What Should I Know About Safety Handwear and Footwear?

 Injuries on the job aren’t just a financial risk, they also impact productivity and morale. Providing workers with the right safety equipment in Ottawa reduces the risk of injuries and ensures compliance with provincial requirements.  

Safety Handwear Protection Levels  

In 2016, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) released standards pertaining to cut resistance safety gloves. Using this scale, you can provide personal protection equipment to match the job more effectively. The scale ranges from A1 to A9. 

• A1 – small parts assembly and general purpose gloves  
• A2 – injection and moulding plastics, pulp, and paper 
• A3 – handling raw materials in manufacturing and construction 
• A4 – food prep and HVAC  
• A5 – handling glass or metal sheets  
• A6 – glass manufacturing or metal fabrication  
• A7 – meat processing or metal stamping  
• A8 – metal recycling or heavy assembly  
• A9 – sharp metal stamping or metal fabrication  

Choosing the right gloves for the job gives your workers the best protection for their skilled hands!  

Safety Footwear  

Safety footwear is available in multiple ratings for different job sites and the risks involved. It’s important to choose footwear based on the hazards for each type of job site. The soles can include puncture protection or not. The toes have protective caps that are graded for protection. Worksites that require safety footwear should include information about fit and selection of footwear to ensure the right type is provided.  

Ottawa Fastener Supply has all the safety equipment you need for your Ottawa job site including the protective footwear and handwear for your specific projects. Contact us for more information. 

What Do I Need to Know About Safety Headwear?

 

Under provincial law, every construction worker is required to wear a hardhat when working sites with hard-surfaced materials or near electrical conductors. Understand how to buy a hard hat for the job and how to take care of the hat. Reduce the risks of injuries by choosing the correct safety gear for Ottawa construction sites.  

Safety Headwear Classes

Hard hats are classified by the type of protection offered.  

1. Type 1 – this type of headwear protects from impact at the top of the hard hat.  
2. Type 2 – type 2 hard hats have an integrated foam impact liner that reduces the force of an impact to the top and the sides of the head.  

In addition, each type of hard hat comes in one of these three classes:  

• Class E: head protection against high voltage (20,000 V electrical rating)  
• Class G: head protection against low voltage (2,200 V electrical rating)  
• Class C: no electrical protection 

What to Know About Safety Headgear

Safety equipment in Ottawa must be taken care of appropriately. Do not store hard hats in the back window of a car, because heat and sunlight can damage the material. When a hard hat has been impacted, it must be removed from service. Inspect hard hats annually and replace the liner each year. Replace the shell at five-year intervals.  

Find all the safety equipment you need at our safety supply store in Ottawa. Keep your workers safe with high-quality safety gear that is affordable and meets all provincial regulations. 

The importance of having Safety Eyewear for Workers in Ottawa

Construction workers face many different threats to their eyes on the job. From impacts to UV light, chemicals to dust, it’s important to have the right safety gear in Ottawa. Count on Ottawa Fastener Supply to provide the correct safety eyewear for the job.  

Types of Eyewear Protection  

1. Safety glasses – the most common type of eyewear protection. There’s a wide selection to find glasses that fit most workers.  

2. Safety goggles – goggles seal to the face for even greater protection. If someone wears prescription glasses, they may need goggles to cover their regular glasses.  

Features and ANSI Codes for Safety Eyewear  

The American National Standards Institute coordinates the features of protective eyewear. Look for the codes etched on the lenses or the arms of the glasses to find the right eyewear for the job. Most safety glasses will have multiple features, allowing for greater protection.  

• Z87 – impact rated 
• Z87+ – high impact rated 
• D3 – splash protection 
• D4 – dust protection 
• X indicates eyewear has passed the fog test and can resist fogging 
• W# – welding protection on a scale from 1.3 – 14 
• U# – UV protection on a scale from 2 – 6 
• R# – infrared light protection on a scale from 1.3 – 10 
• L# – visible light filter on a scale from 1.3 – 10 

Choosing the right safety equipment in Ottawa gives your workers peace of mind when they’re on the job. Contact Ottawa Fastener Supply for all of the safety gear you need to protect workers’ hearing, hands, feet, and more on the job.

Originally Posted on Ottawa Fastener Supply