Six Basic Construction Safety Gear

Due to the hazards that construction entails, most construction companies have strict policies on safety gear. They usually don't allow their workers to go to work if they fail to follow the dress code. They also don't allow their workers to start working without donning on some safety gears.

These safety gears help protect an individual from hazards at the construction site. We all know how dangerous and unpredictable a construction site can be. So here are some of the safety gears each construction worker must wear.

1. Hard Hat. This hat looks more like a helmet used by rollerbladers, skateboarders and the like; however, the hard hat is made from tougher materials. Construction workers are not allowed to step into the site without their hard hats on.

The hard hats are designed to protect the head from falling debris like nails and chunks of concrete but these hard hats are useless against bigger debris like a slab of concrete or worst a hammer or mallet. Still, hard hats are required because the debris that falls most of the time are small.

Hard hats come in different colors. Some construction companies use the hard hats for color coding that will help them identify their workers.

2. Harness. Construction workers that work on sky rise buildings will surely need this equipment. We all know how high these sky rise buildings can get and falling from the top floor will certainly mean leaving for the afterlife.

The harness is a useful safety equipment for workers working on top floors. The harness is usually tied around the worker and connected to a strong and stable base. It is used to break the fall in case the worker slips. This safety equipment is made from strong materials that are able to hold a body suspended in the air without tearing or breaking.

3. Goggles. It would be very hard to work in a construction site without seeing what you are doing. To keep that from happening, a construction worker is at times required to don on safety goggles.

Goggles are usually worn when one has to handle volatile liquids like acids or chemicals that are irritating to the eyes. These are used to protect the eyes; without the goggles your eyes are at risk for injuries.

4. Steel Toe Boots. In a construction site, it is hard to tell what is beneath your foot. It is also hard to predict what may fall on your toes. Most construction workers are required to wear steel toe boots because these are not only made from tougher materials, these are lined with steel. This is done so that the toes will be protected. Other than that, the sole of steel toe boots are way thicker as compared to your ordinary boots.

5. Gloves. Construction work entails a lot of picking and transferring of heavy materials like sacks of cement and chucks or slabs of concrete. Without gloves, certain tasks can lead to cuts and bruises. In addition, without gloves it would be hard to lift slippery materials like glass. Some construction gloves have sole-like materials on the palms that help grabbing a lot easier.

6. Mask. This safety gear is worn to protect one's lungs. Construction workers working in dusty areas or those working with chemicals that emit dangerous fumes are required to wear masks. Some air particles or fumes can turn out to be lethal once inhaled.