The PPE that actually matters for DIY

Learn which safety gear genuinely protects you for DIY, and how to wear it so it actually works.

PP-01Understand what PPE is actually forPPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment - anything you wear to stop injury, not tools that do the job for you. Beginners often buy PPE, then leave it in the bag because a job looks quick. Most DIY injuries happen on the 'quick job' you didn't bother gearing up for, not the big scary one.

PP-02Wear safety glasses for anything that throws debrisSafety glasses are clear or tinted lenses that wrap round your eyes, worn for drilling, sawing, hammering, or using a grinder. Dust, splinters and metal fragments fly back at your face faster than you can blink away from. Get ones that seal close to your face - loose sunglasses-style ones let grit in from the sides.

PP-03Use gloves for handling, not for power toolsGloves protect your hands when carrying rough timber, handling insulation, or gripping sharp offcuts. Never wear loose gloves near a drill, saw or anything spinning - fabric can catch and pull your hand into the moving part before you can let go. If you're using a power tool, bare hands (clean and dry) are safer than a snagging glove.

1 pair · Work gloves

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PP-04Mask up before you make dustA disposable dust mask (the moulded cup type marked FFP2 or FFP3) stops you breathing in fine particles from sanding, cutting plasterboard, or drilling masonry. FFP3 gives more protection than FFP2 and is worth it for anything you suspect is old paint or plaster dust. Fit it so there's no gap at the nose - pinch the metal strip down and check no air leaks past your cheeks when you breathe out.

3 each · FFP3 disposable dust masks

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PP-05Protect your hearing before it hurtsEar defenders (the padded headphone-style ones) or foam ear plugs matter for anything loud and sustained - a drill on masonry, a circular saw, an SDS hammer drill. Damage from noise builds up quietly over years and doesn't come back once it's gone. If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone a metre away over the tool, you need ear protection.

PP-06Sort your feet and knees for site workSolid shoes or boots with a hard sole protect against dropped tools and stepping on stray screws - trainers don't cut it for anything beyond light tasks. If you're kneeling for flooring or skirting work, use knee pads or a folded towel; bare knees on hard floors for an hour will leave you limping the next day.

PP-07Check your PPE actually fits before you startYou've got it right when glasses don't fog or slide down your nose, the mask seals with no gaps you can feel air moving through, gloves grip without being loose at the fingertips, and ear defenders sit flush without gaps letting sound in. If you have to keep adjusting something mid-task, it's the wrong size - sort it before you start work, not while a tool is running.

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