According to OSHA, the continuously evolving construction industry accounts for one in five worker fatalities across all private industries. It is crucial to stay vigilant and take the best safety precautions available when facing the multiple hazards present on a construction job site. Let’s highlight some current construction safety solutions trending in the market today that keep workers present, focused and safe on the job.
SAFETY SOLUTIONS TRENDING IN CONSTRUCTION
WOMEN’S PPE
Women make key contributions on job sites and workplaces in every industry. As such, it is essential that women are equipped with PPE that is designed specifically to fit and protect them against environmental and application-specific risks. Traditionally, women have had to settle for oversized PPE which can result in reduced productivity. It can also lead to the risk of injury that, otherwise, would not have been present. When it comes to women’s PPE, fit matters!
Hi-Vis garments play a pivotal role in keeping workers seen and safe on job sites and in workplaces. When selecting a hi-vis garment, especially for women, it is important to choose a garment that does not create a loose fit to reduce the risk of snagging when operating heavy machinery.
Safety eyewear is best known for protecting workers against impactful debris and harmful UV rays. Safety eyewear also prevents airborne particulates from obscuring a worker’s vision. Throughout the workday, workers will exercise various movements to properly perform the application at hand, making secure-fitting safety glasses vital to achieving proper protection. It is important for workers with narrow facial features to explore eye protection options specifically designed to fit them and stay secure throughout the workday.
Ear canals are like fingerprints- unique to everyone! It is important when selecting hearing protection, specifically ear plugs, to identify a style and fit suitable for each worker. Aside from having a narrower set of facial features, women’s ear canals tend to be thinner and shallower than the average males, calling for a smaller ear plug size in order to deliver optimal fit, comfort and noise-blocking performance.
HEAD PROTECTION AT HEIGHTS
In 2020, falls accounted for one of OSHA’s “fatal four” causes of worker fatalities in the construction industry. Because of this, OSHA’s 1926.501 regulation requires the proper protection from falls be provided at elevations of 4 feet in general industry workplaces, 5 feet in shipyards and 6 feet in the construction industry. It is important that construction workers not only implement preventive safety measures such as fall protection while working at heights but also implement protective measures of safety in the event that a fall does occur.
While traditional hard hats do help properly protect workers from things like falling tools and impactful
debris — assuming the correct type of protection is being worn based on the application and environment at hand — workers still run the risk of traditional hard hats falling off of their heads in the event of a fall from an elevated working surface.
Today, many construction companies are beginning to make the switch from traditional cap style and full brim hard hats to safety helmets while working at heights. Safety helmets help provide a more complete level of protection by staying secure to a worker’s head in the event of a fall due to their anchored 4-point chin strap safety feature.
This article republished with permission from PIP. View our other blog posts on Personal Protective Equipment.
