24 October 2026 · AHIHQ Traders Team

Construction site PPE checklist: what each crew member needs

A construction site PPE checklist starts with the same four items for every worker: a safety helmet, safety shoes, work gloves and a reflector jacket. Add goggles, dust masks and ear muffs for cutting, grinding and drilling; a harness for work at height; and rain gear, traffic cones and warning tape for the site itself. In Nairobi in October 2026, the Knicker Safety Helmet (Light) is KSh 7,975 for a carton of 50, and Safety Shoes are KSh 19,575 for a carton of 10 pairs.

Construction PPE at a glance

Item	Who needs it	Options	Wholesale pack and price
Knicker Safety Helmet	Everyone on site	Light, Medium	Light: KSh 7,975 / carton of 50; Medium: KSh 7,830 / carton of 30
Safety Shoes	Everyone on site	Sizes 3 to 12	KSh 19,575 / carton of 10 pairs
Hand Gloves	Everyone, by task	17 types	From KSh 19,140 / bag of 120 pairs
Knicker Reflector Jacket	Everyone, especially near traffic	70gsm, 120gsm, heavy with pocket	From KSh 10,875 / carton of 100
Knicker Safety Goggles, Clear	Cutting, grinding, drilling, chiselling	Clear	KSh 14,500 / carton of 200
Knicker Dust Masks & Respirators	Sanding, cutting, mixing, spraying	Blue frame, chemical single, chemical double	From KSh 6,670 / carton of 200
Knicker Ear Muff	Machine operators	One type	KSh 12,325 / carton of 50
Knicker Safety Belt / Harness	Work at height	Half cover, full cover, single or double hook	From KSh 17,400 / bag of 20
Knicker Rain Coat	Outdoor crews in the rains	Coat and trouser set, overall	From KSh 43,500 / carton of 50
Knicker Traffic Cone 73cm	Site perimeter, road works	73cm	KSh 20,300 / bag of 20
Knicker Warning Tape 2"	Trenches, hazards, no-go areas	100m, 250m	From KSh 12,530 / carton of 72

What PPE does every worker on a construction site need?

Four items cover the basic hazards on almost any site: falling objects, nails and dropped loads, rough or sharp materials, and being seen by drivers and machine operators.

Safety helmets

The Knicker Safety Helmet comes in two weights. The Light helmet is KSh 7,975 for a carton of 50 (about KSh 160 a piece). The Medium helmet is KSh 7,830 for a carton of 30 (about KSh 261 a piece). Replace any helmet that is cracked or has taken a hard knock, and adjust the headband so it sits firmly.

Safety shoes

Safety Shoes are listed in sizes 3 to 12 (ask on WhatsApp which sizes a carton holds) and are KSh 19,575 for a carton of 10 pairs, which works out at about KSh 1,958 a pair.

Reflector jackets

Anyone working near vehicles, plant or a road should be easy to see. The Knicker Reflector Jacket is sold in cartons of 100: the Light 70gsm in green and orange is KSh 10,875 (about KSh 109 a piece); the 120gsm green or orange is KSh 15,225 (about KSh 152 a piece); and the heavy 120gsm versions with a pocket, in coloured or standard, are KSh 33,350 (about KSh 334 a piece).

Which gloves for which job?

Hand Gloves come in 17 types, sold by the bag. Match the glove to the work:

Masonry, concrete and wet work: rubber gloves, such as Rubber "SUN" 100g (KSh 26,100 for 300 pairs, about KSh 87 a pair) or 200g (KSh 31,900 for 200 pairs, about KSh 160 a pair), or Red PVC 14" (KSh 19,140 for 120 pairs) and Red PVC 18" (KSh 26,100 for 120 pairs) for longer cuff cover.
Carrying blocks, steel and timber: PVC coated (KSh 39,150 for 360 pairs, about KSh 109 a pair), PVC coated H/D (KSh 54,810 for 360 pairs), nitrile coated (KSh 39,150 for 600 pairs, about KSh 65 a pair) or latex coated (KSh 69,600 for 600 pairs, about KSh 116 a pair).
Rough, hot or abrasive work: leather gloves, such as Leather Yellow (KSh 46,980 for 240 pairs), Knicker Leather 10.5" (KSh 34,455 for 144 pairs), Leather Long Grey (KSh 35,670 for 120 pairs) and Leather 16" Red (KSh 55,680 for 120 pairs).
Sheet metal, glass and sharp edges: Anti-Cut Gloves at KSh 26,100 for 120 pairs, about KSh 218 a pair.
Light handling and general labour: Cotton White Dotted (KSh 26,100 for 600 pairs, about KSh 44 a pair) or Canvas 24 Lines (KSh 34,800 for 400 pairs, about KSh 87 a pair).
Industrial use: Industrial Gloves No. 8 (KSh 33,060 for 240 pairs) and No. 10 (KSh 34,800 for 240 pairs).

