Why Construction Workers Should Wear Long Sleeve PPE
78What is "PPE"?
"PPE" stands for "Personal Protective Equipment". With regards to health and safety in the workplace, PPE refers to a wide range of protective clothing or equipment worn by a worker for safety. Some examples of PPE found on a construction site include safety glasses, gloves and hard hats.
Long Sleeve PPE
In recent times, more and more construction sites and companies are adopting the "long sleeve PPE" safety policy. This generally refers to the requirement to have all members of the workforce wearing long sleeve shirts and long trousers (no shorts) when working on site.
Many construction sites now have a "minimum PPE" requirement that requires everyone on site to wear the following at all times: * hard hat * safety glasses * steel cap boots * high visibility shirt
Some sites still allow short sleeve "high-viz" shirts and shorts to be worn on site. This is typical on building sites, such as in the housing market. However as the focus increases on safety, the general direction of company policies is moving towards long sleeve high visibility shirts and long trousers to be worn on construction sites. The main reason for this new requirement is quite simply sun protection.This is particularly the case in Australia where the rates of skin cancer are the highest in the world.
At the start of many construction projects, new team members may try to resist wearing long sleeve PPE and persistently challenge this relatively new requirement. In the interest of construction worker safety, the following are some suggested answers to common challenges/complaints raised by construction workers when asked to wear long sleeve PPE...
Recommended Construction Safety Books
 | Amazon Price: $60.17 List Price: $79.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $85.97 List Price: $98.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $71.84 List Price: $113.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $66.50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do I have to wear long sleeve PPE? A: You should wear long sleeve PPE for maximum sun protection. It is company policy. It is also becoming a construction industry standard.
Q: But I didn't have to wear it on the last job...? A: This is not "the last job". This is a new project/site and long sleeve PPE forms part of the minimum PPE requirements.
Q: But if I wear long sleeve PPE, how am I supposed to get a tan? A: You are here to work. This is a construction site, not a beauty parlor or tanning salon.
Q: Well, on the weekend I may go to the beach and get sunburnt because I have to stay in the sun longer since I can't get a tan during the week... A: What you do on the weekend is up to you, however at work the company policy (and your condition of employment that you agreed to by working here) is to wear long sleeve PPE.
Q: How about if we sign a petition that the company is not liable if we get skin cancer. Then can we wear short sleeves? A: No, it doesn't work that way. By law, it is a duty of care requirement for both parties. The company's duty of care is to ensure it is putting policies and systems in place to ensure the employee is safe at work. The employee's duty of care is to comply with these procedures to ensure their safety.
Q: But I wear sunscreen... A: That is great, however you still need to wear long sleeve PPE! Sunscreen is a good form of sun protection against UV light that is reflected from the ground or against concrete surfaces. It is a good secondary protection precaution where UV is not reflected on your hat or high viz clothing.
Q: It's too hot to wear long sleeve PPE. A: You will actually find that when the sun does not hit your skin directly it is in fact much cooler to wear long sleeve PPE.
Q: Can I roll my sleeves up? A: Some companies may allow this, however logically wearing long sleeve PPE and rolling the sleeves up is similar to wearing short sleeve PPE and therefore not acceptable.
Your Say
Do you think construction workers should wear long sleeve PPE?
See results without votingCommentsLoading...
Hi Mr Stocks,
In many cases it does seem like healthy and safety is getting out of hand. The problem is that companies have an obligation & duty of care to look after their employees. Already people who get injured at work take companies to court for compensation, so companies need to put systems and procedures in place to prevent any injury at work. Usually it means that projects cost more, it takes longer to do the work & workers complain because it's extra work and they know better. You can't win really.
well marcofratelli, youve hit the nail right on the head there havent you "Already people who get injured at work take companies to court for compensation". surprise surprise. no real thought about the workforce, just worried about the cost of compensation, and dont kid me with the looking after employees line because its wearing very thin. life is difficult enough without little hitlers popping up from everywhere telling us we cant do this and cant wear that. these companies are too interested in what they look like rather than whether the job gets done right and to a good standard. MY rant is not over as it seems we will all be doing it for a while yet, probably until you see us all wearing protective bubbles while we work. what you want to do is try working in the sweltering heat wearing long sleeves and pants and laying 6 inch concrete blocks (bit heavier than a damn pen). no one moans when we are working out in the rain though do they? what about our health then eh?!
