Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one of the first lines of defence in construction work. It is worn to minimise and mitigate the various risks and hazards that workers may encounter on-site. These include flying objects, exposure to harmful chemicals and dust, and tasks that can lead to falls from heights. This guide will break down the basic PPE requirements to help maintain a safe working environment.
What Is the Basic Personal Protective Equipment for Construction Workers?
The types of PPE used in construction include safety gloves, safety glasses, ear protection, hard hats, high-visibility clothing, and fall arrest equipment. Each piece is worn for specific job demands, but most of these items must be worn at all times to comply with workplace health and safety requirements set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Safety Gloves
The majority of construction work relies on the skilled and strong hands of builders. Protecting these hands from wounds and injuries is crucial to keep the project running smoothly. That’s what safety gloves are for, protecting workers’ hands that cover the wrists, fingers, and thumbs.
These garments should be worn during construction, renovation, and maintenance works where there’s a risk of cuts, blisters, splinters, punctures, or heat and chemical burns. On top of this, wearing work gloves provides added grip on the user’s fingers and palms, allowing them to hold and move heavy tools and equipment without slipping.
Safety Glasses
Safety glasses are designed to protect workers’ eyes from foreign objects and flying particles. These protective eyewear pieces are constructed of impact-resistant frames made of metal or plastic and feature shatter-proof lenses.
The HSE recommends that workers wear one, such as wrap-around safety glasses, whenever there’s a risk of exposure to dust, debris, gas, chemical splashes, and more. For instance, during the following tasks:
- Welding operations
- Painting and finishing work
- Carpentry and woodworking
- Mechanical and electrical work
- Drilling, cutting, grinding, and demolition
Refer to our ‘Guide to Safety Glasses in Construction’ for more information.
Ear Protection
Ear protection is worn to safeguard workers against hearing loss from hazardous noise. Prolonged exposure to moderate-level noises, such as those from equipment and machines, is a common cause of hearing damage. These noises come from trucks, cranes, welding machines, jackhammers, sledgehammers, electric saws, drills, and other sources.
There are various types of ear protection available for construction use, such as:
- Earplugs: Disposable earplugs block the ear canal, providing a high noise reduction rating (NRR) of up to 33 dB. They are small, easy to carry, and comfortable to wear in humid or hot environments.
- Ear defenders: Ear defenders are often used in louder environments with machinery or construction equipment. They not only protect the user from noise but also provide full coverage of the ears from debris and dust through their large cups and sound-deadening material, such as acoustic foam.
Overall, ear protection measures are among the most effective ways of protecting workers from construction noise.
Hard Hats
Hard hats are shock absorbers that feature a rigid outer shell designed to distribute the force of impact. Within this shell is a layer of foam that compresses upon impact, further dissipating the force before it reaches the wearer’s head. Workers must always wear safety hats to protect themselves against head injuries caused by swinging or falling objects, impacts against surfaces, or accidental contact with electrical hazards.
For more information on safety features and proper usage, read our guide ‘Why Head Protection Matters When Working at Heights.’
High-Visibility Clothing
High visibility clothing is apparel worn by construction workers to enhance their visibility on-site. It should be worn in all construction locations where vehicles are operating, as well as in areas with low-light conditions or at heights. Being visible from a distance allows other people to see workers and react accordingly.
For instance, in a construction zone where heavy machinery is being operated, workers wearing high-visibility clothing are easily noticed by equipment operators.
High-visibility t-shirts and high-visibility vests are common types of clothing used on construction sites.
Anti-Fall Harness
A safety harness provides a dependable means of protection against fall-related risks. It connects to an immovable anchor point via a fall restraint or fall arrest lanyard. Wearing one ensures the worker is secure in the event of fall, provided it’s properly worn. It’s recommended for builders and scaffolders to wear this piece when working at heights of six feet or higher.
The harness must meet the correct weight requirements of each worker. While harnesses are adjustable, they must also be comfortable and properly fitted. Otherwise, they may struggle to perform their job safely.
Why Proper Fit and Sizing Are Important for PPE?
Wearing PPE isn’t enough; it must be properly fitted to provide maximum protection for construction workers. Poorly fitting gear increases the risk of accidents, so it should be comfortable enough for all personnel to carry out their tasks efficiently. Ideally, the equipment should be adjustable or tailored to fit all body types, accommodating differences in gender, race, and other factors among workers.
This list doesn’t cover all types of protective equipment used in construction, but the items above are essential for every worker to wear for personal safety and compliance with workplace regulations.
For more PPE options for your construction needs, contact us via hello@s-pgroup.com or call us at +44 (028) 9442 8611. SP Group is a construction supplier in the UK and Ireland.