PPE: Hard Hats and Vests . . . Everybody Has to Wear ‘Em!

OSHA approved construction hard hats are a safety requirement at any construction site. Although the construction headgear comes in various shapes and colors, I’ve noticed at the LLU Hospital construction site the usual fair seems to be the standard white (cooler to wear in the summer). There are a few brave souls who wear the natural tan hats (even in the summer). Since the headgear is an OSHA safety requirement used to ward off workplace hazards, these expensive hats become part of the soul and spirit of the individual construction worker. Thus, the headgear must be, in some way, personalized, individualized, and stickerized (stickered is the correct word, but stickered does not end in “ized.” By this I mean, the construction hat personifies the personality (as seen in these photos) of the individual wearer. No doubt the wearer of this hard had is unaware that he is working on the construction site in the middle of Loma Linda, California, which has been designated as one the world’s “Blue Zones,” or community whose residents are known for their longevity. For more information on the Blue Zone see: Loma Linda one of the five longevity spots in the world

o3-17 – 01a
A sign that was posted on the work site reminding the employees (especially those employees who have office position in the trailers) that
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as hard hats, protective eyewear, an orange vest, gloves, and steel-toed boots are required on site.

12.09.16 – 01
Do not judge these two gentlemen by their clean looking hats for they belie their project responsibilities. Max on the right is the job superintendent
and Jack on the left is the assistant job superintendent. They stop to pose for the camera as they survey the progress for the day.

02.16.17 – 02
A well used natural tan hat with a little patriotism thrown in on the back brim.

02.15.17 – 03
Rodbuster buddies.

02.30.17 – 04
An OSHA approved headgear that is fit enough to serve double duty: a sticker holder as well as a pencil holder.

02.16.17 – 05
Incognito Ed whose philosophy is: “A clean hat, a clean desk, makes for a clear mind.” His hat is used for two purposes and two purposes only:
center;”>1) safety and 2) identification ( his name is above the rim).

01.17.17 – 06
I am quite certain that somewhere on that hard hat among all of the safety stickers, the UCLA sticker, and other important
stickers, there is a sticker authorizing “Ske” to carry various colored survey tape attached to a chain.

12.20.16 – 07
Electrical tradesmen Sebas and Anthony keep their full brim hard hats clean.

02.16.17 – 08 Left: Splattered with concrete a smiling Rudy takes a break from operating
the concrete pump delivery hose in the southwest elevator pit.

03.01.17 – 09 Right: The back of the vest says it all!!!!!

02.24.17 – 10 Bottom Left: On second thoughts, I think I’ll heed the warning. Note the sticker to the left of the UR Safety 2013 sticker.  He was a real nice guy!

02.24.17 – 11

The hard hat that Alex Wears! Front and back.

 03.25.17 – 12
Just before 10 p. m. Michael (Big Mike) stands at his post ready to direct the concrete truck drivers after they enter the site from the Barton
Road entrance.

03.25.17 – 13
Without question, the one-of-a-kind hard hat belonging to the Loma Linda City Fire Marshal, Tim Bradfield, belongs in the docuvision2020 hard
hat hall of fame.

03.30.17 – 14

03.30.17 – 15

03.30.17 – 16

03.30.17 – 17
The meter on this young man’s vest certainly appeared to be an accurate reflection of his day at the office.

04.10.17 – 18
Another well stickered hard hat.

04.10.17 – 19
Patrick, “Mr. Crane,” etc.

04.13.17 – 20
Mundo wears a protective net as he cleans the concrete from around the base plates.

04.14.17 – 21
Robert, the cement pump operator has a unique hat in that it includes a sticker (center right) from Inglewood Stadium where he works as well
at the new home of the Los Angeles Rams.

04.11.17 – 22
My friend John, the crane operator who takes my 360Fly camera up on the cable of his Bigge crane. Thank you, John!

04.11.17 – 23
Daniel, a crane erector, and his one-of-a-kind silver hard hat.

04.11.17 – 24
Despite the skull and sword decals, Nathan is a gentle soul. NOTICE his “SAFETY WORKS” decal (LLUMC).

04.20.17 – 25
Ron is a third-generation crane operator. Among his crane operating exploits, he holds the distinction of being one of crane operators
who had the privilege of dismantling Howard Hughe’s Spruce Goose. Two other sites where he worked, that the readers will
recognize, is the construction of the Staples Center and the retrofitting of the iconic Encounter restaurant atop the LAX
(Los Angeles Airport) theme building.

04.20.17 – 26
Partners Marcos (left) and Jesus (right) are up on a telescopic lift platform installing a dimpled membrane (a waterproofing material) on the shotcrete shoring wall. This step, which also includes Voltex (a gray material) that covers the dimpled membrane, is essential prior to shooting the foundation wall. Marcos protects his ears by wearing ear plugs and Jesus protects his face from the sun by wearing a sunscreen material.

