Warmer weather signals the beginning of construction season. For the construction industry, it’s time to finish preparations for the busy time of the year. Workers need training, signs that identify hazardous areas and specify which personal protective equipment (PPE) is required need to be ready, and PPE itself needs to be selected for proper fit and inspected for signs of wear and tear before work begins. Here’s a head-to-toe listing of construction PPE.
HARD HATS
The service-life guidelines supplied by manufacturers may vary, but the average, life of a hard hat shell is three years from time of issue. Shells and suspensions should be checked every day for cracks, dents, brittleness and fading in color. If there is any change that might compromise the effectiveness of the hard hat or suspension, it should be removed from service and replaced immediately. Suspensions are not interchangeable, so care should be taken to replace with the size and style that matches the hard hat shell.
EYEWEAR
Safety glasses should be worn whenever potential hazards to eyes may be present. Only eyewear clearly marked with ANSI Z87.1 or ANSI Z87.1+ (high impact) should be worn. Glasses or other protective eyewear should fit snugly enough to not slip while performing normal work activities and should allow air circulation between eyes and lens. Safety glasses that incorporate prescriptions are available, but workers who need prescription eyewear but don’t have prescription safety glasses must wear safety glasses over their regular prescription glasses. Before using any kind of safety eyewear, the lenses should be inspected for scratches or pits. Because these tend to impair vision and diminish impact integrity, if any are found the eyewear should be replaced immediately.
HEARING PROTECTION
Ear plugs are the most common kind of hearing protection. They are easy to carry, almost never interfere with other PPE, and most are disposable. For proper fit and protection, ear plugs should be inserted into the ear canal until approximately three quarters of the length is inside. They can be kept clean with mild soap and water. They should be replaced when they become hard or visibly damaged. With a proper fit, earmuffs can provide better hearing protection than ear plugs, but facial hair or facial movements or wearing other PPE can prevent a proper seal around the ear and reduce the effectiveness of ear muffs. Ear muffs should also be inspected before each use for cracks, holes or abrasions. The cushion or the entire ear muffs should be replaced if any are found.
FALL PROTECTION
Like all PPE, proper fit is essential with each component of fall protection equipment. Service life of components varies greatly depending on materials and design. Manufacturer’s guidelines should specify service life for each component. Fall protection equipment is designed to prevent one fall, not multiple falls. Any equipment that undergoes a fall should be removed from service immediately. All fall protection components should be visually inspected before each use for fraying, broken fibers, broken stitches, cuts, burns or chemical damage. If any are found, remove that equipment from service.
GLOVES
Gloves are available with materials and designs that defend against specific hazards such as cuts, chemicals, electrical shocks and persistent vibration. But no glove can provide protection as intended if it is not intact. Tears, punctures, and stiffness can not only reduce the effectiveness of protection but increase dangers by creating snag points. Any glove with visible wear signs should be discarded and immediately replaced.
BOOTS
Again, inspect daily. Protective footwear should be replaced if there are any indications of cracks, holes, separation of materials or broken buckles. Soles should be inspected for embedded material that could present electrical or trip hazards.
