Ladies PPE (Gloves goggles etc)

[Abi Cott]

Do any of the female members have any tips for finding protective wear that actually fits?

I've just taken a punt on a small half face respirator, though from past experience their idea of small and mine often aren't the same.

My goggles are children's because the adult ones provide limited side protection due to the hulking great gaps.

I've discovered I'm a size 6-7 glove, but finding gloves below a size 8 can be an uphill battle.

Has anyone else had this issue? If so have you found any clever solutions?

 

[88v8]

I have a beard, so masks etc are poor fit.
On the whole, I haven't bothered even when sanding lead paint or boiling lead in a cauldron to cast sash weights.

When I was making a lot of dust in our previous house, I bought an old Xpelair fan, mounted it in a board, and moved it from window to window. That worked well.

Grainger has a useful page on fitting, but now I can't find it, and anyway they're in the US.
Perhaps this sort of thing would be an option?
https://www.grainger.com/category/safety/respiratory/procedural-masks

Or cultivate some nasal hair.

Ivor

 

[Abi Cott]

Unfortunately nasal hair doesn't appear to come naturally to me.

 

[Flyfisher]

Speaking of dust, the filters in domestic vacuum cleaners are not particularly effective for very fine particles, ie the very sort of thing that often dictates use of a good mask (FFP3 rating or better). This means that they can actually do more harm than good in terms of dispersing fine particles inside a room. Fine dust vacuum cleaners are available that include HEPA filters to reduce this problem, some rated for hazardous dusts such as asbestos. An alternative is to buy a vacuum cleaner with a hose connector on the air outlet so that expelled air and fine particles can be sent directly outside. I have one for this very purpose with an 8m hose and place the vacuum unit near a suitable window or door with the standard hose on the air outlet going outside and using the 8m hose on the suction side. This means no dust is thrown up into the room and the difference compared with a normal vacuum is very noticeable.

 

[noj]

I invested in a Dust Commander https://www.amazon.co.uk/DUST-COMMA...N8X29FKTHVY&psc=1&refRID=9BHF77GSDN8X29FKTHVY which coupled to my imitation Henry seems to be very effective when joined to any of my sanders.

The vac's filters now never get dirty and no need to buy bags for it either.

You can buy the parts separately (cyclone thing, tub, valve) and assemble it yourself for less cost. But you will also need a long hose for it and a bunch of adaptors for various power tools.

I've just sanded the entire outside of the cottage which is timber clad and lead painted without covering the garden in toxic dust. Used inside it's possible to sand an entire door and not have every surface coated in a film of dust a few hours later.

 

[a twig]

I saw a few at construction week a couple of years ago, when I was there for work, I think this was one:

https://www.onsite-support.co.uk/category/ladies-ppe

No personal experience of their stuff though

EDIT: some recommendations buried in here as well:

https://anchorsafety.co.uk/ppe-blog/ppe-for-women-the-nearest-male-size-just-isnt-good-enough/

 

[Abi Cott]

I saw a few at construction week a couple of years ago, when I was there for work, I think this was one:

https://www.onsite-support.co.uk/category/ladies-ppe

No personal experience of their stuff though

EDIT: some recommendations buried in here as well:

https://anchorsafety.co.uk/ppe-blog/ppe-for-women-the-nearest-male-size-just-isnt-good-enough/

Thank you that is useful, particularly nitrile gloves in a size 6 woohoo! I'm going to get a couple of pairs of those whilst I remember where they are. I've got grip/cut gloves, but nitrile had been defeating me

 

[a twig]

Most welcome - glad my traipsing round all those stands was of use to someone!