Commercial construction, whether on a small or large scale, always has a certain level of risks involved. Therefore, if you are planning to start your own construction business, putting a large chunk of your investment into safety is an excellent way to be proactive against workplace hazards.
One of the best ways to invest in your workers’ safety is to buy good-quality safety gear. Here’s a list of personal protective equipment (PPE) that you should have:
1. Hard hats
In construction, a lot of workplace-related injuries involve impacts to the head, whether through falling objects or slip-and-fall accidents. Needless to say, head injuries can cause serious health conditions, or even instant death, which you can protect your workers from by providing sturdy, well-fitting hard hats.
2. Respirator
If the project involves jobs with inhalation hazards, such as dust, chemicals, and fumes, a dust respirator and other respiratory equipment can keep your workers safe.
3. Gloves
Safety gloves protect construction workers’ hands from cuts, abrasions, burns, and punctures. Hence, they should be durable enough to withstand abuse but without limiting comfort and dexterity. Find construction gloves that are high-quality and comfortable at the same time. Moreover, make sure that workers use the appropriate types of gloves for each job (e.g. welding gloves for welding, insulated gloves for electrical work, etc.)
4. Earplugs
One of the common hazards in construction sites is a loud noise, both constant (e.g. jackhammer) or abrupt (e.g. heavy object dropping). Prolonged exposure to loud noises can lead to hearing difficulties, such as temporary hearing loss, permanent hearing loss, or tinnitus. To protect your workers against noise, provide earplugs and earmuffs in areas with lots of noise, specifically noise that is above 70 decibels (which is considered the threshold for harmful noise levels).
5. Safety glasses
Another important piece of PPE is safety glasses or goggles. This gear protects workers’ eyes from flying debris or chemicals, intense heat, and excessive light, which are all possible hazards in a construction setting. Provide safety glasses for workers designated to jobs like welding, wood sawing, and drilling.
6. High-visibility apparel
Workers on a construction site should wear high-visibility apparel, especially when working outside and in low light. High-visibility or “high-vis” gear makes workers stand out, thus increasing the awareness of people around them and preventing accidents.
7. Clothing
In most construction businesses, owners provide a uniform to their workers. If you want to do the same, make sure your uniform includes a long-sleeved shirt (and a t-shirt for light work) and work pants. You can also provide work jackets to workers who need extra layers of protection (e.g. welders).
8. Boots
Most construction workers buy their own work boots. However, if you want to ensure that all of your workers have adequate foot protection, provide steel-toed boots made from sturdy, high-quality leather and have non-slip soles.
A construction business can be a lucrative endeavor, but for it to be successful, you need to invest in your people. One of the best ways to do that is to give them the proper safety gear that they need.
