Safe working on the construction site: a practical guide for building and renovation

On site, you work at height, with heavy materials, dust and noisy machines.

Contractor, self-employed or renovating your own home: with good preparation and the right protection, you go home safe every day. This guide shows the risks, which personal protective equipment (PPE) suits each job and how to start safely.

Why is safety on the construction site so important?

A fall, an eye injury or years of breathing dust can cause permanent harm.

In the Netherlands, the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) requires employers to provide safe and healthy working conditions. If risks cannot be removed otherwise, the employer provides suitable PPE free of charge. Similar rules apply across the EU. Always tackle the source first (for example dust extraction or a quieter machine), then PPE. Self-employed professionals working alongside others on site must follow safety rules too.

How do you prevent falls from scaffolding and ladders?

Under Dutch regulations, there is always a fall hazard from 2.5 metres, and lower near openings in the floor, for example.

• Choose collective protection first: scaffolding with guardrails protects everyone at once.
• Not possible? Then use fall protection, such as a harness with a lanyard and a sound anchor point.

A ladder is meant for access or short, light work:

• Set it at about 75 degrees: the foot a quarter of the ladder's length from the wall.
• Let the ladder extend at least 1 metre above the landing point.
• Climb facing the ladder, with your hands free. Tools go in a tool belt.

💡 Tip: check rungs, feet and hinges before you climb. A ladder with a bent stile or loose rung does not belong on site.

Which PPE do you need for which job?

PPE only works if it suits the risk and fits you. Choose per job, for example from our workwear & PPE range.

Why S3 safety shoes?

Sites are full of nails and rubble, and things can fall on your feet. S3 safety shoes have a protective toecap, a sole that protects against sharp objects piercing through, a water-resistant upper and a cleated outsole. The S3L and S3S variants use a non-metal protective sole. You will find them in our footwear range.

When do you wear a hard hat?

Wherever something can fall or you can bump your head. Choose an industrial safety helmet according to EN 397 and replace it after a heavy blow.

Which work gloves should you choose?

• Coated gloves for grip on bricks, timber and boards.
• Leather gloves for rough work.
• Chemical-resistant gloves for aggressive substances.

Wet cement and mortar irritate the skin, so wear work gloves for bricklaying and grouting too.

How do you protect your eyes and ears?

Wear safety glasses when drilling, grinding, sawing, chiselling or working overhead. See eye protection.

Rule of thumb for noise: if you can no longer understand someone at 1 metre, it is probably too loud. Then wear earplugs or earmuffs from our hearing protection range.

How do you protect yourself against silica dust when cutting and grinding?

Sawing, grinding, drilling and chasing tiles, concrete, brick and natural stone releases fine silica (quartz) dust. Silica dust is carcinogenic, so avoid breathing it in.

• Choose a low-dust method: score and snap tiles rather than grinding them.
• Work wet or with extraction that fits the tool properly.
• Clean up with a vacuum cleaner, not a broom, for example a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
• Also wear a well-fitting mask. For silica dust, an FFP3 mask or a half mask with a P3 filter is the safe choice. See respiratory protection.

💡 Tip: a dust mask only seals properly on a clean-shaven face. Stubble lets dust leak in.

When do you wear high-visibility clothing?

Near traffic or moving machinery? Be seen with a high-visibility vest or other clothing according to EN ISO 20471.

How do you lift without back problems?

• Use lifting aids such as a sack truck, wheelbarrow or hoist.
• Lift heavy items with two people.
• Keep the load close, bend your knees and do not twist.
• According to the widely used NIOSH method, 23 kilos is the limit under ideal conditions. In practice, a safe weight is often lower.

💡 Tip: often on your knees, for example when laying floors? Wear knee pads.

How do you work safely with power tools?

• Check the cable, plug and housing before use.
• Connect to a circuit protected by a residual current device (RCD).
• Fully unwind cable reels so they do not overheat. Choose a suitable extension cord.
• Unplug or remove the battery before changing a blade, disc or bit.
• Keep guards in place and hold an angle grinder with both hands.

See also our power tools.

Why are order and tidiness so important?

On a messy site, you trip easily. Tidying up is safety too.