People who justify these laws should live them for a period of time before enforcing them.
I was introduced to a long sleeve rule today. Indoors. 95 deg. And working around power tools that can "Catch" my sleeves at any inattentive moment.
And felt empathy for my fellow workers, who were working harder than me, some overweight and so-on.
Not justified!!!
It is cruel!!
Inhumane!!
To the point of being dangerous.
I am ready to walk off the job as a result of this ridiculous safety concern.
It creates more problems that it solves.
I am disgusted!
It supposed to be even hotter tomorrow.
What next?
Knee high work boots and 4 ply pants?
Idiots!!!!
these muppets that come up with these rules about long sleeve ppe really havent spent any time in the practical side of a building site. I carry for 4 brickies and dont stop all day everyday. add this to workin in the swelterin heat in long shirt and pants is an absolute joke. change the rules before people die from heat exhaustion!!!!!!!
Or you can wear your hat and sunscreen and drink lots of water to stay hydrated. You can either change your attitude toward safety or find a different career. This is the standard for nearly every company today if you're working for a large respectable firm. That's not to say there aren't still some backyard operations taking short cuts and risks. At the end of the day it's up to you, no one can force you to wear long sleeve if you don't want to (but often that means having to find work somewhere else - it's a condition of employment). The rules are there for a reason.
marcofratelli, please. You sound like a good ol pencil pusher right there. You would have the same pissed off attitude we all do if you actually worked outside. And its not that we dont enjoy it. Its just people like you who abuse the rules and laws. I joined construction for a reason because i enjoy it. But with all the safly blah, and regulation bs. It doesent impress me. What ever happened to free will right? I dont wanna wear a long sleeve shirt. I get skin cancer. Aslong as your aware of the possible outcomes. Maybe a waiver would be a good idea.
Hi Tguy, yes I am an engineer. But the last job I worked on was at a precast yard, spending at least 50% of my day if not more with the guys outside (we were short staffed). First off I'd like to say I thought the idea of a waiver was "thinking outside the box", however it was mentioned at the yard and I did chase it up to see if it was possible. Unfortunately it wasn't, the company still had a duty of care towards the employee's safety, as does each employee with each other and the duty of care to comply.
This hub was written after a period of time where I was so fed up of asking the team to comply without having to be a prick about it - it was my responsibility and I was getting my butt kicked because as a group we weren't complying to the company standards. Well, as a matter of fact, it was our company's client that dictated the conditions of the project. Sadly, it's actually gotten to a stage where if we don't comply or have a good safety record, we can't win work and that translates through to the hard working men on the ground like yourself.
By the end of the job, nearly everyone realized that the rules weren't there to make their life difficult. Two years on, I'm still getting calls to give a reference for tradesmen I've worked with and I make a point of mentioning their good safety culture. If they really thought I was a prick, I don't think they'd have put me down as a reference...
I fail to see how 'duty of care' relates to this. It would thereby follow that no employees can eat bacon sandwiches or smoke whilst at or travelling to or from work because of health risks... Ludicrous! Certain decisions are an individual's personal responsibility, guidance can be given, but the final decision should made by the employee themselves
Sometimes safety rules and regs do suck and make life a little more uncomfortable...everyone realizes this. However, do you think that being uncomfortbale wearing long sleeves for the 8-12 hours you work in a day(and eventually getting used to it)would be worse then not seeing your kids grow up, never seeing your spouse again, having your loved ones watch you waste away in a hospital bed and barely be able to recognize you because you have had multiple surgeries to remove the skin cancer? Yeah, totally uncomfortable-stupid sleeves! This is just one example. Taking shortcuts in safety because you are "uncomfrotable" is a very poor and selfish excuse. Ulitmately, you are in charge of your own safety...if you choose to take shortcuts and put yourself at risk, trust me, you are affecting more than just yourself and the after affects will go on for years, especially if something serious or traumatic happens. Just thought you might want to chew on that for a bit...just don't choke.
