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title: "PPE Guide for Construction Sites | AVANORTH"
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AVANORTH Home
**Safety**·January 12, 2026· 3 min read
# **PPE Essentials: A Guide to Personal Protective Equipment on Site**
Personal protective equipment saves lives on construction sites. This guide covers what PPE is required, when to use it, and how to ensure compliance.
**AVANORTH Team**
AVANORTH Construction
## PPE Is the Last Line of Defence
In construction safety, personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered the last line of defence in the hierarchy of controls. Engineering controls (guardrails, machine guards) and administrative controls (procedures, training) should always be the first priority. But when those controls are not sufficient or not practical, PPE protects workers from hazards that could cause injury or death.
Under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and Construction Regulation (O. Reg. 213/91), employers must provide, and workers must wear, appropriate PPE for the hazards present on the job site.
## Head Protection
Hard hats are mandatory on virtually every construction site in Ontario. The requirements include:
- CSA Z94.1 certified Class E (electrical) hard hats are the standard for construction
- Hard hats must be replaced when damaged, cracked, or after a significant impact
- Suspension systems should be replaced at least annually
- Shell lifespan varies by material: HDPE shells should be replaced every 2 to 5 years depending on UV exposure
- In cold weather, only CSA-approved winter liners should be worn inside hard hats
## Eye and Face Protection
Eye injuries are among the most common on construction sites. Required protection includes:
- Safety glasses (CSA Z94.3 certified) for general construction activities
- Safety goggles for activities generating significant dust, chemical splash, or flying particles
- Face shields for grinding, cutting, and activities that produce projectiles
- Welding helmets with proper shade lens for all welding and cutting operations
## Hearing Protection
Prolonged exposure to noise above 85 decibels causes permanent hearing loss. On construction sites, noise levels routinely exceed this threshold:
- Jackhammer: 100 to 110 dB
- Circular saw: 100 to 105 dB
- Impact driver: 95 to 100 dB
- Concrete mixer truck: 85 to 95 dB
Hearing protection options include foam earplugs (NRR 25 to 33), reusable earplugs, and over-the-ear earmuffs. For workers exposed to sustained high noise levels, double protection (plugs plus muffs) may be necessary.
## Respiratory Protection
Construction workers face respiratory hazards from dust, silica, asbestos, paint fumes, and chemical vapours. Key requirements include:
- N95 disposable respirators for general dust protection
- Half-face respirators with P100 filters for silica dust exposure (concrete cutting, grinding)
- Full-face respirators for high-exposure environments
- Supplied air respirators for confined space entry or high-concentration chemical environments
- Fit testing is required for any tight-fitting respirator (CSA Z94.4)
## Hand Protection
Hands are the body part most frequently injured on construction sites. Glove selection depends on the task:
- Cut-resistant gloves (ANSI Level A4 or higher) for handling sheet metal, rebar, and sharp materials
- Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or PVC) for handling concrete additives, solvents, and sealants
- Impact-resistant gloves for tasks involving hammer use or pinch points
- Insulated gloves for cold weather work
- Leather work gloves for general material handling
## Foot Protection
Construction sites require CSA Grade 1 safety footwear with:
- Steel or composite toe cap rated for 125 joules of impact
- Puncture-resistant sole plate
- Slip-resistant outsole
- Ankle support for uneven terrain
- Electrical hazard (EH) rating where electrical work is nearby
## High-Visibility Clothing
Workers on sites with vehicle traffic or mobile equipment must wear high-visibility safety apparel:
- Class 2 high-vis vests or shirts for most construction work
- Class 3 high-vis suits for highway and road construction
- CSA Z96 certification required
At AVANORTH, we take PPE seriously. Every worker on our sites has the right equipment for the job, and our site supervisors enforce compliance without exception. Safety is not a cost of doing business. It is the foundation of everything we build.
#ppe #safety #equipment
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