In current times, we’re all a little more concerned with respiratory protection when we’re in public—for obvious reasons. However, as someone who oversees a construction team, you need to worry about respiratory protection on a day-to-day basis. Depending on the materials your team is working with, they could be exposed to countless chemicals and toxins in the workplace. This can lead to anything from mild irritation of the throat and nasal passages to the long-term degradation of health, both of which could be considered a violation of your workers’ rights to a safe place of employment.
While you’ve probably received some training on respiratory protection requirements, it never hurts to review the basics. In doing so, you could learn something new! MC Tool & Safety, a provider of respirator fit testing and general contractor tools, present some rules of thumb for respirators below.
IT NEVER HURTS TO BE TOO CAREFUL
Because construction and contractor work are such broad fields, it’s impossible to name all the situations one might need the protection of a respirator—this blog post would go on for quite a while if we tried! A general rule of thumb, though, is that when it comes to your workers’ safety, it never hurts to be safe. It’s better to be cautious instead of regretful, to rephrase the old adage. If you’re at all worried that respiratory issues might arise, or your workers express their worry, provide respiratory protection at once.
A few situations that are likely to require such protection:
● General construction sites | Exposure to anything from sawdust to gasoline fumes can prove detrimental to your workers’ comfort and health. Proper respiratory protection is essential for a variety of public works projects and other construction endeavors.
● Areas in which your workers must handle chemicals | The word “chemical” encompasses a broad range of substances, but its connotations often suggest something that is potentially harmful to human health. Everything from paints to certain weed killers can qualify, and safe handling can require respiratory protection if inhalation is an issue.
● Painting endeavors | Yes, painting! Unlike many artist-grade paints, commercial-grade paints and their solvents can have profound negative effects when a worker is forced to inhale them.
DO YOU NEED ADVICE OR TOOLS? MC TOOL & SAFETY IS HERE TO PROVIDE
As an all-purpose provider of construction equipment, we have the resources and expertise you need to keep your workers safe. For more information about our products, give us a call at 763-786-5350, or toll-free at 888-206-2569.
