Construction & Built Environment Level 3

Unit 1. Health , Safety and welfare in construction and the Built Environment

Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Personal Protective Equipment may include:

- Waterproof clothes (Keep you warm and dry & prevent muscle strains)
- Safety Helmets/ Hard Hats (Help protect your head from injury)
- Safety Boots/ Safety Gloves (Protect your feet and hands from injury
- Safety Goggles (Help protect your eyes from injury)
- Ear Defenders (Help protect your ears from injury)

• Guidance on any PPE requirements for a job will always be found in the
Risk Assessment and Method Statement for a particular task
Head Protection - Hard Hats
• Hard Hats must be worn on site if you are at any risk of head injury

• Hard Hats may only be removed if you are working

in a safe area such as the site office

• Hard Hats must never be used if they have been

dropped from height to a hard surface as there may
be hairline cracks in the hat that you cannot see

• Hard Hats must be worn at all times and only in the correct way…
Hard Hats
• When working on site, Hard Hats must always be worn

• Hard Hats must only be worn square on the head, never at an angle

• Hard Hats must always be adjusted so the hat is a snug fit and does not
fall off
Foot Protection – Safety Boots
• Safety Boots must always be worn if there is any risk of injury to the feet

• Safety Boots must be worn at all times on any

construction site…

• Safety Boots must be the correct size for your feet

and laced up correctly

• Remember, no boots, no job!

Eye Protection - Goggles
• Eye protection must be worn on site if there is any risk of eye injury to
employees

• Workers using grinders, abrasive wheels, cutting

tools etc must wear impact resistant goggles to
protect their eyes from flying fragments of debris

• Workers using welding equipment must wear

welding goggles to protect their eyes from sparks
and the intense light from any sparks or flames

• If you do not have the correct eye protection, do not start the job!
Ear Protection – Ear Defenders
• Ear protection must be worn on site if there is any risk of exposure to loud
continuous noise in the workplace

• Ear Plugs or Ear Defenders may be suitable

depending on the noise levels encountered on the job

• If your ear plugs or are damaged or unsuitable in

anyway do not begin work until they are replaced and
you have been shown how to use them correctly

• Remember, if you are wearing any form of ear protection you will be less
aware of what is going on around you
Hand Protection - Gloves
• Protective Gloves must be worn on site if there is any risk of exposure to
chemicals, hazard or danger

• Different gloves protect your hands from different types

of hazard – always select the correct type of gloves for
the job

• Workers using vibrating tools should wear anti vibration

gloves to minimise the risk of Vibration White Finger

• Remember, anti vibration gloves will not always protect your hands from
vibration. Always take additional precautions!
Respiratory Protective Equipment
(RPE)

• Respiratory Protective Equipment must be issued to workers when if there

is any risk of exposure to dust, solvents chemicals etc.

• Workers such as Ames Tapers, Plasterers etc. should

be given dust masks if working in dusty environments

• Workers should be given respirators if there is any risk

of exposure to hazardous fumes

• Remember, never attempt to use a dust mask if exposed to hazardous

fumes, always use the correct Respiratory Protective Equipment
 Fall Protection – Harness &
Lanyard
• By law, employers must provide a fall protection system if employees are
working at extreme height

• Fall protection systems may include safety nets,

Full Body Harness’ and Lanyards

• Remember, never attempt to use any body harness

unless you have been fully trained in it use

• If you are unsure how to use any piece of Personal protective Equipment
always ask for expert advice and training
PPE And The Law

• Guidance on accident prevention and reporting are contained the Health

and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Personal Protective Equipment
Regulations 1992

• By Law your employer must pay for,

provide you with and replace your
Personal Protective Equipment

• By law you must wear and utilise any

PPE your employer has issued you with

• If your PPE is damaged in any way you must let your employer know