Thank you SAFETY FIRST! Stated perfectly.
You guys talk like your pretty clever. Maybe you could let me know who I would be taking to court if and when I ever succumb to heat exhaustion.I don't know about you guys but with my health condition I need to stay as cool as possible and the thoughts of wearing long sleeves on a hot and humid day makes me want to vomit.
Mike, it's not about being clever. These are the rules. If you don't like them, that's fine. No skin off my back. The only problem then becomes your employment options. Unfortunately, in Australia anyway, these are the standards.
This hub is deliberately written in the same manner we get spoken to for trying to enforce the rules, doing our job as engineers. Best of luck.
Marco, you have not answered Brent's point about long sleeves being caught in power tools and auger type machinery. If the increase of these types of injuries correlate with the introduction of long sleeves do you think there may be a reversal of this standard? Perhaps "the boffins" may say this is a good outcome as it's pretty hard to get skin cancer on your arms if you don't have any! Also the long sleeves could then be rolled up and a knot tied in the end to stop the bleeding and exposing the other workers to potential PTSD??? Dying in hospital over 6 months with skin cancer or 50 years of not being able to wipe your bum etc..... I know what I would choose!
If Brent has the potential to have his sleeves caught in moving parts or machinery, there should be some type of Lock out, Tag out system in place. This is an OSHA standard here in the U.S. If there is potential for this while the machine is in operation mode, then guards should be put in place in order to protect anyone or anything from becoming in contact with the moving equipment. There are lots of ways to improve the safety of machinery and operations from an engineering stand point. In fact, that is where it should start first. If you cannot engineer the machine or area around it to make it safer and less accessible to exposure, then you should be locking it out before you enter the danger zone.
Wearing long sleeves may be hot, but think about people who work with electricity. Have you ever seen a person who has experienced an electrical shock or burn who had their sleeves rolled up because they were hot? The exposed parts of their arms/body were blackened to a crisp, while the areas where their protective clothing was in place they received no burns.
A lot of the solutions and ideas in place or rules that come about are direct results and actions that have been taken because of injuries that have occured. Nobody wants to see or hear about a fellow co-worker being injured; so we try to come up with the best solutions to prevent future incidents. Yes, staying hydrated and following procedures may not always be easy, but it truly is the best way to leave the job at the end of the day in the same condition you arrived.
do you think anyone is going to pay you compensation for getting skin cancer!what a joke,all this is just to cover the arse of the company,keep your hard hat on wear your boots,but work ridiculous hours to get the job done quicker is o.k,your recomended to stop driving after 2hrs,but can operate a wet saw for 12hrs????
Hi marcofratelli, you never answered Mike's question of who is liable if he succumbs to heat exhaustion.
I'd like know whether there is a compulsory uniform or can the average worker wear anything aslong the as the clothing is high vis and it covers the skin. For example can the worker wear long sports skins under his shorts?
It doesn't sound like Mike is necessarily the average worker though...he stated he has a health condition. WHich in that case, he might need to have some exemptions or work with his Health Services Department to make sure his condition is taken into consideration.
As for what you could be allowed to wear, that is up to the company's policies and standards in the average/typical worker's case.
Well said John, spot on. Marco old son, the day WILL COME when someone suffers a serious accident or death as a result of the high and mighty attitude of the big boys and one of your precious companies will, if you pardon the pun, have the pants sued off them. Then lets see what the company policy will be. It is a civil right to wear what you feel comfortable wearing so long as it is appropriate. IE" steel cap boots and a hard hat on construction sites, safety glasses where there is higher than normal risk to the eyes, but to say Employers have a duty of care to make sure workers don't suffer from skin cancer is ridiculous. And how do you explain why all the workers who work under cover from the sun are forced to wear full PPE?
