What this category covers
Head & face
Safety helmets, chin straps, face shields, welding helmets and screens, safety goggles and over-spectacles.
Hands
General handling, cut-resistant, chemical, welding and electrical gloves. Rigger gloves and disposable nitrile.
Feet
Safety boots and shoes with steel or composite toe, penetration-resistant soles, rigger boots and gumboots.
Body
Hi-vis vests and jackets, coveralls, welding aprons and sleeves, rain wear and knee pads.
Respiratory & hearing
Dust masks, half masks with filters, ear plugs and ear defenders.
Height & site protection
Full-body harnesses, lanyards, anchor points, barricade tape, cones, warning signs and safety netting.
Matching PPE to the actual job
PPE that does not suit the task is worn once and then left in the van. The common mismatches are easy to avoid.
- Gloves are task-specific. A rigger glove is not a cut-resistant glove and neither is a chemical glove. Grinding, glass handling and chemical work each need a different one.
- Eye and face protection. A face shield complements suitable eye protection rather than replacing it. Selection depends on the hazard assessment, applicable standards, site rules and the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Respiratory protection. Suitable, correctly fitted respiratory protection must be selected for the hazard, the exposure, applicable standards and the manufacturer’s instructions. For cutting concrete, sanding compound or spraying,
- Harnesses need an anchor. A harness with nothing rated to clip to is not fall protection. The anchor is the part people forget to budget for.
Sizing and fit
PPE that does not fit is PPE that gets removed. Fit is not a comfort question, it is whether the item works at all.
- Helmets have an adjustable harness. A helmet worn loose comes off in the fall it was meant for. Set the harness, do not just put it on.
- Gloves too large lose grip and catch in machinery. Too small and they split at the seam within a day.
- Safety boots need trying on. Steel toe caps sit differently between makes, and a boot that pinches will be swapped for sandals by Thursday.
- Harnesses must be adjusted to the wearer. A loose harness transfers the arrest force to the wrong place, which is how a survivable fall causes serious injury.
- Respirator masks need a face seal. A beard breaks it, and a mask that does not seal is filtering the air beside your face.
When to replace, not clean
| Item | Replace when |
|---|---|
| Helmet | Per task risk assessment, applicable standards, site rules, manufacturer instructions and competent inspection |
| Harness or lanyard | Remove from service immediately after involvement in a fall; inspect, retire or otherwise handle according to manufacturer instructions and a competent person. Also if cut, frayed, chemically marked or the stitching has pulled |
| Goggles or shield | Per task risk assessment, applicable standards, site rules, manufacturer instructions and competent inspection |
| Gloves | Per task risk assessment, applicable standards, site rules, manufacturer instructions and competent inspection |
| Respirator filters | Per task risk assessment, applicable standards, site rules, manufacturer instructions and competent inspection |
| Boots | Per task risk assessment, applicable standards, site rules, manufacturer instructions and competent inspection |
Send a supply requirement
Tell us the PPE and safety items you need, with the model or specification and the quantity. This is a purchase enquiry, so no hire dates or operator details are needed.
Availability is confirmed on enquiry. Commercial terms are set out in writing before an order is agreed.