Essential guide to PPE for joiners

Protecting the head from falling objects, impacts and falls

Highly vulnerable and very exposed on most job sites, the head must be protected with a hard hat designed for joiners. Hard hats must conform to standard BS EN 397/A1 and must be highly resistant to impacts, fire and penetration.

Each worker must respect the lifespan of a safety helmet. The service life of a hard hat generally ranges from 3 to 5 years, and this information will be noted in the product manual. It is also important to inspect the safety helmet on a daily basis to ensure that the structure and various components (outer shell, chin strap, visor) are in good condition to ensure adequate head protection.

Protecting the eyes and eyelids

On a job site, a joiner will generally be expected to carry out a series of different jobs including cutting materials (wood, laminates and composites), preparing and treating surfaces, fitting hardware and cleaning up. To prevent any issues caused by wood splintering, dust or sawdust or even more dangerous products, joiners must wear safety glasses, over-the-glasses safety glasses or safety goggles (BS EN166).

Reducing the risk of hearing loss on noisy job sites

Joiners are exposed to significant risk of hearing loss from loud ambient noise or through the use of machines such as band saws, woodworking machines, mortisers, circular saws and woodturning lathes. So what kind of hearing protection should a joiner add to their PPE?

• BS EN 352-2 disposable ear plugs (for a few uses) or reusable ear plugs (can be custom-fit);

• BS EN 352-1 ear muffs;

• Level-dependent ear muffs (BS EN 352-4) or active (EN 352-5) noise reduction ear muffs.

Please note: failing to wear adequate hearing protection can result in severe damage to the ear drum, tinnitus or even hearing loss in one or both ears. Remember – prevention is always better than cure!

Preventing chemicals and dust from entering the respiratory system

The respiratory system of a joiner has to put up with a lot including ambient dust and fumes produced by wood treatments and other products like varnish, wood paint and solvents. There are several types of respiratory protection for joiners. This type of protection should prevent irritation of the airways and the onset of long-term conditions, and must always be chosen to match the dangers at hand:

• basic protection: P3 disposable half mask (EN 149 :2001 +A1 : 2009) or P3 reusable half mask with built-in cartridges (EN 405 or 140);

• protection from varnish and sealants: EN 136 class 2 mask fitted with A2 P3 or A2 B2 P3 filter;

• protection from wood treatments: half or full EN 14387/A1 class 2 mask;

• protection from contact adhesives: half masks or full masks with EN 14387/A1 filter.

Joiners must wear the correct protective clothing to match the working conditions and the potential risks of each situation. Workwear made of breathable fabric (ISO 13688) is recommended for good temperature regulation. Here are the main standards for joiner's workwear:

• cold protection: EN 342;

• rain protection: EN 343.

Trousers with removable knee pads are highly recommended to protect joints and improve comfort when performing jobs involving kneeling. Workwear should be worn in addition to other measures to help ensure healthy working posture such as proper workbench height and foam floor padding.

Preventing falls from a height

Joiners generally work on the ground but may have to work at heights for tasks like building staircases, flooring or even to fit door or window frames. There is therefore a risk of falling from job sites with:

• staircase landings;

• scaffold towers;

• ladders;

• work platforms.

While the risk of falling is rare, it is not unheard of! Joiner's PPE should therefore include fall protection equipment depending on the job site and the structures in place. When carrying out specific jobs where there is a risk of falling from a height, joiners must use the following PPE:

• EN 361 full harness;

• a lanyard with shock absorber (BS EN 355) or a retractable type fall arrester (BS EN 360);

• anchor points (BS EN 795) for secure fixing ;

• connectors (BS EN 362).

Protecting hands against hazards

Grip gloves are essential for any task that involves handling heavy tools or materials. Joiners work primarily with wood and must protect their hands from splinters as well as the risk of serious injuries (nerve damage or even loss of fingers).

Joiners should have two types of protective gloves:

• EN 388 cut-resistant gloves;

• EN 374-1 waterproof chemical-resistant gloves.

Preventing foot injuries on job sites

Safety shoes are designed to limit the risk of minor to serious foot injuries. On a job site or in the workshop, joiners may be at risk of falling objects like timbers or beams and there is a risk of perforation from tools or material on site. Here are the characteristics to look out for:

• safety shoes should meet the requirements governed by standard EN ISO 20345 ;

• S ratings define toe cap protection;

• P ratings define puncture protection.

Joiners can choose low or high safety boots depending on preferences, or even safety shoes. It is recommended to look for shoes with a flexible sole to encourage healthy working posture.

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