Safety Gear

Reviewed by a working tradesman with 17+ years in the field.

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The PPE list from head to boots, with the CSA marks to look for and when to replace it.

I am a:

Tap your level and the boxes below open to the advice for you. Remembered on this device.

What it isThe personal protective equipment (PPE) for head, eyes, ears, lungs, hands, feet, visibility and falls.

Your jobPick gear that carries the right CSA mark, fits you, is in good condition, and is worn.

The hard rulePPE is the last line of defence. Remove or control the hazard first.

The checkRight mark, right fit, no damage, trained to use it.

By the end you can

Name the PPE for each part of the body and the CSA standard on its label.
Tell Type 1 from Type 2 and Class E, G and C on a hard hat.
Read the green triangle on a boot.
Match PPE to the task and know when to retire it.

Stop and read

PPE reduces harm when something goes wrong. It does not remove the hazard. Use guards, guardrails, shoring and dust control first. A basic dust mask does not control concrete or silica dust, and a harness is only safe with an anchor, training and a rescue plan.

The big idea

PPE works only if it is the right kind, fits, is in good condition and is worn. Canadian PPE follows CSA standards, which are national: Z94.1 hard hats, Z94.2 hearing, Z94.3 eye and face, Z94.4 respirators, Z96 high-visibility apparel, Z195 footwear and the Z259 series for fall arrest. When each item must be worn is set by your province's OHS regulation. Confirm current editions and rules with your regulator.

Head protection

Hard hats follow CSA Z94.1. The type covers impact and penetration. The class covers electrical protection.

Mark	What it means
Type 1	Impact and penetration at the top (crown) only
Type 2	Top plus sides and back
Class E	20,000 V electrical rating, high-voltage conductors
Class G	2,200 V electrical rating, low-voltage, general trades
Class C	No electrical rating

Care: check the shell, liner and suspension before each use. Chalky, dull, cracked or stiff means replace. Replace any hat that took a hit, even if it looks fine. The month and year of manufacture are marked on it, and the maker may state a useful life.
Winter liners must be secured within the hard hat, so use one made for your model.
Bump caps are not hard hats. Do not use one where objects can fall.
Do not drill the shell, use solvents to paint it, or leave it in a hot car (maker's guidance; confirm in your manual).

Eye, face and hearing

Safety glasses (CSA Z94.3): clear for most work, tinted for glare. Wear them to drill, cut, break or mix.
Goggles seal against dust, splashes and spray. Face shields go over glasses for grinding, cutting and chemicals. Anti-fog helps in cold, humid weather.
Hearing (CSA Z94.2): plugs or muffs around saws, breakers, compactors, power trowels and machines. Noise damage is permanent. Electronic muffs let you hear speech and warnings. Exposure limits are set by your provincial OHS regulation: Confirm.

Breathing

Dust masks do not control concrete or silica dust.
N95s and half-face respirators (CSA Z94.4) need a fit test, and facial hair breaks the seal.
Silica: cutting, grinding and breaking concrete makes respirable crystalline silica. Control it at the source with water or extraction first, then wear the respirator your exposure control plan calls for. Limits differ by province: Confirm with your regulator.
Cartridges: particulate filters for dust, organic vapour cartridges for many solvents, and the product's safety data sheet for chemicals.
Wildfire smoke: a well-fitted N95 can help. Follow your employer's smoke plan and check air quality.

Hands, feet and visibility

Gloves: cut-resistant for rebar, tie wire, nails and sheet metal; waterproof for wet concrete; chemical-resistant matched to the product; insulated for cold. Cut-resistant sleeves protect forearms.
Boots (CSA Z195): the green triangle means sole puncture protection with a Grade 1 toecap. That is the mark for construction.
Other Z195 marks: yellow triangle is puncture protection with a Grade 2 toecap; blue rectangle is Grade 1 toe with no puncture sole; white rectangle with orange Ω is electric-shock protection, which weakens with wear and wet. Check the label.
Winter and slippery ground: insulated boots with a rated toe, and ice cleats. Take cleats off on stairs and ladders if they catch.
High-visibility (CSA Z96): wear it wherever machines or vehicles move. Dirty or faded garments lose visibility. The class and colour required are set by your regulator: Confirm.

Fall protection

Harness, lanyard and anchor (CSA Z259 series) is for where guardrails are not possible. The anchor, lanyard and harness must work as one system, and you need a rescue plan. Only trained workers should use it, and it needs regular inspection. The height at which fall protection is required differs by province: Confirm.

Gear by task

Task	Wear
Excavation	Hard hat, boots, glasses, hi-vis, hearing near machines, respirator in dust
Forming	Hard hat, gloves, sleeves, glasses, hearing for saws and nailers
Rebar	Cut-resistant gloves and sleeves, boots, glasses, hard hat, knee pads
Concrete	Waterproof boots, concrete gloves, knee pads, glasses, respirator when cutting
Waterproofing	Chemical-resistant gloves, respirator or ventilation, glasses
Drainage	Mud boots, gloves, glasses
Compaction	Hearing protection, boots, glasses, hi-vis

Example (numbers made up). Kitting out a crew of 6 with a $190 pair of boots and an $85 jacket each costs 6 × (190 + 85) = $1,650, or $275 per person. Price it into the quote.

