Safety on the job site is more important than ever. To keep workers safe, you cannot overlook any precaution. All construction safety products play an equal part in keeping workers and civilians safe.
Hygiene
Keeping hands clean is the number one way to stop the spread of illness. These two construction safety products are great for cleaning hands on a construction job site:
- Portable Sinks: No plumbing or running water? No problem! Portable sinks are available with or without a hot water heater and can hold up to 5 gallons of water. All that you need is a standard outlet to plug it into.
- Hand Sanitizer Station: If portable sinks aren’t feasible, hand sanitizer stations are the next best thing. Look for a stable and easily movable design. The best places for hand sanitizer stations are by communal areas like entrances, exits, latrines, and break rooms.
Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) safeguards workers from contagious illnesses as well as worker injury.
- COVID-19 PPE: Personal protection against COVID-19 includes face masks, gloves, and KN95 respirators.
- Injury Prevention PPE: Listed below—from head to toe—are the areas of the body your workers need to protect:
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- Head (hard hats, safety helmets)
- Eyes (safety glasses, eye wear lanyards)
- Ears (ear plugs, headphones)
- Face (face shields, respirators, dust masks, welding and metal pouring masks)
- Body (safety harnesses, hi-visibility vests and jackets)
- Hands (gloves for welding, cut protection, and general protection)
- Feet (boots)
Fire Protection
Fire extinguishers and detectors are well-known construction safety products. However, you may not know about material that is fire-resistant, such as:
- Scaffold tarp
- Reinforced woven poly
- 4 mil poly
If your job site includes areas where sparks from welding and other equipment is common, these materials are worth looking into.
Gas Detection and Storage
Cabinets for storing gasoline are a must on the job site, both for security reasons and fire prevention. Besides being fire resistant, some cabinets are available with locks. Once they’re protected in a cabinet, you can store them in convenient areas, like next to where they are needed!
Another construction safety product, the fire extinguisher stand, prominently displays and lifts the flame retardant container, making it more visible and accessible. If you don’t use a stand, you can mount extinguishers vertically or horizontally on the wall to keep them in reach.
Also, if your work trailer or office is located close to heavy equipment, fire detectors that include a carbon monoxide alarm are recommended.
Ladders
At first, ladders might not seem like a construction safety product. However, they help workers reach the heights they need without stretching or getting off-balance. Make sure you get the right ladder for the task:
- Step ladders: These A-shaped ladders are typically made of fiberglass. They’re non-conductive and safe for doing electrical work. Some ladders have slots at the top to hold your tools, which removes the need to wear a clunky toolbelt.
- Twin-step ladders: A close cousin of the step ladder, the twin-step allows two people to climb at once from either side of the ladder. They are usually made of fiberglass.
- Extension ladders: Taller extension ladders can reach up to 40 feet. Although this is quite long, the aluminum material keeps them durable and easy to carry. You can also find extension ladders made of fiberglass.
- Podium ladders: The podium ladder has a large platform at the top, which makes it easier for standing for longer periods of time. Some are available with a safety rail to prevent falls or have slots to hold tools.
Safety Tip: Use construction storage to keep construction safety products secure and easily available. They’re available in many sizes to serve as simple tool storage areas or as an entire mobile office.
Lighting
The right kind of light can help prevent tripping and other accidents. Your lighting needs can vary from simple LED light strings to towable light towers. The great thing about these types of safety construction products is that they’re all portable!
When stocking up on lighting, remember replacement bulbs, power cords, and adapters. You’ll also want to consider if you’ll need to supplement the energy source with power blocks or wiring devices.
Fencing
Construction fencing is the literal barrier between the job site and civilians. With so many people walking and driving in a distracted manner nowadays, a strong safety fence could save someone’s life.
Additionally, depending on your location and the season, a snow fence can be an important construction safety product. It keeps snow from drifting into work areas, where it can cause workers to slide and slip.
Caution Signage
Along with fencing, safety signage keeps civilians safe by directing them away from construction areas. However, it also keeps workers alert to danger by pointing out hazardous areas (with caution tape) and the edge of upper-level structures (with perimeter flagging).
Safety Tip:
You never have too much experience to learn more! To keep safety high on the list, check out safety training classes.
Simple But Necessary Safety Items
Some construction safety products are so common that you may not realize you’ve run out of them or they’ve worn out. This includes items like first aid kits, flashlights, and two-way radios.
Eyewash stations may be required on your job site depending on the chemicals that you use. If snowy, inclement weather is common in your area, make sure you stock up on ice melt. And finally, to protect workers from shocks caused by worn wiring, make sure you have electrical tape on hand.
Safety Experts Standing By
To successfully complete a job, you need to be fully prepared to perform any task within OSHA regulations. By doing so, you’ll keep employees as safe as possible.
The Pro Group stocks hundreds of ANSI-approved construction safety products. We’d love to show you more about construction safety best practices and provide advice on how to efficiently maintain a safe environment. If you have questions or a specific need, contact us online or call your sales rep.
