When Should PPE Be Used In Construction?

When Should PPE Be Used in Construction?

When should personal protective equipment (PPE) be used in construction? In this blog, I want to share a clear, practical mindset around PPE, how we should view it, enforce it, and lead by example to build a stronger safety culture on every project.

I’ve covered PPE in more detail in other blogs, but this one focuses on the mindset behind its consistent use and how it reflects the overall health of your project.

The Misunderstood Mindset Around Lean and Safety

Many people misunderstand lean culture, thinking it’s about squeezing more productivity out of people. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Real lean culture is about respect for people, creating a stable, safe environment where individuals can do their best work.

On the other extreme, some believe lean means avoiding accountability altogether, letting people “do whatever feels right.” That’s not correct either. True lean organizations like Toyota or FastCap operate with clarity, discipline, and unwavering safety standards.

In these companies, you can’t show up unsafe, skip huddles, or cut corners. Their environments are stable because they’re built to protect people and allow them to thrive.

That’s the same mindset we need to apply to PPE in construction.

PPE: The Pulse of Your Project

Think of PPE as the pulse of your job site. Just as you’d check someone’s pulse to see if they’re healthy, PPE is an indicator of your project’s health and your team’s commitment to safety.

If your crew won’t wear PPE or maintain a clean job site, that’s a warning sign, they likely won’t follow other safety rules either. Every time I’ve been lenient with PPE, I’ve seen it led to much bigger safety issues later on.

Here’s a simple truth:

• If someone won’t wear their safety glasses, they won’t wear fall protection.
• If they ignore their hard hat, they won’t take shoring safety seriously.
• If they skip their vest, they’ll overlook lockout/tagout procedures.

The way people treat small things like PPE reflects how they handle big things.

How I Enforce PPE on My Projects

On every project I lead, PPE isn’t optional. From the moment anyone steps onto the site, they must have:

• Boots.
• Pants.
• A sleeved shirt.
• High-visibility vest.
• Gloves.
• Hard hat.
• Safety glasses.

All properly worn, 100% of the time.

If someone isn’t wearing their PPE, they’re sent home respectfully but firmly. They can go through orientation again and return, but if it happens twice, they no longer work on my job sites.

Whenever I’ve enforced this consistently, the results speak for themselves: no deaths, no major injuries, low incident rates, and high morale. The site becomes safer, cleaner, and more efficient because everyone takes the rules seriously.

It’s About Leadership, Not Blame

It’s easy to say, “It’s the worker’s responsibility.” But as project leaders, the real responsibility lies with us.

People are smart as individuals but in groups, social dynamics can pull them down. When one worker ignores PPE, others may follow. That’s why it’s our job as leaders to override that social pressure and protect them, even from their own habits.

Never leave safety to chance. The success of your project is determined by the worst behavior you’re willing to tolerate.

So, When Should PPE Be Used?

The answer is simple: All the time.

No exceptions.
No excuses.

Whether you’re in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, or anywhere else, every worker on every site deserves the same level of protection. No shorts, no skipped gear, no cutting corners. If Toyota workers, soldiers, or police officers can’t pick and choose when to wear their safety gear, neither should we.

Key Takeaway

Wearing PPE isn’t just about compliance, it’s a reflection of your leadership and your project’s culture. When everyone commits to 100% PPE, 100% of the time, you create a stable, safe environment where people can truly thrive.