With the changing of the seasons come significant changes. The summer is over, and it’s time to dust off your work boots and overalls for a fresh start in a new season. Everyone knows that construction workers have a tough job. With all the jobs available, it’s only natural that their tools need to be well-maintained and up to date. Many construction workers are not aware of what they need in their arsenal to be the best at their job. It is possible that they received some tools when they started, but that was years ago when they were starting.
Below are the top 10 items that every construction worker needs to get through their day with ease and come home safe.
1. Strong Lunch Box/Cooler
This isn’t one of those light-duty lunch boxes that you can buy for $10 at the local grocery store. This is a strong box that not only keeps your food cold but also keeps it safe from rodents and bugs. Since a strong lunch box on the construction site is essential, it needs to be durable with good latches that keep everything inside. You won’t find anything worse than having your month’s worth of sandwiches stolen by stray cats or other pests making their way onto the site. It’s best to go with something made out of polypropylene because it doesn’t rust, rot or corrode over time.
2. Gloves/Goggles/Mask
There are so many hazards at a construction site with all the different equipment and tools used. Many professionals choose not to wear eye protection because you can easily get hurt or injured from certain types of dust particles making their way into your eyes. However, wearing protective goggles or masks is essential to keeping those harmful particles from entering your body’s most delicate parts. Gloves are just as important, especially when handling materials that could cut or puncture someone’s hand.
3. Tool Belt/Bucket Organizer
It may seem like a no-brainer for most construction workers, but having the right tool belt makes all the difference in the world when it comes to how much work gets done per hour. If there isn’t enough space on your belt for all your tools, then you’ll end up wasting time now and then stopping to pick up your toolbox. This is why it’s so important to invest in a good set of tool belts that can fit practically anything within them, including drills, nails and screws, hammers, chisels, and even measuring tapes.
4. Folding Shovel/Pick Axe
Having a folding shovel or pickaxe on you at all times is a good idea because it could be used for all kinds of heavy-duty tasks. Whether it’s breaking apart dirt, rocks, and even various metal kits these tools can handle any project. They are lightweight and easy to pack with the rest of your supplies, so if something does happen to go wrong along the way, then you’ll know you have what needs to be fixed instantly.
5. Power Inverter/Voltage Converter
A power inverter is an essential tool for those working on construction sites who can’t quite make it through the day without their electronics. A power inverter enables you to plug in your electronic devices such as laptops, cell phones, and even tablets into a car battery so they can charge up while you work. Voltage converters are also great to have if you plan to travel abroad or go out of state because they convert the voltage from high to low, which prevents damage to your electronic equipment.
6. Flashlight/Headlamp
Having a flashlight or headlamp is just as important as having a good pair of protective goggles. It can be used for repairs that require more light than from the standard wall socket or other sources. Having additional lighting on hand when there’s not enough power to see what you’re doing makes all the difference in how much work gets done per hour. It’s best to go out and get yourself some LED flashlights because they are bright, durable, and will last you forever without needing any replacements.
7. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit may seem like an obvious choice for your construction worker essentials list, but it doesn’t hurt to tell people about them again. This is especially important in today’s world because there are so many accidents happening all the time that could have easily been prevented with a simple first aid kit by your side. These kits come complete with everything you’ll need to start patching yourself up when an injury happens, including bandages, disinfectants, gauze, and even instant cold packs to relieve pain.
8. Portable Power Generator
Whether you’re working on a site where there isn’t enough power supplied or live somewhere that experiences numerous power outages each day, this could be the perfect item for your needs. Portable generators can run on gas (for up to 12 hours) or even on pure electricity if you have a socket near you that you can plug into. They are also great to use when camping or during emergencies because they supply power instantly without waiting for the power company to get the job done.
9. Dehumidifier
This may not be an obvious choice for most people, but it’s something you should look into getting if you plan on working somewhere with a lot of humidity. A dehumidifier pulls water vapor from the surrounding air and condenses it into liquid form to be recycled again or put back into storage. This will keep your equipment safe and allow you to work as long as possible before dealing with costly repairs down the line.
10. Laser Light Level
Last but certainly not least is this laser light level tool that can help make life so much easier for construction workers everywhere. Instead of having to crawl around on the ground looking for where everything is slanted, you can scan the laser in all directions until it’s free of any significant blockages or inconsistencies in your existing work surface. This will ensure that all of your tools are perfectly level no matter how high up they happen to be, making life just a little bit simpler in more ways than one.
There are many different items that construction workers need to make their jobs go by faster and get done better than ever before. One of these items might do something for one worker, while an entirely different item might help out another person working alongside them, so there isn’t precisely a setlist of must-haves to add to your tool belt. Just make sure you’re prepared for any situation that could come up and always try to bring something with you that works extra hard to help out in a time of need.