What extra PPE do machine operators need?

Workers using grinders, drills, breakers and saws face flying particles, dust and noise. Add these to the basic four:

Eye protection: Knicker Safety Goggles, Clear, KSh 14,500 for a carton of 200, about KSh 72 a pair.
Dust and fume protection: Knicker Dust Masks & Respirators. The Blue Frame mask is KSh 6,670 for a carton of 200 (about KSh 33 a piece). For paint, solvent and chemical work, the Chemical Respirator Single is KSh 13,050 for a carton of 50 (about KSh 261 a piece) and the Double is KSh 16,675 for a carton of 50 (about KSh 334 a piece).
Hearing protection: Knicker Ear Muff, KSh 12,325 for a carton of 50, about KSh 246 a piece.

What do you need for work at height?

Anyone on scaffolding, roofs or open edges should wear a harness clipped to a secure anchor. The Knicker Safety Belt / Harness comes as Half Cover at KSh 17,400 for a bag of 20; Full Cover at KSh 65,250 for a bag of 25; Full Cover Single Hook at KSh 18,850 for a carton of 10 (about KSh 1,885 a piece); and Full Cover Double Hook at KSh 21,750 for a carton of 10 (about KSh 2,175 a piece). A double hook lets the worker clip on to the next anchor before unclipping the last. Check straps, stitching and hooks before each use. For protection against a fall, choose one of the full cover harnesses, not the half cover belt.

Rain gear and site safety items

Crews working through the long and short rains stay drier and safer in proper rain gear. The Knicker Rain Coat comes as a coat and trouser set at KSh 50,750 for a carton of 50 sets (about KSh 1,015 a set) or as an overall at KSh 43,500 for a carton of 50 (about KSh 870 a piece).

To mark out the site, the Knicker Traffic Cone 73cm is KSh 20,300 for a bag of 20 (about KSh 1,015 a cone). Knicker Warning Tape 2" fences off trenches, openings and no-go areas: the 100m roll is KSh 12,530 for a carton of 72 and the 250m roll is KSh 22,970 for a carton of 72.

Which one should you buy?

Kitting out a new crew: helmets, safety shoes, reflector jackets and gloves for every worker.
Masons and concrete crews: rubber or Red PVC gloves and Blue Frame dust masks.
Grinder and saw operators: goggles, ear muffs and leather gloves.
Painters and sprayers: a Chemical Respirator from the dust masks and respirators line.
Roofers and scaffolders: a Full Cover Double Hook harness.
Road and perimeter work: traffic cones and warning tape.

Where to buy

Everything in this guide is in our Safety & PPE range, part of the wider Tools & Hardware range. These lines are sold wholesale only, by the pack (carton, bag or packet), never as single pieces. If you need only one or two pieces, share a carton with other fundis or shops, or buy for stock. Collect from our Nairobi trade counter at Royal Business Park, opposite Complast, Old Mombasa Road (Mon–Sat 8:00–17:30), or order for countrywide delivery at KSh 350 flat, free on orders over KSh 15,000. Pay by M-Pesa or card. Trade buyers can request a quote on the trade page, or send your list on WhatsApp +254 724 505 919.

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Common questions

What is the minimum PPE for a construction worker?

As a working baseline: a safety helmet, safety shoes, gloves suited to the task and a reflector jacket. Add eye, ear, dust and fall protection as the job needs it.

How much is a safety helmet in Kenya?

In Nairobi in October 2026, the Knicker Safety Helmet Light is KSh 7,975 for a carton of 50 (about KSh 160 a piece) and the Medium is KSh 7,830 for a carton of 30 (about KSh 261 a piece).

What is the difference between 70gsm and 120gsm reflector jackets?

The gsm figure is the fabric weight. The 120gsm jacket uses heavier fabric than the 70gsm one, which generally holds up better on long jobs.

Can I buy PPE for a small crew of three?

This range is sold wholesale by the carton or bag only. For a small crew, share a carton with another contractor or keep the rest as stock for new workers.

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