Personal protective equipment (PPE) is one of the main protection measures for construction workers. Each item is designed to minimize the risk of certain injuries or diseases in the event of an accident and the damage caused by those hazards.
Each construction site and job should be assessed for specific and unique hazards, as well as the appropriate personal protective equipment required. On a construction site, some common hazard categories can be mitigated with appropriate personal protective equipment, including electrical, fall, chemical, hazardous dust, being hit, penetration, being caught in the middle, tumbling, and heat.
It is important that workers use appropriate personal protective equipment. Each component should be firmly fixed without causing discomfort or restriction of movement; Clothing and other items should not be loose as this can create a tripping hazard, getting stuck on moving parts, etc.
Buildings and building renovation sites are dynamic and constantly changing work areas that present unique security challenges. University construction and renovation activities may be carried out by outside contractors or university staff. The work may be done by only one group or another, or a project may be a collaborative effort. As a result of these different arrangements, it is often unclear who has the responsibility and authority to ensure compliance with safety and health regulations.
PPE of construction personnel
Hard hats – These are essential on most construction sites. They protect against head injuries caused by swinging or falling objects, striking the head against something, or accidental head contact with electrical hazards. The safety helmet should be checked for dents, cracks and other damage before each use; Damaged ones should not be worn.
Foot protection – this usually refers to steel-toed boots. Work boots should be worn on site to prevent toes from being crushed by heavy or falling equipment or materials. They also need shoe soles that are puncture resistant and slip resistant, since sharp objects can be on work surfaces and slip is a major hazard on the job site.
Hand Protection – Different types of work gloves are best suited to specific tasks and risks on construction sites. For example, there are heavy-duty leather and canvas gloves to prevent cuts and burns, welding gloves for welders, heavy-duty rubber gloves to handle concrete, sleeveless insulating gloves to deal with electric shock hazards, and chemical-resistant gloves for work using chemical reagents.
Work pants and work shirts – Workers should use thick and stretchy work pants and shirts to protect their entire legs, arms and torso from cuts, scrapes, burns and other surface injuries. These should fit tightly and never sag, while allowing maximum mobility.
Face and/or eye protection – Safety glasses or face mask should be worn when there is a risk of flying debris or harmful dust getting into the eyes. Cutting, grinding, welding, cutting, and nailing are some of the activities that require protective glasses. In addition to basic safety glasses, some other facial protective gear includes welding shields, chemical splash goggles, and dust goggles.
Hearing protection – Noise levels generated by chainsaws, jackhammers and other tools and heavy equipment can damage workers’ hearing – especially after prolonged exposure to the environment. Preformed or mouldable earplugs are usually the best choice, but acoustic foam-lined earmuffs that seal tightly to the head also work well.
Reflective/high visibility clothing – Jackets, vests or other upper garments that are brightly colored and/or reflective are important for visibility of workers. It is usually recommended to wear it at all times on the job site, but is especially important on active roads, in poor light, and for dusk and night work. In some cases, it is regulated by OSHA.
Other personal protective equipment
This certainly does not include all types of PPE. For example, personal fall protection is a whole class of personal protective equipment. There are many varieties of all types of viaducts. Respiratory protection is another important category of worker exposure to airborne hazards. Similarly, each workplace and each task must be assessed individually for potential hazards, and workers must wear appropriate personal protective equipment for such situations.