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Construction workers face several hazards every day. According to OSHA, in 2018, around 1008 construction workers died on the job site. Many of these deaths and injuries could have been avoided with the help of PPE. If you wear your safety equipment and follow the best practices for keeping safe at the job site, you can protect yourself as well as the people working with you. It is also important to note that according to the OSHA Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a "safe and healthful" job site for their employees. This entails that employers must provide PPE for their workers, which ensures their safety at a construction site.
Besides a legal responsibility, the provision of PPE greatly reduces the risk of workplace injuries, hence cutting down the costs of workers' compensation. If a construction company provides the PPE, it can have fewer days of employee absences and a confident and safe environment at the workplace.
Abolox Safety brings you some of the coolest safety gear for the construction workers. Here's our list of safety equipment for the workers.
1. Eye and Face Protection
Safety glasses or face shields are a prerequisite when the workers are exposed to flying objects which can get in their eyes. During welding, cutting, grinding, or nailing, it is important to wear safety glasses or goggles. When exposed to chemicals, face shields can go a long way to protect the workers from hazardous liquids.
2. Head Protection
Head injuries are very common in the workplace due to the risk of falling objects. Even a small bolt or tool falling from the height of 20 meters can cause injury or death of the worker. Hard hats protect the workers not only from the head injuries but also from the sun and rain. The high-density Polyethylene in the hard hat absorbs the impact, and keeps the workers safe. The headband allows you to securely strap the hard hat and prevent it from falling.
3. Hand Protection
During the construction, the potential hazards to hands and arms include skin absorption of harmful substances, chemical or thermal burns, abrasions, cuts, and punctures. Safety gloves protect your hands against a variety of hazards. Leather gloves protect your hands against abrasions and cuts whereas the insulating rubber gloves protect against electrical hazards. It is important to choose your safety gloves according to the type of task you are going to perform.
4. Hearing Protection
If you work with tools like Chainsaw, Jackhammers, or other heavy equipment that makes noise, you need hearing protection. Some of the most common equipment for hearing protection are earmuffs, earplugs, and hearing bands. Some earplugs are made up of foam which expands inside the ear canal when inserted and seals against the walls. This expansion allows the earplugs to fit into various sizes of ear canals.
5. Safety Vest
The use of a safety vest is necessary because it ensures that you are visible on a job site. Construction roadside injuries are common because the workers are not visible to the on-coming traffic especially during the early morning or late night hours. Safety vests can significantly reduce that risk. Reflective tapes and the fluorescent yellow and orange fabrics ensure that the workers are visible from a distance. Available in a variety of fabrics and colors, they ensure comfort and protection at the same time.
Key Takeaway
Construction work is one of the riskiest jobs as it exposes you to a variety of hazards. PPE can significantly reduce the number of accidents and injuries at the job site. While purchasing your PPE, it is also important to ensure that you choose your equipment according to the tasks that you are about to perform. Another good idea is to ensure that your PPE is standardized and approved by a competent authority like OSHA.
