Personal Protective Equipment: What is it?

I’m Ron Wittmeyer, and today I want to talk about personal protective equipment on a construction site. This is also known as PPE. The employer is required to provide PPE to the workers on a construction site under OSHA regulations. Here are the employer’s responsibilities.

The employer’s responsibilities

Number one, to make a hazard assessment to determine what risks and hazards are present that would require PPE.

Number two, to select the proper PPE to guard against the hazards that have been assessed and then to provide that PPE to the workers at no cost to the workers.

Number three, to train the workers in properly using the PPE and to properly maintain their PPE.

Types of PPE

What types of PPE are in common use on construction sites? Of course, we know hard hats and work boots. Eye protection is very important as well and includes goggles and safety glasses. And sometimes, shields or even specialty helmets can be required.

Protecting your hearing can be very important as well, especially when there are high noise levels on your construction site. Hearing protection includes earplugs and earmuffs. Hand protection is very important too. Sometimes, the entire body must be protected, for instance to guard against molten substances.

And at times, respiratory protection is also required. This would involve respirators, which must be medically designed and fitted. Special training needs to be provided as well. If you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me an email.