So, it’s your first DIY project. Before you start ripping into your house, you should have a few safety items on hand.

Just assume that any home built prior to 1978 has lead paint. Lead is only dangerous when it’s ingested or inhaled. Tip #1: Don’t eat it. If you’re doing demolition, scraping walls or stripping paint off moulding, you need a good mask! Not those flimsy dust masks….a NIOSH certified, HEPA filter mask. There are different filters for various hazardous materials. Ask someone if you’re not sure which one to buy.

Keep the lead infested room well sealed off. Wear one of them “Silkwood” suits or leave your clothes and shoes behind in the room when you’re finished. A HEPA vacuum is recommended for clean up, as well as wiping down surfaces with damp rags. DO NOT LET KIDS OR PETS IN AREA!!

Protect your hands! Use heavy construction gloves for demo and chemical resistant gloves for paint stripping. DO NOT chemical strip paint with common latex gloves. They will last about 1 second.

Goggles are necessary if you’re demoing a ceiling, cutting tiles or wood or working with anything that might go flying into your eye. Chemicals and even paint can fly into your eyes if you’re clumsy enough.

Ear plugs won’t take up space or set you back too much. It’s a good thing to have handy. Some of those power tools are noisy!

Better details here:

EPA
NIOSH
Consumer Product Safety
Respiratory Protection Supply
North Safety Products