Construction Work Outfits And PPE – Health And Safety Issues In The United States Building Trade.

November 3, 2009

By system

In the United States of America, responsibilities for Health And Safety issues in the workplace come under the remit of the United States Department of Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In the construction sector there is also further input provided by an Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH), this is an independent committee that provides an additional insight to OSHA on construction industry safety matters. normally when a risk assessment has been undertaken and it has been noted that PPE is required for the employees, little consideration has gone into the following issues:

1. Is it suitable for the risks involved and appropriate for the environment in which it will be employed?
2. Does it prevent or sufficiently control the risks involved without boosting risk in other areas?
3. Are there any health issues that may prevent employees from using this personal protective equipment?
4. Is the PPE or equipment available in sizes to suit all employees regardless of gender or size?

If these simple questions had been asked there would not have been the outcry twenty years ago from many people within the construction industry in the USA, certainly the women involved in the construction industry were responsible for raising numerous valid arguments to NIOSH, The National Institute for Occupational Health And Safety, although regrettably, many of the problems they brought to light have yet to be addressed in a satisfactory manner. with regards to PPE the women stated that there were seldom any smaller sizes available suitable for them to wear, this issue could have swiftly been rectified if comfort and fit had been considered at all by the company buyer who is responsible for PPE, fit is actually a very critical factor with PPE such as breathing apparatus, poorly fitting PPE does not give adequate protection.

Over sized clothing is a hazard in itself! But most employers only stated that they were meeting the legislation requirements and that the women were complaining on cosmetic issues instead of on occupational safety issues. Clothing or equipment that is not the correct size, or does not fit correctly can compromise safety, it can become caught in machinery causing the wearer to be dragged in, and it can also cause a trip hazard. If the clothing is of a protective nature it may also function inefficiently and could for that reason prove unfit for the purpose for which it was designed. A report by NIOSH themselves even stated that “Poor fit can compromise the protection offered by garments or equipment”. This lack of adequate PPC and PPE can give rise to severe safety and health risks for men of smaller sizes and women who rely on protective clothing and gear to keep them safe on a daily basis.

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