They say you never really understand someone unless you walk a mile in their shoes. And while this is a universal truth, it is a truth that is especially poignant when it comes to the men and women who work road construction throughout the country. For while many Americans are readjusting their lives and their schedules to make sure that they are finding a way just to get to 10,000 steps a day, the average construction worker or laborer walk more than 30,000 steps on a normal work day.
It makes sense then that an entire industry has emerged to make sure that these workers are properly outfitted, for both comfort and for safety. In fact, the safety of construction workers across the country is so important that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes recommendations and regulations for kinds of safety clothing that must be worn in many construction settings. OSHA approved workwear, in fact, offers a worker the satisfaction of knowing that the clothing they purchase will keep them safe. From cargo work pants with reflective tape to reflective button up shirts, for instance, the purpose of many items is to increase visibility. and while cargo work pants with reflective tape provide visibility, many footwear items are designed with protection in mind.
steel toed boots, for instance, protect construction workers’ feet when they are on the job, as well as provide a comfortable support for jobs that requiring long periods of standing or constant walking. And while foot protection is important for some jobs, other workers also find that it is important to wear noise canceling devices and other protection. Consider some of these safety recommendations that are a part of the construction work force in America:

• Depending on how well they fit, earplugs can reduce noise by as much as 15 to 30 decibels.
• Research indicates that younger construction workers are often at the highest risk for injury that can cause them to miss work. For instance, 16- to 19-year-olds missed four days of work on average after a work injury, according to 2014 statistics.
• Employers require that their workers wear cargo work pants with reflective tape to make sure that they are more easily seen when they are working alongside busy roads and highways.
• Some safety clothing companies offer discounts to workers who mention their employers.
• Some companies provide a yearly allowance for work boots or other types of necessary clothing.






• Research also indicates that a new employee in the first month at work has more than three times the risk for a lost-time injury than others, according to the Institute for Work and Health in Canada. It is important that companies make sure that new workers are closely supervised.
• In the year 2015, 4,836 workers were killed on the job, equalling 13 deaths every single day.
• Going to work without the proper safety clothing puts you and your work crew at risk. Make sure that you understand all of the necessary safety requirements for the specific job site where you will be working.
• Hearing loss can be permanent when sounds are louder than than 85 decibels.
• The maximum exposure time to any sound at 85 decibels is eight hours. This limitation is defined by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Heath.