Personal Protective Equipment on the Construction Site

Safety on the Construction Site with PPE

PPE is more than everyday work clothing - it serves not only as a uniform, but rather to protect the wearer from hazards and hazardous substances. Heat-resistant clothing, weather-protective clothing, chemical protection clothing, machine protection suits, flame-resistant suits and welding protection suits are all considered standard protective equipment.

On the construction site, wearing appropriate protective clothing is absolutely necessary. Hard hats, safety shoes and protective gloves should be available to every worker and are part of the mandatory standard equipment. Depending on which construction machinery you work with and at what height the work is performed, so-called PPE against Falls (Personal Protective Equipment against Falls) is also used - for example, if you rent height access technology from klarx, you must always wear PPE against falls.

PPE and Occupational Safety – Obligation for Employees and Employers

PPE is firmly anchored in employee protection by an EU regulation and has been adjusted and expanded several times over the years. Since April 2018, new requirements have applied that give employers greater legal certainty by involving manufacturers and retailers more in responsibility. The obligation to wear PPE comes into force when other measures to reduce hazards and guarantee safety must be excluded for good reasons (§ 4 ArbSchG). These measures are anchored in the Operating Safety Regulation.

According to European guidelines, a distinction is made between PPE Category 1, 2 and 3. Protective equipment used on construction sites falls into Category 2. The employer is obliged to provide the employee with properly fitting protective clothing. It is important that the protective clothing is warm, weatherproof and breathable depending on the season. Additionally, it should be clearly visible - high-visibility vests are indispensable on any construction site!

Discover our machinery selection

Training in the Use of Personal Protective Equipment

Employees must know exactly how to properly wear personal protective equipment. That is why it is legally required that employers inform their employees at regular intervals (once a year) about its use and provide them with important information. Specialists or safety supervisors can also conduct these training sessions. Special training is required for PPE against Falls, which must also include practical exercises.

Renting Construction Machinery – Which Protective Equipment Must You Wear

Fall Arrest Harnesses

Fall arrest harnesses should be worn when working on roofs, in construction, or when working on mobile elevated work platforms. You should pay attention to the EN361 standard, as it specifies the minimum requirements for fall arrest harnesses. In general, you should wear PPE against Falls during any height access technology work and inquire with your employer about availability.

Hard Hat

A hard hat protects you from materials falling on the construction site. Without a helmet, there is a life-threatening risk on construction sites: tools, stones and other objects can slip from your hand and falling from height can seriously injure workers. Hard hats according to DIN EN 397 and EN 14052 are the two types used on construction sites, with industrial hard hats according to DIN EN 397 being mandatory. Whether you rent a mini excavator or vibratory plates from klarx, don't forget your hard hat!

Hearing Protection

Noise is one of the insidious health hazards and causes not only psychological stress but can also lead to deafness. Continuous noise on construction sites is particularly damaging to the ears. That is why it is important that every construction worker wears hearing protection above a daily noise exposure level of 80 dB(A). Comfort of wear and communication between team members are also important. When using pneumatic devices, such as construction compressors, hearing protection should be worn.

Safety Glasses

To protect the eyes from dust and health-hazardous liquids, construction workers should always wear safety glasses. In addition to equipment features such as lens width, sun protection, size, coating, etc., the standard and the associated protection class are two important factors you should consider when selecting your safety glasses. Further details and information on eye protection can be found on the following page: https://www.bgbau.de/fileadmin/Medien-Objekte/Medien/DGUV-Regeln/112_192.pdf

Respiratory Protection

To protect airways from dust or even toxic substances on the construction site, respiratory protection masks are important. Especially when milling building materials, particles can enter the airways and become a hazard. As a rule, respiratory protection masks are divided into three categories, which filter particles completely or partially depending on filter strength. Further information can be found in DGUV Rule 112-190.

Gloves

Hand injuries happen quickly on construction sites - that is why it is important to wear appropriate protective gloves. For mechanical risks and assembly work, gloves that are cut-resistant and bear a hammer symbol, which guarantees protection against impact, are recommended. A four-digit number code indicates how abrasion-resistant, cut-resistant, tear-resistant and puncture-resistant the glove is - the higher the number, the better protection the glove provides in the respective area.

Safety Shoes

On the construction site, sturdy shoes with steel caps should always be worn. Steel caps protect against heavy materials that may fall on the foot. Traction safety and grip on slippery ground are two other features that make safety shoes an important part of PPE. This allows you to work safely even at great heights. You can identify the right safety shoes according to the EN ISO 20345 standard.

klarx explicitly points out that wearing appropriate PPE is absolutely necessary and must be monitored by the employer. This is the only way to prevent injuries and hazards on the construction site.