5 PPE Violations You Didn't Know Were in Your Photos

You've invested in quality PPE for your team. Your safety program is solid. But when it comes time to photograph your crew, small details can slip through that undermine all that work. Here are five PPE violations I see constantly in construction photography—and how to avoid them.

1. The Tilted Hard Hat

This is the most common violation I see. Workers tilt their hard hats back for comfort or visibility, but this compromises protection. A properly worn hard hat sits level on the head with the brim facing forward. In photos, a tilted hard hat signals casual compliance—exactly the opposite message you want to send.

2. Safety Glasses in the Pocket

"But they're wearing them!" Yes, but not correctly. Safety glasses dangling from a shirt pocket, pushed up on the forehead, or hanging around the neck don't protect eyes. If eye protection is required on your site, it should be shown being worn properly in every photo.

3. The Unzipped High-Vis Vest

High-visibility vests work by presenting a large, bright surface area that's easily seen. When the vest is unzipped and hanging open, that surface area is dramatically reduced. It's a subtle detail that most photographers miss—but safety professionals notice immediately.

4. Missing or Improper Glove Use

Hand injuries are among the most common on construction sites. If your team should be wearing gloves for a particular task, they should be wearing them in photos of that task. And they should be the right gloves—not cloth gloves where cut-resistant gloves are required.

5. Fall Protection Issues

This one can be serious. I've seen promotional photos where workers at height have harnesses that aren't connected, lanyards that are clearly too long, or anchorage points that look questionable. Fall protection violations in photos don't just look bad—they can create real liability issues.