Construction sites are often dangerous, and without effective PPE there’s a major risk of injury and accident. From ear protection to wearing the right pair of sunglasses, there are so many different forms of PPE that are more than essential when working on any sort of construction site.
In this post, we’ll be running through how to ensure safety on a construction site by wearing the correct type of PPE, and just why it’s so important.
PPE generally stands for Personal Protective Equipment. This equipment and clothing is designed to protect individuals from potential health and safety hazards in the workplace or at other hazardous environments, with construction sites being one of the most important locations for PPE to be required.
PPE is so important because it helps to majorly reduce the risk of injury or illness by creating a barrier between the wearer (employee) and any potential hazards such as heat, chemicals, radiation and heavy impact.
It reduces the risk of physical, chemical, respiratory and biological hazards touching the skin and body, and vice versa.
There are a few main types of PPE that are most commonly used on a construction site.
Ear PPE, commonly known as simply ear protection or hearing protection, is designed to protect the ears from excessive noise levels or other auditory hazards. It helps prevent noise-induced hearing loss and reduces the risk of other hearing-related conditions such tinnitus and ear pains.
Ear PPE comes in a variety of forms, but the most popular type of protective gear includes earplugs and earmuffs (headphone-shaped gear that covers the ear).
It's important to choose the appropriate type of ear protection based on noise levels and the specific requirements of the environment. For example, in construction sites it’s vital that ear protection is thorough enough to prevent the ears from being damaged by noises of loud machinery such as drills and other heavy-duty pieces of equipment.
Head and body PPE refers to protective equipment designed to protect both the head and the body from various workplace hazards, and this is especially vital on construction sites.
Types of head and body PPE includes:
On construction sites, hard hats are commonly the most important piece of safety equipment to be worn by employees. This is due to the fact that there is often work completed at a height, and anyone working below needs to be incredibly careful in case a piece of material falls.
High-visibility clothing is also vital, especially in dark conditions or periods of bad weather. This is because it allows other construction workers to notice you, and prevents collisions between machinery and individuals.
Eye PPE is especially important on construction sites where there’s woodworking equipment, joinery work or areas of heat and gas. With a rise in popularity of reclaimed wood furnishings, more and more workplaces and construction sites have had to accommodate for plenty of woodworking areas and equipment, meaning eye protection is more important now than ever.
Eye protection comes in many forms, from thick protective eye masks all the way to a genuinely good pair of sunglasses. Believe it or not, sunglasses are a vital part of PPE for construction workers that work outside in the sun, as the sun itself is one of the most dangerous natural sources we put ourselves in front of every day.
Glove PPE, or protective gloves, are designed to protect the hands from a variety of hazards in the workplace. They provide a barrier between the skin of the hands and potential risks, which could be anything from sharp materials to flames and heat.
In certain construction sites, specific PPE gloves are required to protect against exposure to hazardous chemicals or substances. These gloves are made from materials that resist penetration and degradation by chemicals, reducing the risk of chemical burns, absorption, or skin irritation. These gloves are generally more hard-wearing as they’re designed to protect against difficult materials.
Protective footwear and leg protection are designed to provide safety and protection for the lower extremities in various work environments. PPE for the foot and leg include safety shoes/boots, as well as knee pads and leg guards.
Construction workers that are working on making repairs to roofing might be required to work with many different nails which could be dangerous if stepped on. This is why it’s important for construction workers to ensure that they have effective footwear protection to protect the feet from a range of hazards, including impacts, compression, punctures, and electrical shocks. They often have reinforced toe caps (such as steel or composite) to protect against falling objects or accidental impacts. Safety shoes may also have slip-resistant soles to prevent slips and falls in slippery conditions.
To conclude, PPE is vital for many workplaces, but especially vital for construction sites and other building sites. PPE helps to protect workers and prevent injuries from happening in the first place, all while making sure that any job can be completed successfully and safely.
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