HEALTH AND SAFETY

SAYED YUSUF
INTRODUCTION
The construction industry has extremely high
numbers of accidents reported each year, a lot of
these could be minimized with the use of correct
PPE. Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Every individual construction site and job duty
should be evaluated for specific and unique
dangers, and appropriate personal protective
equipment required. Some common classes of
hazards at construction sites with risks that
can be mitigated with appropriated PPE
include electrical, fall, chemical, harmful
dust, struck-by, penetration, caught-in and
caught-between, rollover, and heat.
It’s important that workers use
PPE that is properly fitted.
Each piece should stay on
securely without causing
discomfort or limited mobility;
clothing and other items
should not be loose, as this
creates dangers for tripping,
getting caught in moving
parts, etc
Personal Protected Equipment
Hard hats
These are essential at most construction sites. They protect
against head injuries related to swinging or falling objects, striking
the head against something, or accidental head contact with an
electrical hazard. Hard hats should be inspected for dents,
cracks, and other damage prior to each use; damaged ones
should never be worn.
Foot protection
This often refers to steel-toe boots. Work boots
should be worn on site that protect against crushed
toes due to heavy or falling equipment or materials.
They also need puncture-resistant, nonslip soles, as
work surfaces can have sharp objects on them, and
slips are a major hazard at the job site.
Hand protection
Different types of work gloves are best suited to particular
tasks and risks at construction sites. For example, there
are heavy-duty leather and canvas gloves for protecting
against cuts and burns, welding gloves for welders,
heavy-duty rubber gloves for working with concrete,
insulated gloves with sleeves for working with electric
hazards, and chemical-resistant gloves for working with
chemical agents.
Work pants and work shirts  
Workers should protect their full legs, full arms, and
torso against cuts, scrapes, burns, and other
superficial injuries with thick, flexible work pants
and shirts. These should fit closely and never be
baggy, while allowing for maximum mobility.
Face and/or eye protection
Safety glasses or face shields should be worn whenever
there is a danger of flying debris or harmful dust getting
in the eyes. Cutting, grinding, welding, chipping, and
nailing are some activities that necessitate protective
eyewear. Along with basic safety glasses, some other
protective wear for the face include welding shields,
chemical splash goggles, and dust goggles
Hearing protection
Chainsaws, jackhammers, and other tools and heavy
equipment create noise levels that can damage
workers’ hearing—particularly with prolonged exposure.
Pre-molded or formable ear plugs are usually the best
bet, but acoustic foam-lined ear muffs that tightly seal
against the head can work well to
Reflective/high-visibility garments 
Brightly colored and/or reflective jackets, vests, or
other upper-body clothing is important for worker
visibility. It’s generally advisable to wear it at all times
at a job site, but it’s especially crucial along active
roadways, in low lighting, and for dusk and nighttime
work. In certain circumstances, it’s mandated by
OSHA.
Hazards Types: -

1) Eyes ( Chemical or metal splashing)

2) Head and Neck ( Falling objects and
electricity)
3) Ears ( Noise )
4) Hand and Arms (Extreme temperature, cuts,
chemicals, electricity, impact)
5) Foot and Legs ( Slipping, cuts, falling objects,
electricity)
The law
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work
Regulations 2022 amend the 1992 Regulations
to extend employers’ and employees’ duties in
respect of PPE to a wider group of workers
Reference: -

• Hse.gov.uk. 2022. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). [online] Available at:

<https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/ppe.htm> [Accessed 1 February 2022].
• Cpdonline.co.uk. 2022. PPE In Construction | Importance, Requirements & Risk Assessment.
[online] Available at: <https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/health-and-safety/ppe-in-
construction/> [Accessed 1 February 2022].
• Group, T., 2022. Basic Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Construction Workers. [online]
Trekker Group. Available at: <https://www.trekkergroup.com/basic-personal-protective-
equipment-ppe-construction-workers/> [Accessed 1 February 2022].
• 2022. [online] Available at:
<https://www.osha.gov/personal-protective-equipment/construction> [Accessed 1
February 2022].
• The Structural World | A Structural Engineering Blog. 2022. Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) in Construction | The Structural World. [online] Available at:
<https://www.thestructuralworld.com/2019/05/09/personal-protective-equipment-ppe-in-
construction/?amp> [Accessed 1 February 2022].