Safety gear is a vital part of any job site, especially when dealing with safety concerns like heights, confined space, construction materials or chemicals. As a Health and Safety Officer, part of my job is to provide others with the proper guidelines for the use of safety gear on their work site.
Running my own Safety Consultant business and working as a Safety Officer for years has naturally led me to find certain gear I prefer. Being a woman in a male-dominated field, I have definitely learned that one-size often does not “fit all”! If you’re just starting out in the world of safety gear, don’t stress! Here are a few fast and easy tips to make your day on the job a bit easier (and a whole lot safer).
Safety Glasses
Who doesn’t feel like a million bucks when they slip on a pair of safety glasses?? All jokes aside, safety glasses are an essential part of your safety gear. Each year there are unfortunately too many workplace accidents involving the eyes. Whether you are using a saw, welding, or dealing with chemicals there are many opportunities for harmful things to get into the eyes. It can happen in a flash – and there are too many beautiful things to see out in the world to put yourself at unnecessary risk.
There are plenty of versions of protective eyewear out there, but my personal favourites are 3M™ SecureFit™ 200 Series Safety Glasses. I prefer the blue temples, light blue lens with the Scotchgard™ Anti-Fog Coating. The Anti-Fog coating has been crucial during this pandemic, as you can wear them for long periods of time while on-site with your face mask on at the same time without your glasses fogging up! Anyone who wears regular glasses while wearing face masks during this pandemic knows the struggle – so this is a huge selling point for me!
These safety glasses also have polycarbonate lenses that absorb 99.9% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. I love the snug fit so I am not constantly pushing them back up my nose, and the frameless look helps with visibility as well. So I can focus on the job at hand – safely!
Steel-Toe Boots
If you’ve ever been on any type of job site you’ll know the importance of having a good pair of steel-toe boots. They offer protection from the elements, heavy objects dropping on your feet, or dangerous objects on the ground. As with most other safety gear, a good fit is essential. Not just so you don’t walk around looking like you’ve got clown feet – that’s a whole other challenge!
My top three tips for finding a good pair of boots for site are as follows:
- Fit – as mentioned above, you want a good fit so you can move freely from tripping hazards. Finding the perfect pair means a snug fit without crunching your toes!
- Weight – steel-toe boots will inevitably weigh more than your favourite pair of Converse, but they shouldn’t be so heavy that you feel like you’ve just done leg day after one shift.
- Durability – durability is an obvious key component to all safety gear. Consider what environment you will mainly be working in – will weather play a factor? Do you lift heavy gear all day, or are there more hazards on the ground? Find a pair that works for you.
Of course, as your resident Safety Girl – I have to give you my go-to steel-toes that I trust to keep me safe on the job. I prefer Royer boots from their Agility line because they fit well, they’ve got a puncture-resistant insole with a rubber outsole, and for me I love that they are light-weight and comfortable for long days on-site.
One size does not fit all
With more women joining trades and other male-dominated fields like Health & Safety, Construction, and many others – there is a growing need for proper PPE, safety gear and other work gear for women. This issue is not a simple aesthetic one, a proper fit is essential to the effectiveness of safety gear. For many years we would have to “make due” with just ordering a smaller men’s size, but often safety gear like high-visibility jackets have longer arms and a bulky fit, which can become a hindrance or even hazardous on certain job sites.
A better variety of unisex or female gear is slowly becoming available, and one brand that I personally love is Carhartt. Carhartt offers a wide selection of safety gear, PPE and general clothing suitable for women on the job. It’s good quality and not just a trend – it’s tried and tested for functionality on-site by yours truly (no I’m not sponsored – hear that Carhartt? Sponsor me! haha)
Of course, these are just a few of my personal go-to’s for PPE and safety gear that work for me on the job sites that I work in. I encourage everyone to seek out brands and styles that work for them, the most important thing is that you wear your safety gear while on the job!