I tell you an industry that should be exercising some duty of care, the airline industry. The pitch (spacing between seats on airlines these days is inhumane and completely unhealthy to sit so damn cramped without being able to stretch your legs.
I have noticed that nobody has mentioned the normal practice of applying sunscreen before exposure to UV which should negate the need to use long sleeved shirts and long pants and therefore enable the body to cool more efficiently through evaporation.
I have worked outdoors for almost 30 years following the precaution of sunscreen, carrying out the hardest tasks during cooler periods of the day etc. I can tell you through experience that I can work long hours on 40 degree days in short sleeves and shorts but put on the long gear and I can hardly function after midday, especially if the humidity is high. The argument about long sleeves stopping the sun heating the skin is plausable but in my experience it stops the flow of air over the skin which creates the evaporative/cooling effect and traps the heat creating a two fold effect of increasing body temperature (especially during strenuous activity) and removing the persons ability to dissipate excess heat.
The laws are obviously in place to absolve employers from the possibility of litigation which has happened so I can understand their concerns as they need to run a business and conform to standards.
I think there should be a bit more common sense applied to this argument and recognition that most people are smart enough to apply sunscreen to exposed skin and not treat us like naughty kindergarten kids.
I hate long sleeves! I also hate...
-seat belt laws
-rules like wearing earplugs on the job site
-and.. I kind of hate how early we have to wake up to keep out of the sun as much as possible. I believe if we have to wake up at 4am to try to keep away from the sun you should at least let us wear comfortable clothing.
HOWEVER I can see the companies point because lame people do sue for insane reasons like (the old lady suing mcdonalds for spilling coffee on herself and it was too hot. NO KIDDING ITS COFFEE)
However the problem isn't with the companies, or the workers... The problem is with the insane things people get away with in the court rooms.
I truely believe you should not try to protect people from themselves. It's pointless. Instead just throw out the bull$@%& stupid nonsense that people get away with.
You cut your toes off at work and you want disability?
Were you wearing steel toed boots? If not too damn bad.
You are just going to have to get over it. That's how things should be.
I was a concrete placer and formbuilder for the first 10 years of my career. I'm now an HSE Superintendent and have been for 12 years. I've been on both sides of the fence. When you are working outdoors in the sun, you sweat. When you sweat it cools your skin and when the sun is beating down on a worker, they don't feel the burn. I wear long sleeves at work now and it is true, you feel cooler. Your heatloss is through your head, not your arms.
As for the "hazard of long sleeves" issue. If you are at risk of an auger sucking you in then you obviously have issues with guards or your long sleeves are too baggy.
Asides from the sun, there are other issues. Ever get a scratch and didn't realize it? Your sleeves prevent small scratches and cuts.
im too long in the tooth to listen to h@s bullshit.they are destroying an industry ,all the good trades are leaving to work in the private sector. Site agents are now yes men and only shit tradesmen who will put up there crap will be left to do the work.gone are the days of career artisans who advance into agents and site managers.One more point ,you must have been a shit engineer otherwise you'd still be doing mate ,another little hitler who was bullied at school,tossers.
Reads like a broken record sometimes, doesn't it?! The world has changed - you can longer walk a plank 30 stories in the air in your shorts without fall arrest equipment. Those that want to keep working have to change with the times. It's definitely changed for the better - each and every injury is preventable. Cowboys are no longer allowed to play with the big boys. If you embrace the change, within reason (as yes, some people do go overboard with safety sometimes) you'll find no shortage of work. Guaranteed.
im a landscaper. working in pants and saftey vests isnt the ideal condition for a 110 heat index.
Been told by my doctor that I have vitamin d deficiency and need as much sun as I can get.
