What Safety PPE do Automotive Industry Workshops, Mechanics and Technicians need?

Australia’s Automotive Industry is broad-reaching and intersects with the transport, maritime, and power generation sectors. Automotive work doesn’t only involve maintenance and repair; it also includes manufacturing, retailing, and parts sourcing. This variety makes safety a priority in the Automotive Industry due to the heavy, industrial nature of the work.  

Mechanics and technicians working in the Automotive Industry often operate in workshops but may also do fieldwork at various sites. The health and safety protection for these workers begins with eliminating as many hazards at work as possible, reducing risks in the environment, and using high-quality PPE for automotive as the very last line of defence.  

In the Automotive Industry, workers must maintain their PPE to ensure that all their equipment is appropriately rated for the job, suitably fitted to the user, and is in good working condition. PPE maintenance is always easier when PPE products have been sourced from a trusted, high-quality supplier of PPE for automotive such as VISIONSafe.  

Whether you are a mechanic, technician, fitter, contractor, or home workshop enthusiast, you should have these items on your PPE for Automotive checklist. 

PPE for Automotive

Workshop Ear Protection for Automotive Workers

Workshops and sites of operation are filled with noise hazards. People working in these environments face the risk of hearing loss, tinnitus, and other health problems if they are not properly protected from noise. Therefore, appropriate hearing protection is a significant line of defence for Automotive Industry workers.  

Mechanics, technicians, and fitters operate in workspaces that can often be confined, narrow, or small. These environmental restrictions mean that earmuffs are not always the best or most-comfortable form of hearing protection for Automotive Industry workers. Many workers choose earplugs instead to reduce noise and protect their hearing. Because automotive workers may spend extended periods doing solo tasks, protective earplugs with headphone abilities may also boost concentration and morale during the workday. 

Hearing protection is a priority, and we recommend that any earplugs used by mechanics, technicians, fitters, and enthusiasts feature the following characteristics:

  • Decibel Reduction – To satisfy PPE requirements, earplugs need to be certified to reduce the decibel level of environmental noise.  
  • Comfort – Earplugs need to be made of a comfortable material, such as soft foam or silicone, so users of all ear types can wear them for long periods. 
  • Sweat Resistant – In hot automotive environments, earplugs should have a sweat-resistant design, so they do not lose their seal or fall out due to sweat. 
VIEW PRODUCT

The Best Safety Glasses for a Mechanic or Workshop Technician

Eye protection is a must for workers in the Automotive Industry. Whether at the workshop or on-site, workers are frequently exposed to hazardous liquids and particles that can damage the eye. Automotive workers usually need eye protection that protects the front, periphery, and surrounding areas of the eye.  

Peripheral eye protection is significant in the Automotive Industry because liquids like fuel and oil can drip down the face, and dust particles, fibreglass, or metal fragments can work their way around non-sealed safety glasses. Many mechanics and technicians prefer sealed glasses and goggles for the best protection.  

Automotive workers are also at risk from impact shards while working. Any eye protection they wear needs to be rated for an appropriate level of impact damage without shattering. For mechanics, technicians, fitters, and enthusiasts, we recommend sealed safety glasses with the following features for the best eye protection:

  • Impact Rated – Safety glasses need to be rated for medium impact protection at the minimum to keep dangerous shards from shattering their PPE and entering the eye. 
  • Treated Lens – The lenses of safety glasses should be anti-fog and anti-scratch to ensure users do not have their vision obscured.  
  • Foam Seal – Having a foam seal around every edge of the lenses allows users to easily create a positive seal that protects their eyes from all angles. 
  • Interchangeable Arms – Having flexible arms for safety glasses that can be interchanged with a comfortable head strap means users can select the best setup, ensuring their eye safety is maintained during every task.   
VIEW PRODUCT

Cut-Resistant Mechanic Gloves with Grip for Working in any Weather

Workers in the Automotive Industry have to work with their hands all year-round. This means that mechanics frequently face complex and technical work in hot summers and freezing winters. Sweaty palms and numb fingers can impede work and safety. PPE for Automotive such as gloves are the best solution to this problem.  

Mechanic gloves not only provide excellent grip in any weather, but they can also protect workers’ hands against cuts, bruising, soft-tissue injuries, and hazardous liquids. Automotive Industry workers are often working in small spaces, confined by hard surfaces and sharp edges. So wearing gloves helps to protect workers and reduce injuries. We recommend the following features in any gloves for mechanics and technicians: 

  • Padding – Gloves should have adequate padding to reduce the severity of crushing injuries, bruises and cuts.  
  • Guards – Knuckle guards protect the areas of the hand that are most susceptible to colliding with hard surfaces.  
  • Reinforced Material – Gloves need to withstand the repeated gripping and twisting that users put the material through, especially around areas like the palms and fingers. 
  • Adjustable Strap – Gloves should snugly fit the wrist size of any user.   
VIEW PRODUCT

The Best Rechargeable Headlamp for Workshop Mechanics and Technicians

Small spaces are often dark spaces, and automotive workers must deal with both during their daily jobs. In workshops and on sites, a range of solutions can increase visibility at work. Floodlights, spotlights, hand-held lights and personal torches are hazard-reducing options, but the convenient and reliable headlamp is also a fundamental light solution for mechanics and technicians.  

Headlamps, or head torches, are favoured by Automotive Industry workers because a head-mounted torch allows the user’s hands to remain free and provides a light that follows their gaze as they work. PPE for automotive such as rechargeable headlamps are a superior design option for mechanics and technicians because they reduce the expense of batteries. Other important headlamp features include: 

  • Liquid Resistant – In workplaces where liquids are a hazard, having a liquid-resistant headlamp allows users to wipe their lamps clean and continue work. 
  • Multiple Beam Settings – Having several options for headlamp settings means users can easily adjust their light depending on the task. 
  • Motion Activation – Fiddling with on-off switches can be hard in the middle of a job, so having a motion-activated headlamp saves time and battery life.  
VIEW PRODUCT

Protective and Slip Resistant Knee Pads for Auto Workshops and Working on Site

The average worker in the Automotive Industry will often be at risk of musculoskeletal injuries as they twist, bend, crouch, kneel and crawl while completing their daily work. Reducing pressure on the joints makes a significant difference in injury prevention for mechanics, technicians, and fitters. Knee pads are a comfortable solution and should be on the PPE for automotive checklist for any workshop.  

Knee pads reduce the pressure on knee joints and distribute the wearer’s weight evenly to prevent bruising. Because knee pads can be worn by workers all day, they are often a more convenient form of PPE than kneeling pads. Knee pads should fit the user well and not cause irritation or discomfort. In Automotive Industry settings, anti-slip knee pads are the best design for workers and should have these features:  

  • Quality Padding – The padding for knee pads should always relieve pressure and help to distribute weight evenly.  
  • Comfortable Fastening – Knee pads should be comfortable for wearers of any leg size, and the fastening material should not irritate the skin.  
  • Anti-Slip – Knee pad designs that incorporate gripping material will help to prevent users from slipping on oil, fuel, lubricant, or other liquids. 
VIEW PRODUCT