Ensuring the peak mental and physical wellbeing of employees has become a non-negotiable in the workplace, especially on a busy construction site where there is considerable risk of injury.

This means having the correct PPE is now essential, and site personnel such as bricklayers, roofers, steel fixers and electricians must be fully briefed on how to wear it properly, at all times. Missing kit or incorrect usage carries significant legal ramifications, so site managers must stay vigilant for those violating rules or guidelines.

Unfortunately, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) sector has struggled to keep pace with the evolving demands of modern job sites, which are constantly incorporating new building methods, equipment, and materials.

As a result, many tradesmen have had to modify their PPE to suit specific tasks. This includes altering hard hats to fit necessary safety attachments or cutting the fingertips off gloves to use phones or tablets more effectively.

Whilst it’s understandable, it achieves the opposite outcome, compromising the kit’s ability to protect the wearer and putting them at considerable risk. Equally, this exposes the employer, both legally and financially.

It’s a practice that urgently needs to be stamped out, and it’s up to premium PPE brands, like MILWAUKEE®, to help the construction sector do so.

The Hidden Dangers of Customisation

A lack of understanding around the development of PPE is perhaps at the root of the problem, and it can be tricky to communicate.

Wearing protective clothing is certainly not meant to be uncomfortable or inconvenient, however, PPE items have to be designed to meet specific safety standards that exist to prevent accidents, injuries and fatalities. 

As an industry, we need to get better at communicating this point. Wearers need to understand that, what may seem an innocent attempt to increase productivity, could be a serious health hazard to them and the people around them.

Many examples abound, and we have a massive rogues’ gallery of inappropriately customised PPE in our research and development archives, even simple adjustments such as leaving high-vis jackets open to avoid overheating present risk, particularly when working at height.

We understand that everyone wants to be as comfortable as possible on the job, but just the smallest tweak can seriously compromise the integrity of the gear, potentially leading to huge ramifications if an accident occurs.

Legal and Financial Repercussions

Businesses should remember that in the event of an accident, those found to have modified gear can be held liable. Liability doesn’t just mean financial loss; it can also result in massive legal penalties. If an investigation reveals that the company provided non-compliant safety gear or allowed staff to customise their equipment, it could face hefty fines, criminal charges and irreparable damage to its reputation.

Moral High Ground

Beyond the legal and financial risks, employers also have a moral responsibility to protect their workers. It’s something that self-customisation can undermine. Ensuring workers have the proper, certified equipment is a fundamental duty of any responsible business.

This, in turn, highlights a broader point: businesses should prioritise not only the health but also the comfort of their staff. They need to be reflective and ask themselves why workers feel the need to customise their equipment. The reason is obvious – cost-cutting decisions are providing kit that is neither comfortable nor properly suited to the task. Even though tools and equipment are the ‘bread and butter’ of labourers, unfortunately, cost continues to trump comfort.

Buying the bare minimum, on the cheap, companies are literally cutting off their noses to spite their faces, and not just from a safety and legal perspective, but a productivity one too. Workers with tailored or well-designed gear can work more efficiently, through greater ease of movement, bringing confidence in their ability to deliver a task safely and securely. In the long term, it can even add years to their working lives,and improve the scope for knowledge retention.

The Big Picture

What’s clear is that allowing workers to customise their safety gear, or turning a blind eye to it, can severely compromise a business. The hidden dangers, both legally and financially, are far-reaching.

It’s much better to work with a premium PPE supplier, like MILWAUKEE®, who is aware of ‘user upgrades’ and takes measures to enhance apparel and equipment. This approach ‘irons out’ the need or temptation for further modification by supplying properly tested kit that meets or exceeds official health & safety requirements. This way, construction firms can put an end to this self-destructive culture for good.  

Just to hammer the message home, we must remember that in the UK alone, 138 work-related fatalities were recorded in 2023/24^* the majority of which (51%) were connected with the construction industry. In the quest for efficiency and cost-saving, cheap, basic PPE is not the answer. Businesses must prioritise their paramount duty: protecting their most valuable asset – their employees.