Safety Equipment

What is safety equipment?

Safety equipment is the personal protective equipment, often called PPE, worn to protect the body when using chainsaws, hedge trimmers, grass trimmers, brushcutters, leaf blowers, mowers, and other power tools. These tools work at high speed with sharp cutting parts, throw out debris, and produce high levels of noise and vibration. The right safety equipment helps protect the eyes, ears, head, hands, and legs from injury, so work can be done safely and with confidence.

Safety equipment is designed to work as a complete set. A chainsaw operator, for example, typically needs head, eye, and hearing protection, as well as protective gloves, leg protection, and safety boots. Each item is made to specific safety standards, so it gives a known level of protection against the hazards of the job.

A typical set of safety equipment includes:

• Safety helmet - protects the head from falling branches, impacts, and kickback
• Face visor - a mesh or clear visor that protects the face and eyes from chips, debris, and flying objects
• Ear defenders - reduce noise from loud power tools to protect hearing
• Safety glasses or goggles - protect the eyes from dust, debris, and flying particles
• Protective gloves - protect the hands from cuts, vibration, thorns, and abrasion, with chainsaw gloves including cut-resistant padding
• Chainsaw trousers or chaps - contain special fibres that help stop a moving chain on contact
• Knee pads and shin guards - protect the knees and lower legs when kneeling, strimming, or working on rough ground
• Safety boots - protect the feet, with chainsaw boots offering cut-resistant protection

Key features:

• Impact protection - helmets and shin guards protect against knocks and falling objects
• Cut protection - chainsaw trousers, chaps, gloves, and boots use special materials designed to resist or stop chainsaw cuts
• Eye and face protection - visors, glasses, and goggles shield against chips, stones, dust, and debris
• Hearing protection - ear defenders reduce exposure to harmful noise levels
• Comfort and fit - adjustable, lightweight designs allow long periods of comfortable use
• High visibility - bright orange and yellow colours make operators easier to see
• Tested to standards - made to recognised safety standards for each type of protection

In simple terms, safety equipment is the protective kit that keeps users safe from cuts, flying debris, noise, and impacts when working with power tools.

Why is safety equipment essential?

Safety equipment is essential because power tools can cause serious injuries in a split second. A chainsaw can cut through skin and muscle almost instantly, a grass trimmer can throw stones at high speed, and the noise from many tools is loud enough to damage hearing over time. Safety equipment cannot remove every risk, but it greatly reduces the chance and severity of injury, alongside safe working practices and proper training.

Its main benefits are:

• Protection from cuts - chainsaw clothing, gloves, and boots help prevent or reduce serious cut injuries
• Eye and face protection - visors and glasses protect against debris, wood chips, stones, and dust, which can cause permanent eye damage
• Hearing protection - ear defenders help prevent noise-induced hearing loss, which is permanent and builds up over time
• Head protection - helmets protect against falling branches, impacts, and kickback
• Leg and knee protection - shin guards and knee pads protect against flying debris, impacts, and kneeling on hard or rough ground
• Better grip and control - gloves improve grip on tools and reduce the effects of vibration
• Visibility - bright colours help operators be seen by others, especially in woodland and roadside work
• Confidence and comfort - well-fitting equipment lets users work comfortably and concentrate on the job
• Meeting workplace requirements - employers and contractors often need suitable PPE to meet health and safety responsibilities

This equipment is important for a wide range of users and tasks, including:

• Chainsaw operators - tree felling, logging, cutting firewood, and storm clearance
• Arborists and tree surgeons - pruning, climbing, and tree work
• Gardeners and landscapers - hedge trimming, strimming, mowing, and general garden maintenance
• Grounds maintenance teams - parks, sports grounds, schools, and estates
• Farmers and estate workers - hedge cutting, fencing, and clearing land
• Local authority and roadside workers - verge cutting and vegetation management
• Forestry workers - thinning, felling, and woodland management
• Homeowners and hobby users - anyone using chainsaws, trimmers, and other power tools at home

The main types of safety equipment

Safety equipment is usually grouped by the part of the body it protects.

Head, face, and hearing protection:

• Forestry helmet kits - combine a safety helmet, a mesh or clear visor, and ear defenders in one unit. They are the standard choice for chainsaw work
• Visor and ear defender kits - a headband with a visor and ear defenders, without a hard hat, often used for hedge trimming, strimming, and brushcutting
• Mesh visors - protect the face from chips and debris while giving good airflow and visibility
• Clear visors - give a clear view and protect against fine debris and splashes
• Ear defenders - standalone or helmet-mounted, available with different levels of noise reduction

Eye protection:

• Safety glasses - lightweight glasses with side protection for general garden work
• Safety goggles - fit closely around the eyes to protect against dust, fine debris, and splashes
• Over-glasses - designed to be worn over prescription glasses

Hand protection:

• Chainsaw gloves - include cut-resistant padding, usually on the back of the left hand, which is most at risk during chainsaw use
• General work gloves - protect against thorns, abrasion, and minor cuts during gardening and handling
• Anti-vibration gloves - help reduce vibration from power tools
• Grip gloves - coated gloves that improve grip on tools and materials