As I work on a site with long trouser and long shirt policy I approached safety officer to tell him my doctors directions ,he gave me site rules jargon... So I asked him for a letter stating that he refused me to be allowed to wear shorts and t-shirts on site for health reasons he refused .... Where is this duty of care in this situation....... P.s am thinking of pursuing matter further any ideas ?????
Marco, I really don't see a correlation between the ridiculous practices of the past such as working 30 stories up with no safety harnesses and the wearing of shorts and short sleeves with sunscreen.
I can only assume there are 2 options for Vit D, take vitamin D supplements under the supervision of a doctor as it can be toxic if not monitored or change his occupation to a so called cowboy outfit that is apparently reckless and irresponsible due to their lax dress code.
I know what I would prefer to do, slip slop slap with short shirt and pants as the almost 60% of voters in your poll indicated.
This really is all about covering the employers asses, not the workers.
Don't even try to explain to this guy what's up, Marcus is a pencil pusher that sits in an air conditioned office all day (with MAYBE the occasional excursion in an air conditioned truck) pontificating about "long sleeves keep you cooler" - which anyone who has been on a rooftop working in 40 deg heat can tell you is total crap.
This is not about a company caring, this is about protecting their asses and their bottom line, regardless of how it affects the people working to make them their damn money in the first place.
Pencil pushing aholes that come onto a site and start talking like they know anything about the real work being done seriously piss me off.
Dickheads , I work in a mine and have done for 15 years , Average temp in Summer 36 degrees , I wear longs , and i agree its cooler , therew is a reason all major companies are following suit in Construction ,Grow up , you will be crying hard done by when you have skin cancer at 35
My husband is a formwork carpenter and although It's not even summer yet he is coming home overheated making him angry and exhausted. He has been wearing long sleeves/pants at work on and off (depending on the job) for several years now. He has been in the industry for about 30 years and can tell the difference for himself whether he is hotter with long sleeves and pants. The answer is an emphatic yes. No doubt about it. And I beleive him. Maybe it is cooler for engineers or underground miners to wear the longer clothes but that doesn't mean it's right for everybody else. You can't lump every trade together otherwise the underground miner would be wearing sunscreen which is ridiculous. I'm afraid that he's going to collapse from heat exhaustion or maybe even die. If we didn't still have a child in high school I would prefer he was unemployed than work in the terrible heat with long sleeves and pants. I'm afraid he wont make it through the next three years until all our children are out of school and we can't afford to live off my pay alone. Rest assured that if he became ill or worse from heat exhaustion I would certainly kick up an almighty stink including legal action. I believe I would have a better case because you can choose wether or not to wear sunscreen and there is no way to tell when the damage occured especially if you have worked for many different companies but if you collapse from heat exhaustion it can only be blamed on the current circumstances such as being forced to wear long sleeves and pants regardless of the temperature. I don't want my husband to die for a job because somebody else wants to cover their arse.
Well said worried wife, as I have said previously it is much hotter with long sleeves and pants, no question at all.
It would appear that big business is happy to test the waters and wait until some unfortunate worker succumbs
to excess heat due to their self protecting interests, which has probably already happened on many occasions.
They rely on people like M Hudson who can tolerate the heat to tell the rest of us it isn't a problem and put everybody in the same category.
It all very well for Marco to tell us to suck it up or change careers, what else can you do if your whole working life, 30 years plus has been in the 1 industry, sorry I have done all the TAFE courses including Diploma and am still only able to find outdoor work in the sun with long & long PPE.
I hope the industry changes these employer protecting rules before good hard working people like your husband are injured due to employer negligence.
Maybe we can pressure industry/government to change legislation so that workers can sign a waiver re sun protective clothing, after all sunscreen has worked for me for the last 25 years and I am fair skinned.
mr stocks 2 years ago
its getting out of hand now all the h&s,, why did they invent shorts and t shirts? to keep u cool,try laying 6" concrete blocks on a hot day dressed like a hi vis mummy!! work is hard enough as it is without all this sh%* from site agents who couldnt get in the police and were bullied at school,,, RANTOVER!!!!!