the chance of toxic fumes. If you are doing something that does involve toxic fumes use a respirator instead. Respirators filter out toxic fumes and our used for things such as painting and wielding.

Boots

Pull on boots

Lace ups

When in a workshop such as the metal workshop it's a requirement that you wear the correct shoes. These are usually shoes that are leather and/or steel tipped. Pull on boots are good for short periods of work and are usually best for general work. Lace-up boots are also good for general work but are slightly more durable and are best for long periods of time.

Wielding goggles and masks 

When wielding you wear complete overalls but you also wear goggles and masks specifically made for wielding. You don't usually wear both a mask and goggles but each one does have it perks. Goggles are less clumsy then a mask and are able to be worn along with other parts of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Masks on the other hand protect the whole face including eyes. In the end they both do their job well.

Left: Mask, Right: Goggles