diff --git a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
index 9c774b848..ef5481acc 100644
--- a/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
+++ b/Essentials/src/com/earth2me/essentials/Settings.java
@@ -1,16 +1,20 @@
 package com.earth2me.essentials;
 
 import java.util.*;
+import java.util.logging.Level;
+import java.util.logging.Logger;
 import org.bukkit.ChatColor;
 import com.earth2me.essentials.commands.IEssentialsCommand;
 import java.io.File;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import org.bukkit.entity.CreatureType;
+import org.bukkit.inventory.ItemStack;
 
 
 public class Settings implements IConf
 {
 	private EssentialsConf config;
+	private final static Logger logger = Logger.getLogger("Minecraft");
 
 	public Settings(File dataFolder)
 	{
@@ -197,39 +201,94 @@ public class Settings implements IConf
 		return epSettings;
 	}
 
-	public ArrayList getEpAlertOnPlacement()
+	public ArrayList<Integer> getEpAlertOnPlacement()
 	{
-		ArrayList epAlertPlace = new ArrayList();
-		epAlertPlace.addAll(Arrays.asList(config.getString("protect.alert.on-placement", "").split(",")));
+		ArrayList<Integer> epAlertPlace = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		for (String itemName : config.getString("protect.alert.on-placement", "").split(",")) {
+			if (itemName.isEmpty()) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			ItemStack is;
+			try {
+				is = ItemDb.get(itemName);
+				epAlertPlace.add(is.getTypeId());
+			} catch (Exception ex) {
+				logger.log(Level.SEVERE, "Unknown item " + itemName + " in alert on placement list.");
+			}
+		}
 		return epAlertPlace;
 	}
 
-	public ArrayList getEpAlertOnUse()
+	public ArrayList<Integer> getEpAlertOnUse()
 	{
-		ArrayList epAlertUse = new ArrayList();
-		epAlertUse.addAll(Arrays.asList(config.getString("protect.alert.on-use", "").split(",")));
+		ArrayList<Integer> epAlertUse = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		for (String itemName : config.getString("protect.alert.on-use", "").split(",")) {
+			if (itemName.isEmpty()) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			ItemStack is;
+			try {
+				is = ItemDb.get(itemName);
+				epAlertUse.add(is.getTypeId());
+			} catch (Exception ex) {
+				logger.log(Level.SEVERE, "Unknown item " + itemName + " in alert on use list.");
+			}
+		}
 		return epAlertUse;
 	}
 
-	public ArrayList getEpAlertOnBreak()
+	public ArrayList<Integer> getEpAlertOnBreak()
 	{
-		ArrayList epAlertPlace = new ArrayList();
-		epAlertPlace.addAll(Arrays.asList(config.getString("protect.alert.on-break", "").split(",")));
+		ArrayList<Integer> epAlertPlace = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		for (String itemName : config.getString("protect.alert.on-break", "").split(",")) {
+			if (itemName.isEmpty()) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			ItemStack is;
+			try {
+				is = ItemDb.get(itemName);
+				epAlertPlace.add(is.getTypeId());
+			} catch (Exception ex) {
+				logger.log(Level.SEVERE, "Unknown item " + itemName + " in alert on break list.");
+			}
+		}
 		return epAlertPlace;
 	}
 
-	public ArrayList epBlackListPlacement()
+	public ArrayList<Integer> epBlackListPlacement()
 	{
-		ArrayList epBlack = new ArrayList();
-		epBlack.addAll(Arrays.asList(config.getString("protect.blacklist.placement", "").split(",")));
-		return epBlack;
+		ArrayList<Integer> epBlacklistPlacement = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		for (String itemName : config.getString("protect.blacklist.placement", "").split(",")) {
+			if (itemName.isEmpty()) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			ItemStack is;
+			try {
+				is = ItemDb.get(itemName);
+				epBlacklistPlacement.add(is.getTypeId());
+			} catch (Exception ex) {
+				logger.log(Level.SEVERE, "Unknown item " + itemName + " in placement blacklist.");
+			}
+		}
+		return epBlacklistPlacement;
 	}
 
-	public ArrayList epBlackListUsage()
+	public ArrayList<Integer> epBlackListUsage()
 	{
-		ArrayList epBlack = new ArrayList();
-		epBlack.addAll(Arrays.asList(config.getString("protect.blacklist.usage", "").split(",")));
-		return epBlack;
+		ArrayList<Integer> epBlackListUsage = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		for (String itemName : config.getString("protect.blacklist.usage", "").split(",")) {
+			if (itemName.isEmpty()) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			ItemStack is;
+			try {
+				is = ItemDb.get(itemName);
+				epBlackListUsage.add(is.getTypeId());
+			} catch (Exception ex) {
+				logger.log(Level.SEVERE, "Unknown item " + itemName + " in usage blacklist.");
+			}
+		}
+		return epBlackListUsage;
 	}
 
 	public HashMap<String, Boolean> getEpGuardSettings()
@@ -332,17 +391,39 @@ public class Settings implements IConf
 		config.load();
 	}
 
-	public ArrayList itemSpawnBlacklist()
+	public ArrayList<Integer> itemSpawnBlacklist()
 	{
-		ArrayList epItemSpwn = new ArrayList();
-		epItemSpwn.addAll(Arrays.asList(config.getString("item-spawn-blacklist", "").split(",")));
+		ArrayList<Integer> epItemSpwn = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		for (String itemName : config.getString("item-spawn-blacklist", "").split(",")) {
+			if (itemName.isEmpty()) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			ItemStack is;
+			try {
+				is = ItemDb.get(itemName);
+				epItemSpwn.add(is.getTypeId());
+			} catch (Exception ex) {
+				logger.log(Level.SEVERE, "Unknown item " + itemName + " in item spawn blacklist.");
+			}
+		}
 		return epItemSpwn;
 	}
 
