Kit list by trade
Safety gear for construction
What PPE is required on an Australian construction site?
Most Australian construction sites run on the same core kit: a hi-vis garment with a class stated under AS/NZS 4602.1, safety boots certified to AS/NZS 2210.3, a hard hat marked under AS/NZS 1801, eye protection under AS/NZS 1337.1, and hearing protection where noise requires it.
Key takeaways
- Hi-vis class is the first thing to check. Class D covers daytime, Class N night, and Class D/N both, all marked under AS/NZS 4602.1.
- Safety boot listings carry a code set under AS/NZS 2210.3. Read the code on the specific boot, because two boots in one range can differ.
- Hard hats state a type marking under AS/NZS 1801, and accessories only count when the helmet manufacturer intends them for that helmet.
- Silica and asbestos dust need respiratory protection selected against AS/NZS 1716, plus fit testing that no product page can do for you.
Which hi-vis class does a construction site need?
Work out whether the work happens in daylight, after dark, or both, then match the class. Class D is daytime only, Class N is night only, and Class D/N carries both the fluorescent fabric and the retroreflective tape. Site rules and your risk assessment decide, not the product page.
Almost every hi-vis garment in this range states its class on the listing, and many also state the AS/NZS 1906.4 material classes for the fabric and tape.
Bio motion tape placement, which puts tape on the limbs as well as the torso, appears across several Australian ranges and is worth asking about where crews work around moving plant.
Sydney summer work pushes crews towards vented, lightweight hi-vis, and most Australian ranges now carry a vented option in the same class.
What should you check on a construction safety boot?
Check four things: the toe type, the code set stated against AS/NZS 2210.3, the closure, and the sole. Zip sided boots dominate Australian sites because they come off at the door, and most keep a lace so the fit can still be adjusted properly.
Concrete all day is hard on feet, so midsole cushioning and a replaceable footbed matter as much as the certification. Several guides on this hub cover footbeds and insoles separately.
A boot with no stated designation is not a rated boot. If a rated boot is required on your site, buy one whose listing names AS/NZS 2210.3 and keep the supplier paperwork with your records.
What head, eye and hearing protection does a site need?
A hard hat marked under AS/NZS 1801 wherever an overhead or impact hazard exists, eye protection with a stated impact rating under AS/NZS 1337.1 for cutting, grinding and drilling, and hearing protectors with a class and SLC80 figure under AS/NZS 1270 matched to the measured noise level.
Over protection with hearing gear is a genuine problem: a worker who cannot hear a reversing alarm is not safer. Match the class to the measured level rather than buying the highest number.
Helmet accessories such as brim mounted earmuffs are certified with the helmet they are designed for, so mixing brands is not a certified system.
What respiratory protection do construction dusts need?
Cutting, grinding and demolition generate respirable dust, and silica is the one that drives most Australian construction dust controls. Respirators sold here name AS/NZS 1716 and carry a filter marking such as P2. A tight fitting respirator only works with a seal, which is why fit testing exists.
Facial hair across the sealing surface breaks the seal, and no filter class compensates for a leak.
Selecting protection for a specific dust is a job for your risk assessment and the relevant code of practice, not for a product page. Start from the contaminant, then match the filter marking.
What does working at height add to the order?
Fall protection under the AS/NZS 1891 series: a harness, the right connectors, a rated anchorage, enough clearance below the worker, trained users and a rescue plan. Equipment certification covers the equipment only, and the rest comes from your height safety procedure.
Harnesses need a user check before every use and a documented inspection by a competent person at the interval the manufacturer sets.
What is specific to Sydney construction sites?
The standards are national, so the difference is practical. Sydney runs a large volume of high rise and infrastructure work with strict site induction rules, which means hi-vis class, hard hats and boots are checked at the gate, and heat drives demand for vented garments through summer.
In New South Wales the work health and safety regulator is SafeWork NSW, and the rules are the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) and the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW). Other states and territories have their own regulator and their own regulation.
Site specific rules often go further than the minimum. Where a principal contractor specifies a class or a code, buy to that specification and keep the supplier documentation.
Where to start
Guides for this trade
- Bisley BS6897 3M taped cool lightweight hi-vis shirt
- Syzmik ZH380 Bio Motion hi-vis polo
- Bisley Biomotion stretch cotton cargo pants with tape
- Blundstone Rotoflex Max zip sided boot
- Oliver 150mm zip side boot
- Force360 premium Type 1 vented ratchet hard hat
- Force360 Air safety spec clear
- Force360 Eco earmuff, class 5 hearing protection
- JSP Typhoon 8 half mask respirator, asbestos and silica kit
- LINQ Elite riggers harness, H301
Frequently asked questions
What does Class D/N mean on site hi-vis?
Class D/N means the garment is certified under AS/NZS 4602.1 for both daytime and night time use, carrying fluorescent background fabric and retroreflective tape. Class D is daytime only and Class N is night only. Your site rules and risk assessment set which class is required.
Do I need steel toe or composite toe boots for construction?
Either can be certified under AS/NZS 2210.3, so the choice comes down to the site and the work. Composite suits metal detection areas and feels less cold; steel is slimmer and usually cheaper. Check the code set on the specific boot rather than the range.
How often should a hard hat be replaced?
Replace a helmet after any impact, when the shell is cracked, chalky, faded or deformed, when the harness is damaged, and at the interval the manufacturer states. Ultraviolet exposure degrades the shell over time, which is why a service life is set rather than judging by appearance.
What respirator do I need for concrete cutting?
Respirators sold in Australia name AS/NZS 1716 and carry a filter marking such as P2 for particulates. Which device and which filter suits a specific task depends on the dust, the concentration and the controls already in place, so work from your risk assessment and the relevant code of practice.