Common mistakes

Wrong PPE for the task
Damaged gear that is not replaced
No respirator when cutting or grinding
Respirators never fit-tested
Wrong boots for the weather
No hi-vis near machines
Poor fit
Gear left in the truck

Pro note

PPE is part of the tool load, not an extra. If a task makes you reach for a mask or face shield, that is the hazard speaking.

Weather note

Heat, cold, rain and wind change what you need. Fogged glasses, wet gloves, slippery boots and heat stress cause accidents. Adjust your PPE to the day.

What the inspector or safety officer looks at

PPE worn correctly for the task, in good condition, with the right CSA mark, plus training and records where the rules ask for them. Confirm what your regulator checks.

✅ Check yourselfTap a question

What is the difference between a Type 1 and a Type 2 hard hat?

Type 1 protects against impact and penetration at the top (crown) only. Type 2 protects the top and also the sides and back (CCOHS, describing CSA Z94.1).

Which hard hat classes give electrical protection?

Class E is rated 20,000 V and Class G 2,200 V. Class C has no electrical rating. Either type can be paired with E or G.

When do you replace a hard hat?

When it is cracked, dented, chalky or worn, and after it has been struck by an object even if no damage shows. Check the shell, liner and suspension before each use.

What does a green triangle on a boot mean?

Sole puncture protection with a Grade 1 protective toecap. It is the mark to look for on construction sites with nails, rebar and sharp debris.

Is a basic dust mask enough when you cut concrete?

No. Control dust at the source with water or extraction first, then use the respirator your employer's exposure control plan calls for, fit-tested to you.

Your rain-gear order is 6 jackets at $85 and 6 pairs of boots at $190. What is the total, and what is it for a crew of 6 per person?

6 × 85 = $510 and 6 × 190 = $1,140, so $1,650 total, or $275 per person. Numbers are made up; price real PPE into every quote.

🧰 Gear for this stepMust-haveRent itNice to have

Must-haveHead:
Must-haveEyes and face:
Must-haveHearing:
Must-haveBreathing: fit-tested half-face respirator with the right cartridges or filters (CSA Z94.4)
Must-haveHands and arms:
Must-haveFeet:
Must-haveHigh-visibility vest or jacket (CSA Z96)
Rent itFall protection: harness, lanyard, anchors and lifeline (CSA Z259 series), with training and a rescue plan
Nice to haveKnee pads, coveralls, thermal layers and rain gear
Must-haveConsumables:

🛒 Buy, rent or borrow?Tap your level

Home DIY

Buy your own hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, boots and a respirator that has been fit-tested. This is the one place not to borrow, because fit matters. Do not cut, grind or break concrete without dust control, do not work where you could fall without proper fall protection and training, and hire a pro for roofs.

Laborer or helper

Wear your own boots, glasses and gloves every shift, and use the hard hat and respirator you are issued. Never borrow gear that must fit you. Report damaged gear at once, and stop work if the right PPE is missing.

1st-year apprentice

Your employer supplies a hard hat, harness and respirator where the rules require; you bring boots, gloves and glasses. Learn fit testing, inspection and care before you use any gear alone.

Apprentice, 2nd to 4th year

Bring your boots, gloves and glasses, and learn how to fit-test, inspect and care for issued gear. Do not use a harness or respirator until you are trained. Speak up if your gear is damaged or not suited to the task.

Journeyperson

Own and maintain your own PPE and set the example. You decide what each task needs, retire damaged gear, and stop work when the right PPE is not available.

Lead hand or foreman

Check the crew's PPE regularly, retire damaged gear and make sure dust and fall protection controls are in place before work starts. Stop the job when the right PPE is missing. Keep training and fit-test records for the employer.

Contractor or business owner

Supply, train, record and replace PPE for every worker, including fit tests, fall protection training and inspection logs. Price PPE into every job; a missing record is the first thing a regulator asks for.

Starting a new business

Budget PPE for every worker before you quote, and learn what training and fit testing must be recorded. Set up an inspection log from day one. Confirm PPE and training rules with your provincial regulator and workers' compensation board.

By Province:

The CSA PPE standards are national. What differs is each province's OHS regulation: when PPE is required, noise and silica limits, fall protection heights, and fit-test and training records. WHMIS is national and enforced provincially. I dropped the old per-province section numbers and silica limits because I could not verify them. Confirm with your provincial regulator and workers' compensation board.

See Canada by Province for the full comparison.

Sources:

CCOHS, Selecting Protective Headwear (hard hat types, classes, inspection).
Levitt-Safety, CSA footwear markings (secondary source, a safety supplier).
CSA standards named (Z94.2, Z94.3, Z94.4, Z96, Z259) are listed from the old page; current editions were not checked here.

Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not engineering or legal advice.