Stay safe from head to toe

Your grey matter matters. If your working conditions involve a risk of impact, head protection such as a safety helmet or bump cap is indispensable. Which one is most suitable depends on the specific risk entailed by the activities being carried out.

The longer an object falls, the higher its eventual impact. To absorb the shock of impact, safety helmets consist of a hard outer shell with suspension inside. This combination makes a safety helmet most suitable for situations where there’s a risk of falling objects. The maximum lifespan of the outer shell is 5 years, but only 12 months for the suspension.

Bump caps, on the other hand, are not designed to be worn around falling objects. A bump cap is ideal when the wearer is at risk of striking their head against an object above them. This might happen, for example, when working underneath a vehicle. Bump caps don’t have a specific lifespan, but if the cap suddenly moves or bends in an unusual way, then a replacement is needed.

 
Depending on the working conditions, there are several options for the composition of safety glasses:

• Impact-resistant lenses protect against flying objects and are ideal for working around power tools;
• Scratch-resistant lenses provide protection against dust and debris;
• In general, it’s a good idea to subject the lenses to an anti-fog treatment, especially when working in dirty environments;
• A higher degree of protection can be achieved with wrap-around glasses or safety goggles since they give the best coverage. They are also a good solution for people who wear prescription glasses.

It’s important to note that one option does not exclude the other. For example, anti-fog treatment can be applied to both impact-resistant and scratch-resistant lenses.

 
Although it may seem harmless, even brief exposure to high noise levels can cause permanent hearing loss. That is why choosing the right hearing protection is vital. If loud noises are only occasional, reusable (moulded) earplugs usually suffice. That solution is also preferable in warm working conditions. If the loud noises are persistent, however, ear muffs are the better option. They are available with various degrees of noise reduction and can be equipped with a radio system. 

While comfort is important for all PPE, it’s even more essential for hearing protection. Not only should it fit perfectly, but also be 100% adapted to the situation in which it is used. If the earplugs or earmuffs don’t provide adequate noise reduction, any amount of protection is nullified. But there is no point in overkill either. Completely shutting out environmental noises can lead to dangerous situations in which you can’t hear general warning signs and alarms, or the beeping of construction equipment backing up.

The lifespan of both earplugs and earmuffs depends on many (external) factors. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for an indication of the recommended replacement frequency.

Protective gloves should always be chosen in function of the specific tasks at hand. Some of the options are:

PU palm gloves

This type of glove provides basic protection against punctures. They offer a high level of grip, but PU palm gloves also allow the wearer to carry out fine and precise jobs. This makes them suitable for handling small parts in various industries, such as construction, metalwork, automotive, etc.

ECO-cut gloves

ECO-cut gloves are not ideal for precision work, but they do provide a high level of comfort, dexterity and grip. In that way, these gloves are perfectly suitable for general tasks in dirty environments and for working with oily substances (e.g. during maintenance).

Anti-impact grip gloves

When maximum impact protection is required, anti-impact grip gloves are the ideal choice. They also give the wearer a high level of grip, even in less-than-ideal conditions such as near water, grease or oil. The downside is that they aren’t suitable for precision work.

Blue powder-free nitrile gloves

While many gloves are reusable, this type is designed to be discarded after use. They don’t offer a high level of puncture protection, but act as a barrier against contaminants. Their textured finish provides enhanced fingertip grip and dexterity in wet and dry conditions. That’s why they are commonly used to work with electronics, oil, cleaning solutions, etc.

Green nitrile gloves with sandy palm dip

Working in wet and oily environments wreaks havoc on hands, so protective gloves are vital. Thanks to the palm dip, these gloves provide a secure grip and resist abrasions. They are also equipped with a comfortable liner, meaning they can be worn for longer periods of time.

TIG welding gloves

As their name suggests, these gloves are meant to be used by welders. They protect the wearer against extreme heat, electrical shocks, infrared radiation and physical cuts. In addition, welding gloves are designed in such a way that they improve the welder’s grip.

 
Poor footwear can lead to foot and back pain. Safety shoes must therefore provide the right support and protect the wearer from the hazards of the working environment. As a general rule, safety shoes always have reinforced toe caps made out of steel, composite or aluminium. Next to the toe caps, the shoes can also be equipped with a hardened midsole (to prevent punctures) and/or an anti-slip tread.

When picking out safety shoes, one can choose either a high-cut or a low-cut pair. The former provides better support around the ankle and the Achilles tendon, while the latter allows more ankle freedom and is hence more comfortable if the wearer kneels a lot. Since safety shoes are usually worn day in and day out, they should be replaced at least once a year. But particularly heavy use may necessitate earlier replacement.

Signalisation clothes

When working on construction sites, in traffic, in maintenance, etc., it is important to be seen at all times. This can be achieved with signalisation clothes, whereby the combination of the fluorescent background material with retroreflective strips on top ensures that the wearer is visible in all (weather) conditions.

Signalisation clothes are divided into three visibility classes, according to the minimally required surface area of the fluorescent background material and retroreflective strips:

• Class 1: lowest level of visibility
• Class 2: intermediate level of visibility
• Class 3: highest level of visibility 

By combining clothing of different classes, it is possible to achieve a lower or higher visibility class for the whole outfit:

Fall protection

When working at height, for instance with a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP) or with a telehandler used as a MEWP, fall protection is essential. It gives the wearer all the freedom of movement needed to complete the task while protecting them from falling. A fall protection kit consists of the following components:

• A full body harness, which should always fit well,
• Anchor devices, to be attached to the correct anchor points on the MEWP or telehandler,
• Coupling or connecting devices, such as a shock-absorbing lanyard.

HARNESS ON™

To further improve operator safety, add Harness ON™ to the fall protection kit. Harness ON™ is an intelligent anchor point that is permanently shackled to the MEWP’s anchor point and is electronically wired to the machine’s function controls. Until the operator clips a carabiner to the inductive ring of the Harness ON™, effectively connecting their harness to the machine, the MEWP won’t function. It’s an easy-to-use solution that doesn’t affect the operator’s work but has a big impact on safety. Moreover, Harness ON™ complies with EU and ANSI standards and is compatible with all machines.