About Construction Safety Clothing
Construction safety clothing is gear worn by construction workers to protect them from the many potential hazards inherent on the job. From highway operations and welding to carpentry and concrete finishing, safety clothing protects construction workers from power tools, dust and makes them visible to passing traffic. The US government Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has regulations on occupational safety clothing. Employers and construction managers who allow their employees to run afoul of the law can be charged, fined and even sued if a worker is injured on the job because he is not wearing proper safety clothing.
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Function
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Construction safety clothing protects workers from head to toe, depending on the type of job being performed. Hardhats protect the head from falls and dropped objects. Safety goggles and helmets are used for many jobs to protect from dust, metal shavings or the damaging light from a welding torch. Gloves protect hands and forearms from heat or chemical burns and injury from power tools, pants with reinforced knees or knee pads relieve pressure when kneeling all day working on floors and boots with steel toes and non-skid soles help prevent falls and foot injuries. Highway construction workers often wear reflective clothing to make them visible to passing traffic.
Types
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The type of safety clothing is mandated by the job being performed. A hard hat is not generally required when a construction worker is remodeling a residential kitchen, but may be required when working on scaffolding on a commercial construction project. State and federal regulations typically mandate that highway workers wear reflective clothing and hard hats to be more visible to passing traffic and heavy equipment operators. Eye wear and proper respirators should always be worn when spraying paint. Asbestos abatement (removal) always requires protective coveralls and respirators to avoid all contact with asbestos fibers. Welders, or people working in proximity to welders, should protect their eyesight with tinted face shields or goggles and their hands with heat and flame retardant gloves. Hearing protection, either ear plugs or ear muffs, prevents hearing from being impaired from loud noise from heavy equipment and machinery.
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Considerations
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Often workers dislike wearing safety clothing because it can be hot, cumbersome and slow down work progress. However, when the choice is between losing a finger or an eye and being hot during the day, the right decision is to pace the work and drink plenty of water while wearing the protective equipment. Many construction workers wear shorts and sandals on the job, which is fine on small residential projects. On commercial or union jobs, the employer or general contractor has the right and responsibility to insist that employees and subcontractors alike wear proper safety clothing.
Warning
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The employer is liable and responsible for the proper, legal use of safety clothing and can be fined or sued for violations or injuries. Even if the employee is providing his own personal safety clothing, the employer must verify that it is in properly maintained and provides adequate protection. Further, it is the employer's responsibility to ensure that the employee is wearing the safety clothing correctly.
Prevention/Solution
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Construction safety clothing is available in many styles and materials nowadays. Instead of heavy steel toed boots, lightweight, breathable steel toed athletic shoes are suitable for many construction jobs. While old style vinyl reflective clothing made the wearer hot and sweaty, newer materials are breathable while still being reflective and waterproof. Many years ago, hard hats were made of fabric lined metal, but are now available in lighter, safer, space-age plastics. Construction safety clothing is more comfortable and effective than the heavyweight, uncomfortable clothing available in past decades.
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