The construction industry is a high-risk working environment that requires construction workers to be equipped with the right personal protective equipment (also known as PPE) in order to stay safe on the job.
From falling debris to heavy machinery, construction sites are usually home to a wide range of hazards, and PPE is a must-have barrier that prevents accidents and injuries.
As a buyer, it’s important for you to have a thorough understanding of the different types of PPE available, how to select the right PPE gear for your use cases, and how to properly use and maintain it.
This guide to sourcing and buying the best PPE for construction workers will provide you with all the information you need to make a well-informed decision and ensure that your workers can perform their jobs safely.
Here is what you are about to read:
- What PPE Is Used In Construction?
- How To Select The Right PPE For Your Construction Site?
- How To Use And Maintain PPE For Construction Workers?
- Who Are The Best Construction PPE Suppliers In Europe?
What PPE Is Used In Construction?
Personal protective equipment is an umbrella term that includes plenty of product categories that cater to many industries. So, before you start sourcing the right PPE gear for your construction site, it’s important for you to understand what are the main product categories to choose from.
The main PPE categories for construction workers are:
- Hard hats: they are a type of head protection worn on construction sites to protect workers from head injuries caused by falling objects or electrical hazards.
- Safety glasses: they are a type of eye protection worn on construction sites to protect workers from flying debris, dust, and other eye hazards.
- Hearing protectors: they’re worn on construction sites to protect workers from loud noises that can cause hearing damage. This type of PPE comes in the form of earplugs or earmuffs and should be chosen based on the specific noise levels present on the job site.
- Respirators: they’re a type of PPE worn on construction sites to protect workers from inhaling harmful substances such as dust, fumes, and vapours.
- High-visibility clothing: it’s worn on construction sites to improve the visibility of workers and increase their safety. This type of PPE includes vests, jackets, and other clothing items with reflective tape or bright colours.
- Protective gloves: they’re a type of hand protection worn on construction sites to protect workers from cuts, bruises, and other hand injuries. They come in a variety of styles and materials and should be chosen based on the specific hazards present on the construction site and the type of work being performed (more of this later).
- Safety shoes: they’re a type of foot protection worn on construction sites to protect workers from falling objects or other foot hazards.
- Fall protectors: they’re used on construction sites to protect workers from falling from heights. This type of PPE includes harnesses, lanyards, and other equipment used in fall arrest systems.
These are the main categories you should focus on when sourcing PPE supplies for your construction workers. In the next section, we will walk you through 4 best practices to follow in order to find the best PPE gear for your construction site.
How To Select The Right PPE For Your Construction Site?
With a wide range of options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best PPE gear for your construction workers. However, there are 4 key factors to consider to ensure that the PPE you choose is effective in protecting workers on your construction site.
- First of all, it’s important to understand the specific hazards present on your construction site as different PPE gear is designed to protect against specific dangers. For example, if your workers are operating in a dusty environment, respirators may be necessary to protect them from inhaling harmful particles. Or are your workers on the construction site in low light or nighttime conditions? In this case, high-visibility clothing is something that should never miss from your PPE inventory. Plus, cut-resistant gloves, hard hats, hearing protectors, safety glasses and safety shoes are other must-have PPE gears. You can read more about them in our previous blog post: Keeping Workers Safe: how to select the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- Consider the comfort of your workers when selecting PPE gear. While protection is the most important factor, workers are more likely to wear PPE gear if it is comfortable and easy to use. Make sure to choose gear that is well-fitted, not too heavy, and allows workers to move freely and perform their tasks effectively.
- Assess the durability of the PPE gear. Construction work can be tough, and PPE gear will take a beating. It’s important to choose gear that is made from high-quality materials and built to last. This not only helps to ensure that the gear is effective in protecting workers, but it also helps to reduce the costs associated with replacing PPE gear on a regular basis.
- Finally, when operating in Europe, it’s important to select PPE gear that meets European safety standards. So, when choosing your PPE for construction workers, look for gear that is CE-marked, are don’t forget to read more about EU PPE regulations for industrial safety and compliance.
All things considered, choosing the right PPE gear for your construction site is only the first step to ensuring a safe environment for your workers. The next step is to follow the correct procedures for usage and maintenance.
We’ll take a closer look at this in the next section.
How To Use And Maintain PPE For Construction Workers?
As we anticipated, procuring the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) it’s just the beginning.
In order for your PPE supplies to effectively protect workers, they must be properly used and maintained. Plus, your workers must be able to understand when it’s time to replace them.
When it comes to the right usage, construction workers should know how to correctly put on and take off the gear, as well as how to properly store and clean it. Improper use of PPE can reduce its effectiveness, so make sure that your workers are well-trained. Only think about a hard hat that is too big or not securely fastened, safety glasses that are so scratched they don’t provide full visibility, ear plugs that are not properly sealed – the list goes on and on.
Regular inspections and maintenance of personal protective equipment will also help you ensure that the gear is in good working order. As a rule of thumb, it should be part of your construction workers’ daily tasks to inspect their PPE before each use, checking for signs of wear, damage, or degradation. If any issues are found, the gear should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
If you want to read more on how to follow the right PPE procedure, check our blog post: From Usage to Disposal: A Complete Guide to PPE Procedures.
We’ve already briefly touched upon the importance of choosing personal protective equipment that is compliant with EU Regulations for personal protective equipment. In the next section, we will list some of the most trusted European suppliers of construction PPE. Make sure to check them out.
Who Are The Best Construction PPE Suppliers In Europe?
When looking for construction PPE suppliers, you should consider factors such as product quality, range of products available, compliance with European safety regulations, and pricing. Of course, finding trusted construction PPE suppliers committed to providing high-quality PPE products that meet the necessary quality and safety standards without breaking the bank can be quite a challenge.
To help you out, here is a list of 4 of our top-rated European PPE suppliers. Their products are well-known for being high quality, affordable, tested, and designed to meet the latest EU PPE regulations.
- Portwest: browse their PPE catalogue
- Tegera: browse their PPE gloves catalogue
- Nitras: browse their PPE catalogue
- Fristads: browse their PPE catalogue
If you have any questions or you’d like to receive a custom quote, we warmly recommend getting in touch with our experts.
Conclusion
When it comes to finding the best construction PPE suppliers, you must consider factors such as product quality, range of products available, and pricing, as well as ensure compliance with European safety regulations. Also remember that your workers should be well-trained on how to properly use and maintain their PPE, as well as recognise when a piece of protective equipment has to be replaced.
Next, we invite you to check Droppe’s database of 100+ top-rated European suppliers and their wide range of high-quality PPE products that meet industry standards and regulations. Browse our catalogue to find the best PPE supplies for your use case, or check out these well-known PPE suppliers: Portwest, Tegera, Nitras, and Fristads. If you already have a list of products in mind, do not hesitate to reach out to our experts for a custom offer tailored to your needs.
