Tips for Choosing the Right Job Site Safety Equipment
Regardless of your job title, your health and safety should always come first. Industries like construction and electrical engineering are known for being dangerous, and to protect yourself from the many hazards lying in wait, you need personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear on-site. But it's not always easy to tell what you should look for in PPE. This guide explores four tips for choosing the right job site safety equipment.
Threat Level
How risky is the job you're doing? A construction worker operating heavy-duty construction machinery near high speed traffic will need higher level PPE than a stagehand lugging around heavy boxes. They'll also need different types of PPE. A construction worker will need a helmet, hearing protection, possibly Class 3 Hi-vis clothing and eye protection—the full get-up. Meanwhile, a hard hat, gloves and a Class 2 vest would likely suffice for a stagehand. When choosing your PPE, consider the task you are doing and how risky the job is. Then, you can determine the equipment that’s best suited to the job at hand.
Comfort Level
Safety is important, but so is your comfort. If you're uncomfortable while you work, you'll get less done and may even become less alert. Because of this, you want to try and balance these qualities as best you can.
The best way to stay comfortable without compromising safety is to not go overboard. Consider your risk level carefully and choose PPE that suits that risk. If you're working 10–12 feet off the ground, you don't need heavy armor, just a good, reliable harness.
Sizing
Our next tip for choosing the right job site safety equipment is to pay close attention to the size and fit. Garments that are too tight can limit your freedom of movement, while garments that are too loose can get caught or pose a tripping hazard.
Climate
The PPE you purchase needs to be suitable for the climate you're working in. If you’re working in mid-summer with sunny weather and scorching temps, heavy garments can cause you to overheat; conversely, wearing light clothes in brutal winter weather can increase your risk of contracting frostbite and hypothermia.
If you need high-quality, reliable workplace safety equipment, come see what Concert Shop has to offer. From harnesses and vests to pants and more, we have a wide range of PPE available from trusted brands like Blaklader Workwear, Jackson Safety and Fusion.