On any job site, utilizing the right equipment is key to the success of the job and the safety of your team. When it comes to safety equipment, this adage is doubled in importance. Safety equipment is relied on day in and day out again and again to hold up. While it doesn’t regularly receive the brute force that the saws, drills, and grinders go through, it is much more important that they are there when you really need them. Safety equipment, also known as PPE or personal protective equipment, is designed to protect construction workers from all types of hazardous accidents that happen every year.

Some of the different types of personal protective equipment that can be worn to help protect against workplace safety risks include:

PROTECTION FOR THE HEAD

The most common type of head protection is, of course, the hard hat. These are specifically designed to protect your head from any falling objects such as equipment or material that would otherwise hurt you or damage your skull. Most hard hats cover your head, but many can be outfitted with additional protective gear such as goggles, face shields or ear protections. It’s important that the hat fits each team member snuggly for maximum protection.

EYE AND FACE PROTECTION

Speaking of additional protection options, workers should also be sure to include eye and face protection when working on certain types of job sites. This is a great option if your job site has a lot of dust, flying debris, or if you are cutting down or sanding metal or wood.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION

Along with goggles, when it comes to high debris areas, you also need to protect your lungs from inhaling harmful substances, including dust and fumes. Lack of good ventilation can cause dizziness and other accidents to happen on the job site. Respirators provide a filter so that you can breathe easy and avoid spray paint, dust, pesticides, and other harmful fumes or substances.

HAND & SKIN PROTECTION

Wearing gloves is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself, specifically your hands and skin. In all types of situations, wearing gloves is a good idea because it can protect your skin from sharp edges, pinching moving objects, harmful chemicals and much more. Make sure whichever gloves you choose are appropriate for the job you’ll be completing, including size and material.

PROTECTION FOR EARS

Over the course of any project, workers can be exposed to a lot of noise and sounds that are much louder than normal. Over time, these higher decibels can be damaging to your hearing without the proper protective equipment. Ear protection comes in a variety of options including ear plugs, industrial ear muffs, of hard hat add ons. You should note that when it comes to high frequency protection, over the ear protection is superior, and for lower frequencies, ear plugs work much better.