PPE checklist for outdoor work in UAE summer

Summer temperatures in the UAE regularly pass 45°C, and the sun adds to the heat on exposed skin and equipment. The right protective equipment keeps workers safe without making the heat worse. Use this checklist when you kit out a site crew.

Head and face

• Safety helmet with a vented shell, and a neck shade or sun flap
• Safety glasses with UV protection; tinted lenses for outdoor work in bright sun
• Face shield for grinding and cutting

Hands

• General work gloves with breathable backs for handling materials
• Cut-resistant gloves for sheet metal and glass
• Leather welding gloves for hot work
• Remember that metal tools and materials left in the sun can burn bare hands

Feet

• Safety shoes or boots with toe protection and a penetration-resistant sole on construction sites (look for S1P or S3 under EN ISO 20345)
• Heat-resistant outsoles for hot surfaces such as asphalt and roofs
• Breathable lining and moisture-wicking socks to reduce sweating and blisters

Body

• Light-coloured, loose, breathable long sleeves: they keep the sun off better than bare arms
• High-visibility vest in mesh fabric where vehicles or plant are moving
• Flame-resistant clothing for welding and hot work
• Cooling vests or neck coolers for crews working long hours in the sun

Hearing and breathing

• Ear plugs or ear muffs around generators, breakers and cutting
• Dust masks (FFP2 or better) for cutting concrete, block and tiles, and for sanding

Heat stress basics

• The UAE midday break: outdoor work under direct sun is not allowed between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm from 15 June to 15 September each year (check the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for the current year's dates).
• Plan heavy tasks for early morning and late afternoon.
• Provide shaded rest areas and cool drinking water close to the work.
• Encourage drinking water little and often, before workers feel thirsty, with electrolytes for long shifts.
• Train supervisors to spot heat exhaustion: dizziness, headache, heavy sweating, nausea. Move the worker to shade and cool them down; call for medical help if symptoms do not improve quickly.

Kitting out a crew? Send our sales team the list and quantities and we will price it.