Protective clothing is essential in many industries, including the construction industry. According to the Protective Equipment, employers have a duty of care to their employees. If PPE is required, which it always is on construction sites, workers must be trained in the correct use of PPE. This applies even to casual workers and agency staff not directly employed by the company.
PPE protects workers from a range of hazards, all of which could potentially cause injury or even death. Each year, around 6,000 people are injured on UK construction sites. This figure would likely be much higher if not for stringent health and safety guidelines that cover things like PPE. If you are new to the construction industry, there are some PPE items you can expect to soon become familiar with.
Hard Hat
Hard hats are not just used in the construction industry; they are essential in any workplace where there is a risk of falling objects. Accidents like this can happen even in a warehouse if an item is dislodged and falls from a high shelf. Construction site workers must always wear safety helmets on-site. The risk of a head injury isn’t completely eliminated but it is much lower.
High-Vis Clothing
High-visibility clothing helps workers stand out in poor light but also in normal weather conditions. This is important when heavy machinery is being used. If a worker blends into the background, they are less likely to be seen, and this is when accidents happen. High-vis clothing is essential when construction work is being carried out close to roads. Otherwise, drivers might not spot workers if they veer into oncoming traffic.
Steel-Toe Cap Boots
If you have ever dropped anything heavy on your toe, you’ll know just how painful that can be. Accidents like this are common in the construction industry. Bricks, pieces of metal, stone, and other heavy materials get dropped all the time. A pair of steel-toe cap boots will protect your feet from heavy objects.
Safety Glasses
Safety glasses are a must-have for activities like drilling, welding, and sanding. Even the tiniest fragment of metal or wood can cause a significant injury if it enters the eye. And if that object hits the eye at high speed, a person could end up blind.
Gloves
Gloves protect the hands from more than just cold weather. They prevent abrasion injuries and skin damage from corrosive materials and chemicals. They also protect the hands from heat, which is an issue with activities like welding. There are various types of safety gloves available from protective equipment suppliers, so choose the pair that best fits your job.
Ear Protectors
Many tools and machines emit harmful noise levels, which makes ear protectors an important PPE item on a construction site. If construction workers are exposed to high noise levels too often, it can lead to permanent hearing damage.
Always make sure your employer or agency provides essential PPE. They should also offer appropriate training on how to use PPE safely.