Leg and body protection:

• Chainsaw trousers - contain layers of special fibres that are pulled out by a moving chain, clogging the sprocket and stopping the chain. They are made in different designs and protection classes
• Chainsaw chaps - protective leggings worn over normal trousers, giving cut protection to the front of the legs. They are quick to put on and take off, making them popular with occasional users
• Knee pads - protect the knees when kneeling to plant, weed, or work at ground level
• Shin guards - protect the lower legs from stones and debris thrown by trimmers and brushcutters
• Protective jackets - some forestry jackets include cut protection for the arms and chest

Foot protection:

• Chainsaw boots - include cut-resistant protection and steel or composite toe caps
• Safety boots - protect the feet from impacts, crushing, and sharp objects during general garden and grounds work

Safety kits:

• Grass and hedge trimmer kits - combine a visor, ear defenders, and gloves for trimming and strimming work
• Chainsaw safety kits - combine a helmet, visor, ear defenders, gloves, and leg protection for chainsaw users

How to choose the right safety equipment?

Choosing the right safety equipment means matching it to the tools you use, the work you do, and the person wearing it. Work through these points in order:

• Tool and task - identify the tools and tasks involved, as chainsaw work needs more protection than general gardening, and strimming needs different protection from hedge trimming
• Complete protection - make sure every part of the body at risk is protected, such as head, eyes, ears, hands, legs, and feet for chainsaw use
• Safety standards - choose equipment made and tested to recognised safety standards for each type of protection, such as standards for eye protection, hearing protection, helmets, and chainsaw clothing
• Chainsaw protection class - check the protection class of chainsaw trousers, chaps, gloves, and boots, which shows the chain speed they are tested against. Choose a class that suits the chainsaw being used
• Trousers or chaps - choose chainsaw trousers for regular or professional use, and chaps for occasional use or for wearing over everyday clothing
• Noise reduction - choose ear defenders with enough noise reduction for the tools being used, without blocking so much sound that warnings cannot be heard
• Visor type - choose a mesh visor for chainsaw and general cutting work, or a clear visor where fine debris or splashes are a risk
• Fit and size - make sure helmets, gloves, trousers, and boots fit properly, as poorly fitting equipment gives less protection and can be uncomfortable or unsafe
• Comfort and weight - choose lightweight, breathable, and adjustable equipment for long working days
• Visibility - choose high-visibility colours where operators need to be seen by others
• Glasses wearers - choose over-glasses, goggles, or visors that can be worn comfortably with prescription glasses
• Condition and age - check that equipment is undamaged and within its recommended service life, especially helmets and chainsaw clothing
• Quality and brand - choose safety equipment from reputable suppliers, as poor-quality equipment may not give the protection it claims

FAQ - All you need to know about safety equipment

What safety equipment do I need for using a chainsaw?

Chainsaw users should wear a safety helmet, eye and face protection such as a mesh visor, ear defenders, chainsaw gloves, chainsaw trousers or chaps, and chainsaw boots. Proper training is also strongly recommended before using a chainsaw.

How do chainsaw trousers work?

Chainsaw trousers contain layers of long, special fibres. If a moving chain cuts into them, the fibres are pulled out and wrap around the chain and drive sprocket, stopping the chain very quickly and reducing the risk of serious injury.

What is the difference between chainsaw trousers and chaps?

Chainsaw trousers are worn as normal trousers and suit regular or professional use. Chaps are leggings worn over normal clothing, protecting the front of the legs, and are quick to put on, making them popular with occasional users.

What does the protection class on chainsaw clothing mean?

The protection class shows the chain speed the clothing has been tested against. A higher class means the clothing is tested against a faster chain. Choose a class that suits the chainsaw you are using.

Can I repair cut chainsaw trousers?

No. Once the protective fibres have been cut or pulled out, the trousers no longer give full protection in that area and should be replaced. Sewing or patching them will not restore the protection.

Why do chainsaw gloves only protect one hand?

Many chainsaw gloves have cut-resistant padding on the back of the left hand, because this is the hand most at risk of contact with the chain during normal chainsaw use. Some gloves give protection on both hands.

Do I need ear defenders for hedge trimming and strimming?

Yes. Hedge trimmers, grass trimmers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws are loud enough to damage hearing over time, so ear defenders are recommended whenever these tools are used.

Should I wear safety glasses as well as a visor?

For many tasks, wearing safety glasses under a mesh visor gives the best protection, as fine dust and small particles can pass through mesh. Follow the tool manufacturer’s guidance and your own risk assessment.

How often should I replace a safety helmet?

Helmets should be replaced after any significant impact, if they are cracked or damaged, or when they reach the end of the service life recommended by the manufacturer. Sunlight, heat, and chemicals can weaken helmets over time.

How should I look after my safety equipment?

Keep equipment clean and dry, store it away from sunlight and chemicals, check it before each use for damage, and follow the manufacturer’s washing and care instructions. Replace any item that is damaged, worn, or out of date.