The Black Ink Team’s Guide To Personal Protective Equipment For Landscapers/Arborists
by Black Ink Team
Forestry, landscaping, and other tree-care professionals have to look out for themselves a lot while they are on the job. There are many contributing factors that make their work environment a dangerous one, including but not limited to: powerful machinery, noise, falling objects, equipment failure, and fatigue. Thankfully, there are products on the market for helping them stay safe. Here are seven of the most important pieces of safety equipment for forestry professionals to have.
Protective Helmets
You can take as many precautions as you want while cutting branches, but you will never get rid of the chance that someone will get hit by one while it falls. That’s why forestry helmets exist. Some have built in face shields and hearing protection too, plus they can have reflective material, thus making them a multi-faceted safety device.
Protective Glasses
Nobody wants a woodchip in their eye, which is why forestry safety goggles exist. They can come with UV protection to make it easier to see on sunny days. Plus, they sometimes can look cool.
Protective Chaps
Even the most skilled person with a chainsaw is capable of making mistakes – therefore forestry safety chaps exist. They are made from multiple layers of cut-retardant material, making them able to stop spinning chains from injuring the worker wearing them. Another feature that makes them useful is pockets.
Hearing Protectors
STIHL Pro Mark™ Hearing Protector
If you have ever used a chain saw, then you know they are pretty loud. Now imagine that you are in an area where multiple chain saws are being used. Loud noises can damage ears, not to mention cause a distraction. Hearing protectors offer forestry professionals a way to block out noise, thus shielding themselves from hearing loss. For extra money, you can even get a pair with built-in speakers so you can listen to tunes while you work.
Face Shield Protector
Woodchips are not only dangerous to eyes; they can cut your ears, nose, mouth and other areas of your face too. That is why it is always recommended that forestry professionals wear face shield protectors, in addition to protective goggles and hearing protectors.
Protective Footwear
STIHL Performance Forestry Boots
When someone is working a forestry gig, like the rest of their body their feet are in a lot of danger. Donning a pair of forestry boots will help protect them. With steel toes, steel insoles, and cut-resistant leather forestry boots are the way to go when you’re out cutting wood.
Reflective Safety Vest
Forestry professionals can not only hurt themselves, they can also potentially hurt others. Simply being in the woods can make it hard to see what’s around you, with all the branches and trunks in the way – now add to that a ton of noise and a ticking clock. When they’re on the job with multiple people, forestry professionals should always wear reflective safety vests.