Safety First: Basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) In Construction

Basic Personal Protective Equipment

A construction site is an avenue full of potential life-threatening hazards. Every year, the construction industry accounts for the highest statistics of fatal injury cases. There is still a threat of work-related accidents among construction workers even after complete workplace control and risk assessments.

In the event of a mishap, wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can then minimize the impact of any injury or damage that a construction worker might face, which is why workers must use the appropriate PPE required in their workplace. An individual must securely wear protective equipment to avoid further danger. Take a quick look at the basic PPE required in every construction site below: 

Legal Aspect Of Requiring PPE In Construction

The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is responsible for imposing construction standards and guidelines. If an injury occurred because a construction company failed to provide PPE to its employees, they could be reported to the OSHA and face lawsuits. A lawsuit will then subject the company to file for a settlement.

Thus, picking the appropriate and reliable PPE set must be a priority when running a construction firm. Ensure safety in the work environment and browse for the best quality of PPE equipment here. 

Head Protection

Head protection items are essential in most construction sites. It protects construction workers against impact and penetration hazards that might cause head injuries. Each protective headgear provided by the construction company must meet ANSI standards first. Listed are some of the safety helmets that every construction worker need:

• Hard Hats

Hard hats are distinguished into two types and three classes: Type I and II, Class E, G, and C. Type I is intended to reduce the impact from a blow on top of a person’s head. Type II intends to protect the other sides of the head from hazards such as falling nail guns and hammers.

Formerly categorized as Class A, Class E protects the head against low-voltage electrical conductors. Previously known as Class B, Class G are used in electrical work exposed in high-voltage electrical conductors. Class C does not offer electrical protection.

• Bump Hats

Bump hats should be used when working in low overhead areas. It is because, as compared to hard hats, bump hats do not protect a person’s head from any falling or flying debris. But bump hats are essential protection from a collision with exposed objects such as beams and pipes.

Face And Eye Protection

When working with hazards involving metal or chemical splashes, radiation, gas, dust, and projectiles, one should wear gears to protect both face and eyes. It should be task-suitable and has a correct fit to ensure the worker’s safety. The available protective face and eye gears are the following:

• Goggles
• Face Screens
• Visors
• Safety Spectacles

Ear Protection

A high level of sound exposure can contribute to an excessive amount of ear damage to a person. It might cause permanent ear injury if not taken seriously by either the construction company or the worker. It is best for construction workers to use the appropriate protective ear equipment to protect themselves from the workplace’s noise hazards.

If one is careless in using their protective ear gear, it might compromise an individual’s work condition and safety. And for this reason, companies should then brief their employees on properly wearing the provided ear protection. The following items are ear protection that every construction worker should wear:

• Ear Muffs
• Ear Plugs
• Canal Caps

Lung Protection

Construction workers often encounter workplace hazards such as vapors and dust, so using lung protection is a priority. When choosing the right protective ear equipment, it is important that it appropriately fits the user.

One must strictly follow the measure mentioned above to avoid the possible threat of respiratory damages when a seal is prematurely formed. Included are the examples of ear protection that construction workers can use in construction sites:

• Respirators
• Fresh-air Hose
• Breathing Apparatus
• Filtering Facepieces

Leg And Foot Protection

A construction worker should always wear the prescribed protective footwear on site. The bones in a person’s foot are brittle, thus prone to more damage. In the case of a muscle or tendon injury, it will restrict an individual’s movement for quite some time. This incident might delay the job.

That is why wearing the appropriate foot protection must be properly imposed by the construction company at all times. The owner should provide protective footwear, free of charge, to its employees as long as they look after it with care. A list of ideal protective footwear equipment are as follows:

• Steel Toe Caps
• Steel Midsole Protection

Takeaway

Safety in the workplace is and will always be a priority. And wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment can help achieve an accident-free work environment. It is the responsibility of both the construction owner and worker to impose risk regulation and follow safety guidelines. It is best to work as a team to win as a team.

Bio

Roxane Burks is a writer who loves sharing her content with her readers. She enjoys reading and writing about health and safety. With that said, Roxane enjoys going to the gym and lives a healthy lifestyle. When not writing, she loves watching movies and cooking up healthy meals.