-	public ArrayList epBlockBreakingBlacklist()
+	public ArrayList<Integer> epBlockBreakingBlacklist()
 	{
-		ArrayList epBreakList = new ArrayList();
-		epBreakList.addAll(Arrays.asList(config.getString("protect.blacklist.break", "").split(",")));
+		ArrayList<Integer> epBreakList = new ArrayList<Integer>();
+		for (String itemName : config.getString("protect.blacklist.break", "").split(",")) {
+			if (itemName.isEmpty()) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			ItemStack is;
+			try {
+				is = ItemDb.get(itemName);
+				epBreakList.add(is.getTypeId());
+			} catch (Exception ex) {
+				logger.log(Level.SEVERE, "Unknown item " + itemName + " in block breaking blacklist.");
+			}
+		}
 		return epBreakList;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtect.java b/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtect.java
index ec93acc2c..3a041413f 100644
--- a/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtect.java
+++ b/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtect.java
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ public class EssentialsProtect extends JavaPlugin
 	public static HashMap<String, String> dataSettings = null;
 	public static HashMap<String, Boolean> guardSettings = null;
 	public static HashMap<String, Boolean> playerSettings = null;
-	public static ArrayList usageList = null;
-	public static ArrayList blackListPlace = null;
-	public static ArrayList breakBlackList = null;
-	public static ArrayList onPlaceAlert = null;
-	public static ArrayList onUseAlert = null;
-	public static ArrayList onBreakAlert = null;
+	public static ArrayList<Integer> usageList = null;
+	public static ArrayList<Integer> blackListPlace = null;
+	public static ArrayList<Integer> breakBlackList = null;
+	public static ArrayList<Integer> onPlaceAlert = null;
+	public static ArrayList<Integer> onUseAlert = null;
+	public static ArrayList<Integer> onBreakAlert = null;
 
 
 	public EssentialsProtect()
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ public class EssentialsProtect extends JavaPlugin
 		logger.info("Loaded " + this.getDescription().getName() + " build " + this.getDescription().getVersion() + " maintained by " + AUTHORS);
 	}
 
-	public static boolean checkProtectionItems(ArrayList itemList, int id)
+	public static boolean checkProtectionItems(ArrayList<Integer> itemList, int id)
 	{
-		return !itemList.isEmpty() && itemList.contains(String.valueOf(id));
+		return !itemList.isEmpty() && itemList.contains(id);
 	}
 
 	@Override
diff --git a/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtectBlockListener.java b/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtectBlockListener.java
index be5757364..742cb9d6d 100644
--- a/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtectBlockListener.java
+++ b/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtectBlockListener.java
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public class EssentialsProtectBlockListener extends BlockListener
 			return;
 		}
 
-		if (!EssentialsProtect.onPlaceAlert.isEmpty() && EssentialsProtect.onPlaceAlert.contains(String.valueOf(item.getTypeId())))
+		if (EssentialsProtect.checkProtectionItems(EssentialsProtect.onPlaceAlert, id))
 		{
 			parent.alert(user, item.getType().toString(), "placed: ");
 		}
@@ -192,13 +192,13 @@ public class EssentialsProtectBlockListener extends BlockListener
 			return;
 		}
 
-		if(EssentialsProtect.breakBlackList.contains(String.valueOf(block.getTypeId())) && !user.isAuthorized("essentials.protect.exemptbreak"))
+		if (EssentialsProtect.checkProtectionItems(EssentialsProtect.breakBlackList, block.getTypeId()) && !user.isAuthorized("essentials.protect.exemptbreak"))
 		{
 			event.setCancelled(true);
 			return;
 		}
 
-		if (!EssentialsProtect.onBreakAlert.isEmpty() && EssentialsProtect.onBreakAlert.contains(String.valueOf(block.getTypeId())))
+		if (EssentialsProtect.checkProtectionItems(EssentialsProtect.onBreakAlert, block.getTypeId()))
 		{
 			parent.alert(user, block.getType().toString(), "broke: ");
 		}
diff --git a/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtectPlayerListener.java b/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtectPlayerListener.java
index 0c9cddec5..f8ef85cc7 100644
--- a/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtectPlayerListener.java
+++ b/EssentialsProtect/src/com/earth2me/essentials/protect/EssentialsProtectPlayerListener.java
@@ -45,11 +45,11 @@ public class EssentialsProtectPlayerListener extends PlayerListener
 		}
 
 
-			if (item != null && EssentialsProtect.checkProtectionItems(EssentialsProtect.usageList, item.getTypeId()) && !user.isAuthorized("essentials.protect.exemptusage"))
-			{
-				event.setCancelled(true);
-				return;
-			}
+		if (item != null && EssentialsProtect.checkProtectionItems(EssentialsProtect.usageList, item.getTypeId()) && !user.isAuthorized("essentials.protect.exemptusage"))
+		{
+			event.setCancelled(true);
+			return;
+		}
 
 		if (user.isAuthorized("essentials.protect.admin"))
 		{
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class EssentialsProtectPlayerListener extends PlayerListener
 								 + ownerName);
 			}
 		}
-		if (item != null && EssentialsProtect.onUseAlert.contains(String.valueOf(item.getTypeId())))
+		if (item != null && EssentialsProtect.checkProtectionItems(EssentialsProtect.onUseAlert, item.getTypeId()))
 		{
 			parent.alert(user, item.getType().toString(), "used: ");
 		}