Personal protective equipment in the construction industry is mandatory by law and is governed by specific regulations aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of workers. The purpose of these devices is to offer worker protection in compliance with current occupational health and safety legislation.
PPE required on building sites
The PPE required on building and construction sites are devices that allow workers to work safely in places where the risks of injury and accidents are always very high. The purpose of personal protective equipment is, therefore, to preserve the health and safety of workers in compliance with current occupational health and safety regulations and standards.
There are numerous types of PPE available on the market for use on construction sites and each worker needs to be provided with appropriate equipment which is both appropriate and suitable for the purpose intended. When selecting PPE, every job site and every task needs to be assessed for potential dangers and workers need to wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the task to be performed as the equipment used must protect from risks and not be the cause risk.
The PPE to be used on construction sites may be selected from the classification of risk categories against which they are intended to protect users, listed on current regulations:
- category I (simple design) includes devices designed to protect against minimal risks, which can be self-certified by the manufacturer. This category includes gloves against corrosion, sun glasses, devices for protection against atmospheric conditions that are not of an extreme nature;
- category II (intermediate design) includes devices that protect against substantial risk, such as eye and ear protectors, helmets, gloves, shoes and any other protective item;
- category III (complex design) includes devices designed to protect against the risk of death and includes PPE for respiratory protection and protection against chemical agents.
Why protect the respiratory system on construction sites?
The number of PPE found on construction sites can be quite extensive and it is, therefore, important to focus on category III PPE which include the ones suitable for respiratory protection. Protection of the airways is often underestimated, yet appropriate respiratory protection is essential to preserve workers’ health. The possibility that foreign bodies may enter the body through inhalation is very high, especially when it comes to minute particles invisible to the naked eye.
Rubble dust, paint and metal fumes are very dangerous for human health because they tend to settle in the lungs and in the respiratory tract, becoming one of the main causes of the onset of cancer in construction workers. Thanks to PPE specifically designed for the protection of the respiratory system workers can operate in total safety and in complete freedom, without the risk of inhaling harmful particles and chemical elements, the effects of which become visible in the short-term with the onset of allergies and chronic diseases.
Aug 13 2018
Personal protective equipment for the construction industry: mandatory devices
PPE required on building sites
The PPE required on building and construction sites are devices that allow workers to work safely in places where the risks of injury and accidents are always very high. The purpose of personal protective equipment is, therefore, to preserve the health and safety of workers in compliance with current occupational health and safety regulations and standards.
There are numerous types of PPE available on the market for use on construction sites and each worker needs to be provided with appropriate equipment which is both appropriate and suitable for the purpose intended. When selecting PPE, every job site and every task needs to be assessed for potential dangers and workers need to wear appropriate personal protective equipment for the task to be performed as the equipment used must protect from risks and not be the cause risk.
The PPE to be used on construction sites may be selected from the classification of risk categories against which they are intended to protect users, listed on current regulations:
Why protect the respiratory system on construction sites?
The number of PPE found on construction sites can be quite extensive and it is, therefore, important to focus on category III PPE which include the ones suitable for respiratory protection. Protection of the airways is often underestimated, yet appropriate respiratory protection is essential to preserve workers’ health. The possibility that foreign bodies may enter the body through inhalation is very high, especially when it comes to minute particles invisible to the naked eye.
Rubble dust, paint and metal fumes are very dangerous for human health because they tend to settle in the lungs and in the respiratory tract, becoming one of the main causes of the onset of cancer in construction workers. Thanks to PPE specifically designed for the protection of the respiratory system workers can operate in total safety and in complete freedom, without the risk of inhaling harmful particles and chemical elements, the effects of which become visible in the short-term with the onset of allergies and chronic diseases.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •