Workwear has become the focus of many more industries in the wake of COVID-19. Before 2020, a face shield and PPE would rarely have been seen outside health and care settings. However, health and safety at work has always been something worth raising awareness of.

According to the Health and Safety Executive’s latest figures, 11 workplace related deaths were reported in Northern Ireland between April 2019 and March 2020, with four of these occurring within the construction sector.

Overall, deaths and injuries were down compared to the previous year, however it is still shocking to see any injury or fatality at work. It is also worth noting that despite the impact of the pandemic on the working world, fatalities among construction workers actually went up, with four fatalities compared to three the previous year.

For this reason, we think it’s more important than ever for employers and staff alike to be well informed when it comes to protecting yourself at work.

Safety workwear and PPE (personal protective equipment)

Bearing in mind those construction industry stats, it’s important in any construction setting to protect your head with a hard hat. It’s legally required to provide safety helmets in a workplace if there is a risk of falling objects, they work near exposed electrical conductors, or there is a risk of hitting their heads against fixed objects such as beams or pipework.

Visibility is a key safety consideration; it’s important to be able to see clearly and also to be seen in a range of lighting conditions - both indoors and outdoors. Good quality high visibility workwear helps workers to be seen clearly. The greater the potential risk to the individual, the greater body coverage required from high vis clothing and workwear. How dark does the working environment get? Are there moving vehicles which pose a risk to workers? Good high visibility clothing is usually a bright colour like orange or yellow, and the best quality examples contain additional light-reflective material, usually visible as white strips or panels.

It’s just as important to protect against injury with high quality workwear. Safety boots are an essential piece of kit for anyone working in a construction environment. However it is recommended that employees wear safety boots in any work setting where there is risk of injury to feet from heavy objects, moving machinery, or falling debris. This is worthwhile considering if employees are occasional visitors to places like factory floors, warehouses or building sites. It is an employer’s responsibility to carry out detailed risk assessments for all work environments, and an employee has responsibility for following health and safety advice given to them by their employers.

Work Gloves 

Work gloves are an often overlooked item of safety workwear for a range of occupations. Good quality work gloves provide comfort and environmental protection to the wearer, shielding them from water and extremes of hot and cold. High quality work gloves will offer range of grip options which can help workers maintain a hold on tools and other items which may cause accidents or injury if dropped. Our Orange Fortis grip gloves are a great example of an affordable, high quality glove. Available in a range of sizes, this glove conforms to EN420 and EN388 and offers breathability and reduced hand fatigue.

Another type of safety workwear, PPE, is becoming increasingly important in providing a safe environment for workers and the general public. According to stats agency Kantar, UK supermarket sales of hand sanitiser jumped by 255% in the four weeks leading up to 23rd February 2020. Thankfully shortages due to panic buying soon eased off and it’s possible to obtain high quality hand sanitiser for affordable prices. Our branded Key Hardware antibacterial hand sanitiser is available in a workplace-friendly 500ml bottle.

PPE 

Workwear PPE is essential year-round for some industries regardless of the public health situation. Eye protection and ear protection are crucial items of personal protective equipment. Eye protection is covered by UK workplace PPE regulations, however hearing protection is governed by noise protection legislation. Nevertheless, hearing protection must be compatible with other items of PPE worn by staff at work.

You can source safety glasses and ear defenders at Key Hardware, whether to protect yourself, or for your employees. We add new safety workwear and PPE to our online store all the time, so be sure to check back if you need anything.