Skip to main content

Personal Protective Equipment on Construction Sites

1. Purpose

The following procedure establishes the minimum personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn by University employees and their visitors while on a construction site. PPE is equipment worn to minimize exposure to a variety of hazards. The General Contractor may have additional PPE requirements such as steel-toed shoes or other procedures that need to be followed prior to entry. Coordinate all construction site visits with the project’s University Project Manager, Construction Manager, or equivalent.

2. Scope

This Standard Procedure applies to all Cornell University employees and their visitors entering or on
construction sites.

3. Responsibilities

It is the University’s responsibility to provide employees any required PPE and to replace PPE when it
becomes damaged or worn.

It is the employee’s responsibility to properly wear and maintain their PPE. Additionally, employees must understand the General Contractor’s site-specific PPE requirements and entry procedures prior to entering a construction site. Coordinate all construction site visits with the project’s University Project Manager, Construction Manager, or equivalent.

4. Procedure Instruction

The minimum personal protection equipment that is required to be worn while on a construction site is a hard hat, safety glasses, and footwear appropriate for a construction site.

When working on roadways or outdoor project sites with self-propelled mobile equipment (e.g. Aerial lift, Backhoe, Bulldozer, Excavator, Forklift, Loader, etc.), employees shall also wear high visibility clothing/vest, to ensure they are visible to equipment operators and/or motorists.

4.1 Personal Protective Equipment Requirements

  • Hard Hat:
    • Comply with ANSI Z89.1 Standard.
    • Do not wear helmets backward unless approved in the manufacturer’s instructions.
    • Shall be inspected daily or before each use.
  • Safety Glasses:
    • Comply with ANSI Z87 Standard.
    • Require side shields.
    • Prescription eyeglasses are not considered safety glasses unless they meet ANSI Z87.
  • High Visibility Clothing/Vest:
    • Comply with ANSI 107 Standard.
    • Requires 360-degree visibility; meaning the wearer can be seen from all sides.