Why you should use CORRECT SAFETY GEAR
ALL CONSTRUCTION sites and other industrial places of work harbour both hidden and transparent dangers that could, without preventative measures, lead to a chain of events resulting in terrible personal injuries or even fatalities. Because of this, it is imperative that employees are protected as well as they possibly can be as they approach their daily duties.
Let’s take a look at the types of personal protective equipment that can make all the difference.
EYE AND FACE PROTECTION
Safety glasses cost very little but protect one of our most precious faculties, our sight. There are many different models and styles from some excellent brands like TM, Millenia and Univet, with the latter, in particular, offering a great selection so that you can not only stay protected, but look professional, too. Safety glasses (and sometimes face shields) are mainly worn when there is a danger of foreign objects entering the eye. Such activities as welding, grinding and nailing are examples of jobs necessitating appropriate eyewear.
FOOT PROTECTION
One of the commonest industrial injuries involve crushing of feet or other foot injuries. All construction workers should know that shoes or boots with anti-slip and puncture resistant soles are mandatory. If there is any danger of falling objects, for example, when working on a site with scaffolding, then boots or shoes with steel-toe caps are strongly advised. The Warrior Sand Ankle Boot is a stellar example of such protective boots, although those who prefer safety shoes and don’t require the ankle support can find lighter-weight alternatives like the Dickies Oxford safety shoe.
In the construction trade and most industrial work, your hands are your livelihood, and finding and wearing the correct gloves for each job is of huge importance.
HAND PROTECTION
In the construction trade and most industrial work, your hands are your livelihood, and finding and wearing the correct gloves for each job is of huge importance. Much of this is common sense, but heavyduty rubber gloves should be used for working with concrete, specific welding gloves are made for welding work, and, of course, insulated gloves and sleeves are crucial when electrical hazards are around. In addition, for some heavy drilling and other jobs involving a great deal of hand-arm vibration, there are some excellent Vibraguard gloves offering protection against handarm vibration syndrome across a wide range of frequencies. It is important that the right fit is chosen for gloves. Snug is better than loose in all scenarios.
HEAD PROTECTION
The wearing of hard hats is vital when working on sites where some are working at height and there is any danger at all of falling objects. However, even on other sites, bangs to the head on hard, fixed objects can be avoided with appropriate headwear. All hard hats must be regularly inspected for dents or cracks.
HEARING PROTECTION
Hearing issues are rife among construction workers, and there is no excuse for not using earplugs/muffs in areas of high noise levels. There are so many options, so a bit of research, depending on the specific job, is recommended.