Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is very important, as there are many potential hazards during a tiling project. If you want to ensure you are as protected as possible from potential injuries when working with tiles, tile cutters, blades, adhesive and grout, our latest blog will take you through the various types of PPE required.
What is tiling PPE?
Almost every workplace will have potential hazards, so it is important to always take steps to protect yourself as much as possible from injury. Safety PPE is designed to protect the wearer from potential health and safety risks, and specialist tiling personal protective equipment will withstand everything from cutting blades through to shards of tiles.
1) Protect your hands
As a tiler, your hands are exposed to various hazards, and it can be very easy to hurt yourself seriously. Protective gloves will provide extra grip when handling tiles, whilst also providing a barrier against burns and irritations from cement, grout and adhesive. We recommend opting for specialist gloves that will provide extra protection against cuts and abrasions; however, you need to check they fit comfortably so that you can easily move your fingers. Many tilers find that having a variety of gloves to hand can be useful, such as wearing latex gloves when mixing adhesive and cut resistant gloves during tile cutting.
2) Protect your eyes
Whether you are cutting tiles or using adhesive, your eyes are vulnerable to shards of tiles and splashes from adhesive and grout. Wraparound safety glasses will provide the protection you need from hazards, with the anti-mist, lightweight designs being ideal for wearing during tiling.
3) Protect your lungs
When mixing levelling compound, grout and adhesive, there are likely to be dust particles which can be harmful if you breath them in. Always wear a dust mask, and if possible, invest in a vacuum adapter to attach to your mixing bucket. We recommend wearing a P2 or P3 rated dust mask, which will protect you from particles that could cause asthma and bronchitis.
4) Protect your kneepads
It is likely that you spend many hours kneeling on floors, which can lead to long term damage to your joints. A good pair of kneepads will help to prevent issues such as knee joint arthritis and prepatellar bursitis, so always check that the kneepads you purchase comply with minimum protection requirements outlined within EN 14404.
5) Protect your feet
Tiles and tiling equipment can be heavy, so always wear shoes that will protect your feet from both blunt force trauma and from potential cuts. Safety footwear is classified according to its security level, with designs offering various features such as resistant soles and steel toes. The higher the rating, the more features the shoes/boots will offer. However, it is important to consider the flexibility of your footwear, as it is likely that you will be bending and crouching during tiling.
6) Protect your hearing
Tile cutters, grinders and mixers can be very loud, and if you are using any tools which register above 85dB it is strongly advised that you wear hearing protection. For example, many tilers are surprised to find out that grinders can often record sounds of up to 110db. There are many types of ear protectors available, and we recommend choosing an adjustable pair that you can wear comfortably.
Quantum Group NI – Suppliers of high-quality PPE for tilers
As a tiler, being able to complete manual work is your livelihood and the above examples of PPE are simple pieces of equipment which could prevent serious injuries. Here at Quantum Group NI, we are committed to supplying retailers across the UK and Ireland with the best tiling PPE, which includes everything from gloves to kneepads. If you would like to find out more about stocking our range please contact your area sales manager today.