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Protective Gear

7 products

Respiratory protection, eye protection, gloves, knee pads and hearing protection for building and construction work — including the P2 masks required for silica dust exposure.

Protective Gear buying guide

Silica dust and P2 respirators

Cutting, grinding or drilling concrete, tile, render and masonry releases respirable crystalline silica. Silicosis is irreversible, and NSW has tightened enforcement considerably. A P2 respirator is the minimum for occasional work; for sustained cutting, on-tool extraction or wet cutting plus a properly fitted respirator is required. Facial hair breaks the seal on a disposable respirator — a powered air-purifying respirator is the alternative.

Chemical gloves

Cement burns are alkaline and progress slowly — by the time they hurt, the damage is done. Nitrile gloves handle most solvents and epoxies; standard latex will not. Check the glove chemical resistance chart against the products in use, particularly for epoxy grout and solvent-based membranes.

Eye protection

Cement slurry and lime splashes cause chemical burns to the eye that can permanently damage sight, and grinding throws fragments at speed. Wear rated safety glasses as a baseline and sealed goggles for overhead work, grinding and any mixing of powdered cement products. Ensure an eyewash is available where alkaline products are being used — immediate, prolonged flushing is what saves sight.

Hearing and knees

Hearing loss from grinders, mixers and cutting is cumulative and permanent, and it happens well below the level most people consider loud. Use class-rated earmuffs or plugs consistently rather than only on the loudest jobs. Knee pads matter for anyone tiling or waterproofing — kneeling on grit and cement all day causes lasting joint damage, and the cost of good pads is trivial against it.

Common questions

Is a P1 mask enough for concrete cutting?

No. P2 is the minimum for respirable crystalline silica, and sustained cutting needs engineering controls such as water suppression or on-tool extraction as well.

Do disposable respirators work with a beard?

No. Facial hair at the seal makes the fit ineffective. Use a powered air-purifying respirator instead.

What gloves for epoxy grout?

Nitrile. Latex offers poor resistance to epoxy resins and hardeners, both of which are sensitisers.