Article - Protective Clothing in Construction
29 Oct 2019
The Most Important Protective Clothing Required for the Construction Industry
While South Africa’s economy may have taken a dip, the construction industry in South Africa is thriving with new projects and developments. With construction season in full swing, and as smaller emerging start-ups open their doors, we must remind employees that they need to adhere to the correct protective clothing regulations required for the job at hand.
Anything can go wrong on a worksite. In fact, each year, hundreds of workers are injured because of construction accidents that could have been prevented with the correct protective gear. The reality is that businesses cannot afford to leave themselves open to fines, jail terms, or the risk of liquidation because they did not conform to the necessary PPE specifications.
As one of the most dangerous jobs, construction workers must suit up, and every employer must provide the correct clothing for their workers at the company’s expense. Not only is it the law, but it saves lives. Besides having all the correct fall protection equipment, protect your investment and your workers with these important protective clothing requirements.
Prevent Head, Facial, Hearing, and Lung Injuries
Health and safety risks are not only limited to slipping, tripping, falling, and head injuries from falling equipment. Construction sites frequently have harmful projectiles flying around them, causing head injuries, facial burns, and permanent eye damage. Along with safety helmets that protect the head from shock, collision, impact, and flying objects and debris, keep eyes covered with splash or safety goggles or full-face shields and visors when cutting, grinding, or chipping. Given the constant contact with loud noises and machinery, hearing protection and respiratory protection should also be used.
Get the Footwear Right
Almost 90% of accidents in the workplace are caused by slipping and impact, resulting in breaks, deep cuts, electrical shocks, puncture wounds, or burns. From safety toed shoes, steel insole shoes, metal instep shoes, metatarsal shoes, and electric hazard shoes to water-resistant and heat-resistant shoes, make sure to choose the right type that meets the specific demands of the construction environment.
Protect the Hands and Skin
Along with the feet, the hands and fingers are two of the greatest tools of the human body. But in the construction industry, hands get cut, broken, and even amputated. While standard gloves will not protect your workers from severe forms of injury, rubber or leather chainmail, cut-resistant, chainsaw, and heat-resistant gloves will do a lot to keep your workers protected from vibrations, sharp materials, chemicals, electricity, and extreme cold or heat.
As our economy faces uncertainty, budgets tighten, leaving many businesses faced with the challenge of finding the right protective clothing at prices they can afford. While it all comes down to budget, it also comes down to worker safety, and that is where XCO Group outrivals. As one of the largest sports, corporate, and protective clothing wholesale networks in Africa, servicing hundreds of private and corporate organisations throughout South Africa and Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, we give you quality protective clothing at prices you can afford.