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Summer’s coming and building for most affiliates is gearing up. A common question your volunteers will have is what they should wear on the job site and to work in the ReStore. Your regular volunteers and paid staff may also want to slack on the dress code requirements in order to be most comfortable when working in warm temperatures. But in order to ensure their safety, it’s important to firmly adhere to a dress code suited to construction sites and warehouse-type work.
What TO wear*:
- Boots or sturdy athletic shoes
- Long pants (yes, even in hot weather)
- Hirt with sleeves, fitted or tucked in (no baggy shirts)
- Long hair pulled into a ponytail
What NOT to wear:
- shorts
- tank tops
- flip flops
- jewelry of any kind
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary, depending on the task a worker is engaging in. PPE available on your Habitat jobsites should include:
- Head Protection—Hard hats are required to protect the crew from accidental head injury during certain tasks
- Respirators—Respirators are necessary when blowing cellulose or fiberglass insulation and when installing fiberglass batt insulation. Dust from insulation is likely the most serious potential health hazard facing crew workers, and using the correct respirator is important whenever handling or installing insulation. Each employee shall be provided with a respirator. The employee will receive training on how to select, maintain, clean, and store their respirator. Any problems or malfunctions should be reported.
- Eye Protection— Goggles, plastic shields or safety glasses with side shields, should be worn whenever there is a chance of particles flying into the eyes. Use the proper eye protection when drilling, blowing insulation, cutting glass or Plexiglas, working with fiberglass and sawing. Glasses and sunglasses are not approved eye protection.
- Gloves— Each crew member should have good quality work gloves to protect the hands while handling glass, fiberglass, aluminum, wood, and cellulose.
- *Shoes—Good quality work boots are recommended, with a heavy, treaded sole that offers support, traction and protection. While tennis or other athletic shoes don’t always give proper protection, they are acceptable on most Habitat job sites.
- *Clothing—Long pants offer more protection than short pants. Layers of clothing are recommended so that the worker can adjust to the temperature. While working in winter temperatures, several layers of lighter clothing will keep a worker warmer and afford easier movement than heavy and bulky clothes