PPE – as easy as 1,2,3?

Suitable and sensible protective clothing is a pre-requisite for site safety, as it can provide effective protection against a wide range of hazards. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) makes workers more visible and protects them from cuts, falling debris, noise and other site hazards.

Legally, it’s the employer’s responsibility to provide appropriate PPE to their employees and to make sure it’s worn. Knowing the suitable PPE for a job and how to engage your staff to wear it will help protect your employees from harm and meet your legal requirements of taking all practicable steps to ensure safety on site.

What to wear?

It’s important to consider that each task has specific PPE requirements associated with it and that PPE selection also depends on the ever-changing construction environment.

There are some basics that should be considered and implemented on site:

High-Vis

A ‘must’ on site, especially around moving plant. Stay away from chevron tops, as they are specifically for the forestry industry. Make sure your high-vis garments meet the New Zealand standards, in particular AS/NZS4602:1999. 

Footwear

Steel-capped boots are another ‘must’ on site. The nature of a construction site produces debris and falling objects, so covering your feet is a priority.

Hard hat

Protects against falling objects and UV exposure. Hard hats are a ‘must’ and can incorporate face shields, respirators, hearing protection and work lights. Make sure your hard hat can be easily seen from afar, has a chin strap and is stored in a cool, dry place. Paint and stickers will weaken the shell and also hide signs of deterioration.

PPE is determined by environment, task and tool; however, some other PPE you could also consider making mandatory are:

Earmuffs/earplugs

Compressors, concrete mixers, circular saws or tools that require you to shout to be heard warrant ear protection.

Eye glasses/goggles

It only takes a small fragment or splinter to cause irreparable eye damage. Prescription eye protection is essential for those with impaired eye sight. Always wear these when compressed air, hazardous substances, cartridge fired tools, power tools, power washers or hand tools are in use.

Gloves

When purchasing personal protective equipment from your safety store, be sure to discuss what activities you will be doing, so that you can be sure you are wearing the most appropriate gear. For example, when handling chemicals, Nitrile-coated gear provides excellent chemical protection and compound resistance but will not meet all of your chemical protection needs. Be sure to consult the product’s material safety data sheet and the relevant legislative guidance.

Always wear appropriate protective equipment

Even for short jobs. Be prepared to swap or add clothing as required for specific tasks. Over time, PPE can become worn/damaged, so it’s important to monitor and keep on top of it and replace if necessary.

So, why not wear it?

PPE is important on site, so why do we see workers not wearing it? Some possible reasons are:

Availability/cost – employers not providing PPE.

Maintenance of PPE – no one wants to wear dirty or broken gear.

Forgetfulness – PPE use is not monitored or encouraged.

Wearing safety gear should be ‘common sense’, but defining what ‘common sense’ is and having safety at the forefront of people’s minds can be difficult.

Consider using Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)’s ‘Four E’s’ – Educate, Enable, Engage and Enforce – to encourage employees to use safety gear and clothing. The first three are about giving employees the opportunity to participate in health and safety decisions. This also gives you an opportunity to develop relationships and show staff you care about their health and safety.

The four ‘E’s

Educate – Explain to your employees the effects of the different hazards on site and how PPE can protect you. Toolbox talks are a very helpful way of educating your staff.

Enable – It is an employer’s responsibility to provide PPE, so make sure it fits well and is appropriate for the task at hand.

Engage – Talk to your staff. Why are they not wearing their PPE? Give employees a chance to express their viewpoint and see what can be changed to get them to wear their PPE. And remember, are you wearing yours?

Enforce – Finally, if all else fails, explain that the law requires you to provide gear that protects employees against hazards that can’t be controlled in any other way.

About SITE SAFE

Site Safe NZ Inc is a not-for-profit, industry-led organisation, that promotes a culture of safety in the New Zealand construction and related industries.

For more information about Site Safe NZ Inc, our products and services, or to speak to a Safety Advisor, then contact us on 0800 SITE SAFE or visit our website at www.sitesafe.org.nz