Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is designed to protect employees from workplace hazards. PPE includes items such as hard hats, eye and face protection, hearing protection, respiratory protection, gloves, fall protection equipment, and specialized clothing. All required PPE will be provided to employees at no cost.
PPE requirements will be reviewed during project orientation. Once trained, employees are responsible for maintaining their PPE in safe working condition and must inspect it daily.
Certain PPE may be issued for specific tasks or projects. When equipment is assigned, employees are responsible for its care and must return it in reasonable condition at the end of the project. (See Fall Protection Manual for additional requirements.)
PPE Requirements
Hard Hats
Hard hats are required on all projects where applicable. They must meet ANSI standards and be properly labeled.
Eye Protection
Eye protection is required at all times. Tasks with a higher risk of eye injury—such as welding, chipping, grinding, or using chop saws—require additional eye and/or face protection as specified in the task-specific Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).
Hearing Protection
Hearing protection is required when noise levels exceed 85 dBA (when you must raise your voice to be heard). Only clean earplugs or approved hearing protection devices should be used.
Respiratory Protection
Dust masks are strongly encouraged when working in dusty environments. In situations where respiratory hazards are present, respirator use will be required, and a job-specific respiratory protection program will be implemented.
Hand Protection (Gloves)
Appropriate gloves must be worn at all times to protect against cuts, abrasions, and chemical exposure. Use the gloves specified in the task-specific JHA or as indicated by the product Safety Data Sheet (SDS). Contact the Safety Department if guidance is needed.
Fall Protection
Fall protection is required for any work with a fall exposure of six feet or greater—no exceptions. Proper training and a fall protection plan must be in place prior to use.
Footwear
Work boots are required on all job sites. Boots should be durable, non-permeable, and provide ankle support. Steel-toe boots may be required for certain tasks. Romeos, tennis shoes, and cloth boots are not permitted.
High Visibility Apparel (Hi-Vis)
All employees must wear high-visibility shirts or safety vests on construction sites. Acceptable colors include safety orange or green. When working around heavy equipment or in low-light conditions, Type II high-visibility apparel with reflective striping is required.