The construction industry is a hazardous field to work in, with thousands of construction workers handling heavy equipment or completing strenuous tasks from extended heights. In the line of business, safety and health are a top priority and must be taken seriously by all employees. Therefore, no matter what tasks you’re completing for the day, if you work in the construction industry, you should always wear Personal Protective Equipment, also known as PPE.
At M. Davis & Sons, we prioritize the health and safety of our team and believe in the value of Personal Protective Equipment. Without the right gear and accessories, workers have a greater chance of sustaining injuries while on the job.
If safety is just as much of a priority for you as it is for us, check out this list of the essential PPE worth investing in and using regularly.
#1. Safety Glasses
Wearing safety glasses equipped with permanent side shields that meet ANSI Z8.7 can help keep eyes protected while working in facilities and on other job sites. You never know when flying particles will end up in the air when you or someone else handle a specific task. The last thing you want to deal with is dust, dirt, chemicals, or remnants of materials getting into your eyes, obstructing your view, and causing lasting damage. Play it safe with a reliable pair of safety glasses.
#2. Leather Gloves
Protect your hands from rough, hot, or potentially dangerous materials by wearing leather gloves. You could also consider wearing synthetic dipped gloves for general purposes to have extra protection for your hands. Kevlar gloves are another example of a good choice for working gloves to protect hands. The gloves you need to wear will depend on the tasks you typically complete in a day. For example, if you’re a welder, you can wear welder’s gloves equipped with insulation and a gauntlet cuff that reaches past the wrist to offer additional protection.
#3. Safety Toed Boots with a Heel
The field employees at M. Davis & Sons, Inc. must wear a pair of ASTM F2413-approved leather boots. In addition, anyone working in the electrical field should wear a similar pair of boots with an Electrical Hazard rating to provide optimum protection against electrocution. The proper boots prevent construction workers from slipping, falling, and sustaining injuries when completing assorted tasks, whether at ground level or on top of a massive commercial property.
#4. Hard Hats
It’s not uncommon to see people in the construction industry wearing hard hats. It’s one of the most effective pieces of Personal Protective Equipment available. All tradespeople working at any job site should have a hard hat to protect their heads from possible debris that could fall and hit them at any moment. For M. Davis team members, hard hats worn by construction workers must meet the requirements for Industrial Head Protection and include Z89.1-1997, Type G or Type E, Class C.
#5. Noise-Canceling Devices
In some cases, tradespeople may need to wear noise-canceling devices. These devices help block the impact that loud, repetitive noises can have on the ears. Constant exposure to loud sounds can cause lasting damage to the eardrums and put construction workers at a greater risk of experiencing permanent hearing loss.
Workers in the construction industry are often exposed to hazardous conditions. The best way for these individuals to protect themselves is to wear high-quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Such equipment would include boots, gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, and noise-canceling devices, which play an integral role in keeping workers safer.