adjustable pair is key to a snug fit and your best friend when wearing them all day.
With outdoor jobsites, the sun isn’ t just a hazard on the skin, it can severely strain the eyes and compromise an operator’ s ability to work safely. Protecting the eyes from fatigue and keeping vision unobstructed is nonnegotiable when working with heavy machinery.
Clothing Is Also PPE
Moisture-wicking fabrics can also help keep you cool, dry and protected during long hours in the sun. With increased awareness of sunexposure risks, UV-protective gear is becoming a popular choice, with myriad brands offering work shirts, hats and jackets with UPF( Ultraviolet Protection Factor) ratings up to 50 to add an extra layer of protection from the dangers of spending a lifetime working outside.
Respiratory Safety
Every face is different, so finding a mask or respirator that can mold to different face structures is critical because everyone knows; if a mask isn’ t comfortable, it’ s likely no one will wear it.
Respirable crystalline silica can be found at just about every jobsite and inhaling these particles can cause serious health issues later in life without the proper protection. According to the Occupational Health & Safety Administration( OSHA), about 2 million construction workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in over 600,000 workplaces from coast to coast. Using a respirator is necessary if there is a lot of grinding, cutting or sawing at the site.
While crystalline silica dust is a huge respiratory health hazard, it can also be a hazard to the eyes, so snug-fitting glasses are just as important as a snug-fitting respirator or mask.
Week 3: Risk Reduction
Week three of safety month focuses on risk reduction and given that summer is upon us, there is no area more ripe for risk reduction than heatrelated illnesses.
Construction workers, who often work in isolated and inherently dangerous environments, are particularly aware of heat-related illnesses. OSHA reported 2,830 heat-related illnesses in 2022, a number likely underreported due to a lack of awareness and reporting mechanisms. Workers face significant risks due to direct sunlight exposure, limited shade and the physical and cognitive demands of their job— your brain only makes up 2 % of your body weight but uses more than 20 % of your body’ s energy, meaning you don’ t have to be outside slinging sand to get dehydrated on a jobsite.
Understanding the key symptoms of heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can improve safety, morale and will save lives. Heat stress and mild heat exhaustion are fairly easy to treat with a little shade, hydration and rest. However, just as quickly as things can get better— they can turn potentially fatal. Severe cases of heat stroke involve loss of consciousness, seizures and
The color and type of helmet you wear can raise your core body temperature as much as 10 degrees.
10 June 14, 2024 www. contractorshotline. com