WORK SAFE , IT WORKS BETTER –PPE IMPORTANCE

24 Feb WORK SAFE , IT WORKS BETTER –PPE IMPORTANCE

Head Protection/Hard hat

Hard hats are probably the most recognizable piece of PPE common across construction sites. Along with high visibility clothing, hard hats distinguish workers from pedestrians. They are designed to protect workers from falling objects, sharp edges and moving pieces of equipment while also enabling the use of additional safety accessories such as face shields, chin straps and earmuffs. Hard hats need to be fitted; too large or too small and they do not provide the required level of stability or protection.

Eye -Face Protection/Goggles & Mask

Safety goggles, wrap around sunglasses and full face shields provide the protection needed to adequately cover a workers eyes and face. Any type of cutting or working of material, as well as machine and tool operation, requires this type of protection. Labourers also benefit from using safety goggles / glasses as there is always a risk of sharp edges, sparks and small fragments of material breaking free.

Hand & exposed skin protection/Sun protection Cream

All construction jobs require the use of hands. Gloves, therefore, are an essential item in providing skin protection. Some examples of gloves commonly used as PPE include rubber gloves, cut-resistant gloves, chainsaw gloves and heat-resistant gloves. Using gloves helps to avoid hazards usually involved when working with chemicals, glass, sheet metal, electricity, hot materials or slippery objects.

Be Visible /Visibility Clothing

Many construction tasks are performed outdoors and so workers not only need protection from potential hazards on site, but also from the elements. For this reason high visibility clothing is required at all times; it allows workers to be easily identified, especially in dark, noisy or busy environments while also providing protection from prolonged exposure to the sun.

Hearing Protection/Ear Plugs

Industrial noise is often discounted as an occupational hazard since it isn’t visible to the eye. However loss of hearing can result from exposure to loud working environments over a long period of time. Earplugs and earmuffs are common hearing protection tools seen on construction sites when using tools such as drills, saws, grinders and jackhammers. It is important to note that earmuffs are more effective in reducing high-frequency noise while earplugs are more effective for reducing low-frequency noise.