Construction work is a high-risk field with numerous hazards. Aside from working on elevated structures, there are poisons, explosions, dangerous equipment in your surroundings, and so much more. Because of the dangers inherent at construction sites, workers need to watch out for hazards at all times.
Workers need to wear safety gear throughout the workday to protect themselves from severe injuries. A good safety checklist for construction workers clearly defines the items they need to wear, helping companies stay up-to-date with the changing laws and guidelines for safety equipment. The following list will help you ensure that your construction workers’ safety gear is always up to date.
- Safety Gloves
Safety gloves play a vital role in protecting the hands of construction workers. Gloves offer extra protection from cuts and scrapes. They keep skin from getting caught in machinery such as saws and drills or cuts by sharp objects such as nails. They can also protect hands from splinters, dirt, and heat. The hard outer shell of these gloves protects the hand against impacts, while the soft inner layer gives comfort to the wearer.
- Safety Goggles
Safety Goggles are an essential part of a worker’s safety gear. Safety Goggles provide full-face protection because they cover the entire eye area, including both the upper and lower eyelids. This provides maximum protection from injury or flying objects and prevents particles from entering the eyes. With the advancement of technology, your safety goggles will no longer impair your vision since you can now have prescription safety glasses. These glasses are especially for workers with weak eyesight. These safety glasses offer the same protection as regular ones. However, they also correct vision defects like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
- Earplugs
Construction workers are at risk of hearing loss due to loud noises from the machinery and other devices at their construction site. Wearing earplugs can prevent them from ear damage. Many different earplugs can be used, including disposable, reusable and custom-fitted earplugs.
However, if workers have been working long at construction sites where they have to deal with loud machinery, it may be time to see an audiologist who can perform an audiogram or hearing test. If they have tinnitus, the audiologist will help them find ways to deal with it, such as using special earplugs or other forms of protection against loud noises.
- Respirator
Toxic fumes are just one of the major causes of poisoning among workers working on construction sites. The harmful chemicals used to paint buildings or woodwork can cause an allergic reaction or respiratory problems in workers who wear no protective gear. Hence, wearing a respirator is essential for every construction work as it protects one from toxic fumes and getting injured by falling objects or splinters on the floor.
- Reflective Safety Vests
Reflective safety vests are the most important safety device for people who work on roads or streets at night. The reflective vest is a very common thing seen in the construction industry and in other places where people work at night. Reflective vests help workers to be visible to other people. Sometimes workers go unnoticed, especially when there are multiple light sources around them and their light source is not bright enough. This is where the reflective vest comes into play. It gives a glowy reflection on all the objects that reflect light, making it easier for others to spot the worker from a distance, even in bad weather conditions.
- Steel Toe Boots
Steel toe boots are a crucial part of a construction worker’s safety gear. They help protect feet from falling objects and provide protection against plants that may be harmful if workers accidentally kick them. Steel toe boots are also effective in protecting against electrical shocks. Most work boots are manufactured from leather and have steel toes attached so that the entire boot can act as an insulator for the user. This makes it safer for workers who come in contact with live wires regularly.
Boots with steel toes are necessary for people who have to stand on a ladder frequently or walk on nails or broken glass. If your construction workers work in an environment where there is a lot of debris on the ground, steel toe boots can help keep their feet safe from cuts by nails and other sharp objects.
- Hard Hats
Construction workers should always wear hard hats as safety gear. The hard hat protects them from head injuries in the event of falling objects or beams. They are very convenient to wear due to their adjustable straps and do not interfere with your field of vision compared to other safety gear like helmets or face shields. Hard hats come in different designs and materials, but basically, they have brims on the front and back so that when an object or a tool falls on a construction worker, the hard hat will prevent the object from hitting the worker’s head.
Conclusion
A construction site is one of the more dangerous settings for an injury to occur, which is why it is so important for workers to take the proper precautions. A life lost in an accident could represent a serious loss for a construction company, not to mention the tragic effect on families and friends. If you are a worker in this field, use this checklist as a resource to maintain safety precautions at all times.