04.20.17 – 27
Along with the “Everybody Has to Wear ‘Em” attire, OSHA (not to be confused with OSHPD, which among other things, monitors the construction, renovation, and seismic safety of hospitals and skilled nursing facilities for California’s not-for-profit healthcare facilities) requires that all employees who work above six feet have to wear a safety harness.

04.20.17 – 28
Although this section features “Hard Hats and Vests . . . Everybody Has to Wear ‘Em!” This photo depicts an appliance that is used often
by the Hard Hats on the job. Do you think the Hard Hats that built the current Medical Center had one of these modern day conveniences?

04.21.17 – 29
If there is a microwave oven on site there must be a lunch room. These canopies serve as the breakroom and lunchroom. Often times the shade
center;”>of the south shoring wall serves the purpose well.

04.20.17 – 30
A Hand Injury Awareness decal that covers the knob that tightens the hard hat headband.

04.20.17 – 31
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about! A cell phone, a Pepsi, tortillas, rice with a little meat, and a single burner cook stove and a little conversation. Who needs a microwave?

04.14.17 – 32
This hard hat worn by a Southern California Edison (SCE) cable installer is a little worse for wear. The decals intrigued me in that it
appears the wearer has had helicopter-high tension line installation experience. He and his crew were on site for a few hours to hook
up power to the temporary electrical gear boxes.

04.20.17 – 33
Before work begins, as part of the “We Are Safety” program, the rodbusters are led in some stretching exercises and calisthenics. This photo is
a screen shot taken by one of the tower cameras.

04.20.17 – 34
A carpenters union kerchief is another way to keep the sun of the neck.

05.11.17 – 35
Even the chronicler managed to get a photo of his hard hat atop a 1500 lb. headache (overhaul) ball.

05.20.17 – 36

What a way to start the night of the last foundation pour (05.20.17). I ran into Rob who was sporting (no pun intended) a Seattle Seahawks hard hat.  Goooooooooo HAAAAAAAWKS!!!!!!! Thank you, Rob, for allowing me to put your hard hat in this section.

05.21.17 – 37

Another great night at the office for Rudy. This is the second time Rudy has appeared in this section: The first time was in a 02.16.17 photo (photo 02.16.17 -8) when he was the concrete delivery hose operator for pouring the southwest elevator pit. I can vouch for the fact that Rudy cleans up very well!!!!!! Unfortunately, I was unable to get the name of the young man who was providing some levity to the early morning after a very long night.

04.13.17 – 38

Mundo smiles through mesh which protects his face and eyes from small elements that fly off of the concrete.

04.26.17 – 39

Today, I met JD, AKA “Freight Train” who was gracious enough to allow me to take his photo so that his hard hat could be included in the hard

hat hall of fame.

04.26.17 – 40

Lunch Time. Without question, this fine man’s hard hat belongs in the hard hat hall of fame. Each time I look at this photo, I’ll always remember the delicious smell of the onions, chili peppers, rice, and other ingredients that were simmering in his electric frying pan. Notice, he is using one of the bearing plate covers as a table.

06.06.17 – 41

This is Quinton’s (AKA Q ) new hard hat: No scratches, no dents, no stickers other than the one you see.  As a hobby, Q raises and sells English Bull Dogs.

06.06.17 – 43

McCarthy’s Three Amigos: Ramon (left); Rudy (Center); Bento (Right). The rules dictate that everyone has to wear a hard hat. I guess the rules don’t

stipulate what you can mount on them or hang from them. I understand that the hard hat can be useful for holding a damp cloth to protect one’s neck.

Now, as for the usefulness of Rudy’s hard hat ornament, I have no clue. Perhaps it helps the foreman keep track of him?

06.06.17 – 44

A walking reminder not only to the wearer but also to all who sees the back of this vest: SAFETY BEGINS WITH ME!

06.06.17 – 45

McCarthy’s safety and quality control superintendents hard hat.

06.19.17 – 46

Jose’s hard hat illustrates the many battles he has fought in the trenches of various construction projects–He is still standing!

08.30.17 – 47

Yosemite Sam. I like it!

09.07.17 – 48

Liz placed a blue towel over her hard hat as she tries to avoid the September sun.

11.06.17 – 49

The incognito man of many colors wearing protection against the elements. Hopefully tomorrow he will reveal himself!!!!!!!

11.06.17 – 50

Perched on an isolator base was this Chock full o’ Nuts can mirroring the colors worn by the incognito man. How cool was that?

I have seen many a decorated hard hat down in the pit and around the construction site, but what I saw on Paul’s hard hat

stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t expect to see this on the hard hat of a crane erection foreman/operator.

The following two photos need no explanation! 

12.01.17 – 51

12.01.17 – 52

We now we return to the run of the mill–self-expressive–helmets.

11.27.17 – 53

This crane operator’s helmet appeared to have been around the block several times.

11.27.17 – 54

During the week of erecting the cranes on the site, Paul a heavy transport truck operator made many trips to the construction site. In many ways,
he reminded me of my late maternal grandfather who was born in 1895. Paul’s hard hat was sticker free except for his first name above a
Heavy Transport (HT) sticker.