Forestry and Gardening Safety Clothing and Safety Shoes: What You Need To Know
Whether you’re employed in the forestry industry or you’re partaking in some more casual gardening at home, it is vital to ensure you are kitted out with the correct PPE for the job at hand. Using chainsaws, brush cutters, or other heavy duty tools or machinery opens up the possibility of injury — the correct protective clothing, footwear and safety equipment can prevent this.
But where to even begin?
As a starting point, ensure you are thoroughly trained to use the forestry or gardening equipment. While this may sound obvious, many injuries are caused by lack of training or incorrect use of tools. In the workplace, ensure all your training is up to date. At home, thoroughly check the tool instructions until you are confident in your ability to use them. When looking at the risk, ensure PPE is your last defence whilst you do your risk assessment.
Once you are fully confident in the equipment you are using, you can start considering the safety clothing and protective equipment you may need.
For forestry and gardening safety, you will need:
Whether you’re working in forestry full time or are simply looking for ways to keep safe and protected around the garden, be sure to explore the full forestry and gardening clothing collection at MI Supplies.
For forestry and gardening safety, you will need:
A protective helmet and visor
Whether you buy the two separately or as a set, a helmet and a visor are the first things you should consider when partaking in forestry or gardening work. The headwear will protect your head in case of falling branches, while the visor will protect your face and eyes from shards of wood or any smaller twigs or branches. When it comes to your visor, opt for a mesh option — plastic is less heavy duty and can crack or mist up, causing more harm than good!Ear defenders
If you’re spending a lot of time using chainsaws or other loud tools, ear defenders are an absolute must. Long exposure to loud machinery can affect your hearing and, with minimal cost and effort, hearing protection can save you years of grief later on down the line. If you’re looking for head protection for forestry or gardening, the Bbrand Foresty Kit has you fully covered. This handy set contains a safety helmet, one set of clip-on ear defenders, one chip strap and one mesh face shield with mount, for all-around protection.Goggles
Whether you’re looking for added protection underneath your safety visor, or you’re carrying out lighter gardening and don’t need full head protection, a pair of safety glasses are a must-have item in your PPE arsenal. If you are using a chainsaw or brush cutter, a pair of safety goggles or glasses will ensure that no shards will get in your eyes. We would recommend the Bbrand A/Mist Goggle Pack of 10. With a fully adjustable design, these safety goggles will fit over most prescription glasses and feature a vented style with anti-mist technology.
Jackets and trousers
For forestry and gardening, the correct outerwear is a must. You need something that will cover the body, offering protection from stings and scratches and keeping you safe during dangerous tasks. Our selection of boiler suits and coveralls offers chainsaw overalls with an impressive 9 layers of protection. Alternatively, look for a safety jacket and trousers combination. The Portwest Chainsaw Jacket and Portwest Chainsaw Trousers would be our first options. Each is crafted from a water-repellent and highly durable material, offering superior protection, comfort and breathability, while still offering flexible movement on the job.Gloves
Heavy duty gloves are a must-have for a whole host of tasks in forests or gardens. It is important to invest in the right pair — you need a good grip for holding machinery and a thick design that will keep your hands protected when moving plants or branches. The Ergodyne Anti Vibration Gloves are perfect for those handling machinery, offering maximum shock protection. For a more general day-to-day option, choose the high-quality Portwest Hi-Vis Tradesman Glove.Footwear
Of course, finding the right footwear is just as important as the clothing. For outdoor work such as forestry or gardening, you ideally need waterproof shoes or boots that offer an excellent grip. If you are handling machinery, look for something a little more heavy duty, such as thick chainsaw boots with blocking material to totally protect the feet. For lighter work, look for wellington boots with added toe protection — we would recommend the Muck Boots Chore Classic Steel Safety Wellington.Whether you’re working in forestry full time or are simply looking for ways to keep safe and protected around the garden, be sure to explore the full forestry and gardening clothing collection at MI Supplies.