• Keep walkways, stairs and emergency exits clear.
• Run cables along the side or hang them up.
• Clear away waste and offcuts every day.
• Stack materials stably and not too high.
• Cover holes in the floor securely.

💡 Tip: tidy up at a fixed moment at the end of every working day.

What should you watch out for as a DIYer?

Labour safety law does not cover private individuals, but the risks are the same. Wear the same protection as a professional and keep a first aid kit at hand.

• Do not overestimate yourself. Leave work on load-bearing walls or the electrical installation to a professional.
• Older buildings may contain asbestos (in the Netherlands: built before 1994). If in doubt, have it checked before demolishing or drilling.

What is a Last Minute Risk Assessment (LMRA) and how do you do one?

A Last Minute Risk Assessment (LMRA) is a short check you do at the workplace itself, just before the start of every job. Repeat it with every change at the workplace, such as different weather, new tools or a different work sequence, and after a break. You do not need to write anything down.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I know exactly what I have to do?
• Do I know what could go wrong, for me and for others?
• Are the risks covered, for example with barriers, extraction or fall protection?
• Do I have the right PPE and is it in good condition?
• Are my tools in order and suitable for this job?
• Is the workplace tidy, well lit and safely accessible?
• Do I know what to do in case of an accident?

Can you answer yes to all questions? Then you can start.

Not safe or in doubt? Stop and report it. Do not start; make the situation safe first. If that is not possible, report it to your supervisor, site manager or client and agree together on what is needed. As a DIYer, stop as well and call in a professional if necessary.

Checklist: what should you check before you start?

Use this checklist when preparing the job. Then, just before you actually start, do the LMRA above.

• Risks of this job: height, dust, noise, lifting, electricity?
• Is the right PPE available and does it fit?
• Scaffolding, ladder and fall protection checked?
• Tools, cables and batteries in good condition?
• Extraction or water ready for cutting and grinding?
• Walkways clear and materials stacked stably?
• Does everyone know what to do after an accident and where the first aid kit is?
• Building materials ordered on time?
• LMRA done just before the start?

Frequently asked questions about safe working on the construction site

What PPE do you need on a construction site?

That depends on the job. Common items are S3 safety shoes, a helmet, work gloves and a high-visibility vest, plus eye and hearing protection, a dust mask or fall protection.

What is the difference between S1 and S3 safety shoes?

Both have a protective toecap, a closed, shock-absorbing heel and are antistatic. S3 shoes also have a water-resistant upper, a sole that protects against piercing and a cleated outsole.

Which mask protects against silica dust?

A well-fitting FFP3 mask or a half mask with a P3 filter, in addition to working wet or with extraction.

From what height are fall protection measures needed?

Dutch regulations always treat 2.5 metres or more as a fall hazard, and lower heights too when there are extra risks, such as floor openings.

How do I set up a ladder safely?

At about 75 degrees, on a firm, level surface, extending at least 1 metre above the landing point.

When do I need hearing protection?

If you can no longer understand someone at 1 metre, it is probably too loud. Then wear hearing protection.

What is a Last Minute Risk Assessment (LMRA)?

A short check just before the start of a job or with any change at the workplace. You run through questions about your task, the risks, PPE, tools and the workplace. If it is not safe, you stop and report it.

Do I need to wear PPE as a DIYer?

Labour safety law does not cover private individuals, but the risks are the same. So protect yourself just as well.

Can I order workwear and PPE from Saniso?

Yes. Our webshop offers workwear, safety shoes, gloves, helmets, eye and hearing protection, dust masks and fall protection. We deliver throughout Europe; delivery costs depend on the location.

Can I visit the Saniso showroom?

Yes. Our showroom is at De Corantijn 95 in Zwaag, the Netherlands. Visits are by appointment; book at least 24 hours in advance.

Get to work safely with Saniso

Saniso, the online building supplies store for building and renovation, offers building materials, tools, workwear and PPE under one roof.

• Browse our workwear & PPE range.
• Create a customer account.
• Working on a larger project? Request a project quote.
• Book a showroom visit in Zwaag, at least 24 hours in advance.
• Not sure which protection suits your job? Contact us.

Saniso – Build your home with Saniso.