Any worker in the building and construction trade knows that wearing protective clothing is essential. Working on a construction site exposes you to potential accidents and hazards that can cause injury or even death. As a result, UK law insists that all site workers must wear protective clothing and accessories. Here we’ve investigated some of the workwear must haves to consider
Steel toe cap boots
These boots provide the greatest protection of all boots and offer excellent comfort too. They are incredibly durable and can limit impact injury on your feet from crushes because of their steel toe caps. They also have strong treads, reducing the risk of slipping when navigating wet or muddy ground. In addition, thanks to being puncture-proof, they guard against getting cut from sharp objects such as nails or pointed debris, which are common features on building sites. What’s more, they offer excellent waterproof capability which supports working in all weathers. And many of them also come with protection against arc flash and electrostatic discharges, which is important for welders or other electrical workers.
Work trousers
Specialised safety trousers come in all forms and can, for example, be fireproof, cut resistant and/or high visibility. Different working conditions come with specific legal trouser requirements and the appropriate trousers give protection against common construction site hazards and risks.
Safety gloves
Safety gloves are essential for many workplaces and can help protect you against hazards such as crushing, cuts, abrasions or even chemical burns. Importantly, safety gloves typically offer maximum comfort, grip and dexterity too.
Headgear
There are plenty of quality headgear options out there in the market for trade and construction workers. As well as the obvious essential protection headgear brings from falling objects or debris, many headgear solutions also protect against the weather, be it the cold, heat, rain, glare and sunburn. It is worth knowing that hundreds of workers every year suffer from fatal head injuries, and sources reveal that a meaningful percentage of fatal injuries are caused by being struck by flying or falling objects.
Eyewear
Safety eyewear is a core component of PPE and is a legal requirement on most sites. The right eyewear can help protect against debris, particles or dust in the air, chemicals or splashback of harmful liquids, glare and ultraviolet light rays. Specifically, if you are a welder or work with lasers or fibre optics, UK law stipulates that you must wear appropriate eyewear such as googles, face shields or helmets.
Safety is of the utmost concern on building and construction sites because of the range of potential hazards and dangers in the work environment – many of them posing risks of injury and even fatality. The clothing and accessories you wear are therefore critical for helping to keep you safe while you work. Different trade jobs have their own specific clothing requirements, and it is worth checking these out. But it is always better to be safe than sorry when choosing your workwear, not least because UK law insists on certain minimum requirements.