Hazards in the boatyard
We hate to say this, but a boatyard or boatbuilding shop can be a nasty place to work. Most of the great chemicals and maintenance products, designed to withstand salt water, glue components together or prevent marine life from growing on your hull are hazardous to you and me. Loud noise, organic vapors, toxic particles and liquids all present dangers to the boat owner or boatshop worker. Fortunately, a range of safety gear has evolved to meet this challenge. We all owe it to those working on our boats and to ourselves to know, make available and wear the right safety equipment. Briefly, here are some of the boat maintenance hazards and the proper equipment to prevent injury and exposure.

Noise
Many boat maintenance operations require power tools such as routers, which may produce screaming sounds louder than 100 decibels. Statistics from NIOSH indicate that prolonged exposure to noises above 85dB are likely to cause cumulative, irreversible hearing damage. The basic rule is that if you need to raise your voice to speak to someone arms-length away from you, you should wear hearing protection. Ear plugs, either of the moldable single-use variety or foam plugs (such as Model 190399) are unobtrusive. Ear muffs are more convenient to put on for short-duration protection, can be combined with ear plugs for even more protection, but may not seal completely for wearers with longer hair, glasses or safety glasses.

Eye Protection
Sanding, grinding or chipping away wood, paint or fiberglass, or spraying and mixing paint, varnish or other chemicals all create hazards to the eyes. Safety glasses provide security from chips and flying particles, as well as minimum quantities of dust. If you are operating an electric saw, scraping paint overhead or performing other jobs that may throw out small hazards, safety glasses will give minimal protection. Goggles provide a higher level of protection from fine dust and, depending on the type, from liquids. Perforated goggles, such as the 3M 1620 Safety Goggles in our catalog, do not protect against splashing liquids. 1621 Splash Proof goggles, available from painting suppliers, are the best choice for protection while spraying paint or other chemicals. A full face shield provides secondary impact protection, but should be worn with goggles when fine dust or liquids are present.

Breathing Protection
Particles and dust that can be inhaled require use of a simple comfort mask, also called a dust mask or respirator. Organic vapors produced by painting, or applying resins or solvents, require organic vapor protection, usually with a cartridge respirator. Often the best rule is, “if you can smell it, it can hurt you.” Select the correct type for the chemicals you are applying and the type of application, be sure the equipment is properly maintained and the filters are replaced regularly. Some wearers with facial hair may not get an adequate seal from a respirator, and may need to wear a hood that covers the entire head. Those who regularly apply products producing organic vapors, such as Linear Polyurethanes, should consider a positive pressure system, with air supplied from outside the area of contamination. Finally, the best approach is to choose a less-toxic product whenever possible. A one-part polyurethane enamel is often a better choice than LP for the do-it-yourself boat owner.