Equipment for Construction Workers

Safety shoes are chosen according to the risk: low or high, with a toe cap and sole suited to the work. Safety footwear must meet standard EN ISO 20345, which defines classes such as S1 and S3. If there are nails or debris on site, check for an anti-puncture plate. The characteristics are shown on the model's label and should be checked before buying.

Site gloves are chosen according to the task: handling abrasive materials, lifting, small cuts. Standard EN 388 classifies gloves against mechanical risks such as abrasion, cut, tear and puncture, with performance shown by a series of numbers. Check the pictogram printed on the glove. For work with mortar or cement, a model that resists moisture and cement residues is best.

Site hard hats must meet standard EN 397 and should be replaced if they have suffered a heavy impact or show wear. For hearing protection, use earmuffs or earplugs complying with EN 352, chosen according to the noise level of the activity. The device must be worn correctly, because incorrect fitting reduces its effect. Check the condition of disposable earplugs and replace them when they are dirty.

Multi-standard clothing should be chosen according to the risks of the job, such as abrasion, cold, heat or rain. Summer and winter trousers differ in fabric and thickness, and should be chosen according to the season. On roadworks or near moving vehicles, high-visibility garments complying with EN ISO 20471 are needed. Comfortable sizes allow you to work bending and moving without hindrance.

Protective glasses and visors must meet standard EN 166. For dust and mortar splashes a wraparound goggle is best, while the visor protects the face during grinding or cutting. Lenses should be cleaned and replaced if scratched, because they reduce visibility. Check that the model is compatible with the helmet or mask in use, so the protection stays complete.

Everyday tools are chosen according to the job: trowels, floats and mortar spreaders for laying, a pickaxe for digging and removal. For the pickaxe the handle matters, to be matched to the head according to weight and length. A well-balanced tool tires the arms less. Check that handles are intact and metal parts are firmly fixed before each use.

On elevating work platforms a restraint or fall-arrest system is used, with a harness and lanyard connected to an anchor point specified by the platform manufacturer. The harness must meet standard EN 361. The system must be checked before use and must not be attached to parts not designed for the purpose. Italian Legislative Decree 81/2008 on workplace safety requires work at height to be protected with adequate measures, and anyone working at height must be trained.