Construction Site Safety Guidelines For Workers And Visitors

Construction sites are hazardous environments. Injury can occur very easily if the proper safety measures are not taken. Because the risk of injury is high, construction companies have rules that are designed for the safety of their workers and any visitors. The following is a list of the most common safety requirements for construction sites in regards to attire:

Hard hats:

All construction workers or visitors are required to wear hard hats. Hard hats serve two basic purposes. One is the protection of the head from falling objects. The other is to keep a worker’s head cool during the hot summer months.

Gloves:

Some construction workers are required to wear gloves while working. The types of gloves vary from a rating of one to five. Gloves rated a five are the heaviest. Most construction workers wear gloves rated a two or three.

Boots:

Boots are another important part of construction site safety. Tennis shoes or sandals are never allowed on a construction site. Boots with a steel-toe are the required footwear for worker’s safety. This rule applies to construction workers but also to visitors that tour the job site.

Earplugs:

When working around loud machinery, earplugs are a requirement. This protects the worker’s inner ear from being damaged.

Safety goggles:

Safety goggles are required equipment for any construction worker at risk of eye injury due to the nature of their job. For example, anyone that uses a saw to cut through wood or metal is at risk of injury due to flying debris. That is why it is so important for workers to wear safety goggles to protect their eyes.

Clothing rules:

There are some general clothing rules that are enforced on a construction site. For example, shorts and sleeveless shirts are not allowed. In addition, no one should wear long sleeve shirts if the sleeves are baggy. The only way a long sleeve shirt is allowed is if the shirt fits tightly and does not have any excess fabric. The reasoning behind this rule is that a worker could be injured if excess fabric from their shirt is caught within some machinery.

Bright colors or vests:

Wearing either a safety vest or a brightly colored shirt is another requirement for all construction workers and visitors. Usually, visitors will wear a safety vest over their normal attire. Often, construction companies will create company t-shirts in bright colors for their employees to wear. This means workers do not have to wear a vest, but they are still very visible due to their bright shirts.
The above is a list of the most common construction site safety requirements for visitors and workers.

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Eric Blair writes about staying safe at a construction site using different solutions from Fall Protection USA.

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