Working on a jobsite is fun and exciting, but not always comfortable. As Construction Project Managers, we get to spend many hours outside in the sun…as well as the bitter cold, rain, snow and all sorts of other ‘wonderful’ conditions. Combining this with the unique hazards and conditions innate to the construction industry, we must do so safely. We also have to perform our jobs while doing so and still dress in a professional manner. All of that said, let’s talk about some essential job site clothing & gear for Construction Project Managers!
Essential Jobsite Clothing & Gear For Construction Project Managers
If you’re short on time, here’s a consolidated list of all the gear and clothing we think Construction Project Managers should have! A hardhat isn’t mentioned because that goes without saying!
- Clothing:
- Work Boots
- Breathable Shirts
- Durable Jeans / Pants
- Hi-Vis Vest
- Hoodie / Sweatshirt
- Jackets – (1) Waterproof, (1) Warm
- Thermals / Base Layer
- High Quality Socks
- Safety Glasses – Clear, Amber & Shaded (Sunglasses)
- Work Gloves
- Gear:
- Water Bottle
- Smart Phone
- Tablet / Small Laptop
- Coffee Mug
- Bag – Messenger Or Backpack
- Notebook & Pencil
- Flashlight
- Laser Pointer
- Tape Measure
- Sunblock & Bug Spray
Let’s talk about when and why each of these items are so important for Project Managers!
Jobsite Clothing For Construction Project Managers
Work Boots
Work boots are absolutely essential for anyone who spends time on a construction site. With risk of punctures, slips, falls, crushing and caught-betweens, a solid paid of work boots serve Construction Project Managers very well.
There are some styles that are universally accepted on any construction site (think original Timberlands), but here are so many types of job sites one can spend time on that we need to choose boots that suit our conditions.
Project Managers who spend a lot of time walking on hard surfaces i.e. concrete, steel, scaffolding, etc. will benefit from wearing wedge sole work boots. P.Ms on job sites with lots of dirt, mud and uneven footing will want a pair of work boots with a lug sole.
Here are some other things to consider when looking for work boots, depending on your site conditions:
- Welted Sole (Stitched Holds Up Better Than Glue)
- Insulated
- Electric Resistant
- Waterproof
- Slip/Oil Resistant
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Breathable Shirts
On those extra hot days, breathable fabrics are a must. A moisture-wicking polo shirt will bring a lot of relief while working on a job site in humid, 90+ deg heat while still looking professional.
Durable Jeans / Pants
While designer jeans, khakis or dress pants look great, they’ll quickly reach their demise after enough time on a job site. Between climbing, stretching, dirt/dust, snags and freshly-installed (wet) coatings, there’s a good chance your pants will take damage quickly while working on a job site.
What I’ve found work best are rugged jeans or thicker khaki-type pants. They’ll take a lot of damage, because they’re built to! Plus, they’re way less expensive than a nicer pair – much better value over time.
Hi-Vis Vest
High-visibility reflective clothing is necessary for everyone on a construction site, and the Project Manager is no exception. Since Project Managers are constantly between the job site and field office, they need something they can put on and take off quickly.
In this way, a lightweight, hi-vis vest is a great option.
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Hoodie / Sweatshirt
It’s often the case that the job site is cold when we show up in the morning, but pretty warm a few hours later.
Because of this, Construction Project Managers will benefit from having a comfortable hoodie on-hand. You won’t have to stay cold, nor will you feel sweltering later in the day if you wear a warm shirt.
Jackets For Rain & Cold
Construction is an all-year-’round business in most lines of work. In this way, we get to spend time on job sites in every weather imaginable.
Most of the country will experience periods of cold and rain/snow. Construction Project Managers will be a lot more comfortable on a jobsite when they have a warm, durable jacket or active-style raincoat.
PROMOTION
Thermals & Base Layers
Rugged jeans are great for the job site, but are extremely cold when the temperature drops below freezing.
Having some base layers is a key part of working comfortably on a jobsite in the cold. Long underwear and long sleeve shirts are comfortable under any type of clothes and can always be taken off if need be.
High Quality Socks
When spending an entire day in boots, things can get pretty unfortable for our feet. This is particularly true when out in the cold for a white, walking long distances or getting drenched due to heat. Taking off those boots after a long day gets pretty scary on certain days – not to mention the abuse our boots take from it.
Cotton socks are generally the most comfortable. Merino wool/wood blended socks are warm, while polyester and spandex are good for extra hot days.
Work Gloves
While Construction Project Managers aren’t working with their hands, a good set of gloves is still a good idea for the jobsite.
There are plenty of sharp edges, dangerous tools and grime on construction sites. Project Managers that spend a good deal of time on the site should look for gloves that correlate to the conditions they’re up against.
This can include:
- Cut-Resistant Gloves
- Insulated Work Gloves
- Dipped Gloves
- Waterproof Gloves
Safety Glasses – Clear, Amber & Shades
Our eyes are extremely sensitive and difficult to repair, so safety glasses are extremely important on any job site. Let’s be real, though – a good pair of construction safety glasses look badass.
There are three main kinds to have – I recommend having a pair of each:
- Clear Safety Glasses For Most Environments
- Amber Safety Glasses For Darker Job Sites Or Night Work
- Safety Sunglasses For Those Sunny Days 😎
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Jobsite Gear For Construction Project Managers
Water Bottle
Hydration is important! Especially on the job site – when spending time in the heat or even just direct sunlight, we’ll find ourselves getting thirsty a lot quicker.
I prefer to carry a 24 oz. stainless steel bottle to the site and refill it a couple of times throughout the day. Metal will help it stay cooler and is safer than plastic. It also can’t shatter like glass!
Smart Phone
At this point, we’d be lost without our smart phones. Having our phones with us on site are critical for so many reasons.
A few things Construction Project Managers use their phones for onsite includes calls, texts, FaceTime/Skype, emails, taking pictures, using certain apps and looking stuff up on the fly (that’s a regular one).
Given the atmosphere of a typical site, it doesn’t hurt to have a durable phone case.
Tablet / Small Laptop
When Project Managers aren’t on their phones, they’re on the computer. With tablets and other small laptops, this even includes the actual job site.
I regularly bring my laptop onsite – more recently it’s been a Surface Pro since it’s so light and portable, but I routinely brought my huge Toshiba laptop – complete with number pad – onsite as well. I would set it up on a toolbox and always have an outlet nearby via extension cord.
Doing so can be a pain, but this gives you access to submittals, other documents like RFIs, drawings and emails which is great for site meetings. It also provides internet access for work and not-so-much work activities that are known to happen on site.
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Coffee Travel Mug
I don’t want to speak for everyone, but I can’t think of a single Construction Project Manager that doesn’t drink coffee. That said, access to good coffee might be tough on certain sites.
For the days you need to bring it from home, it’s good to have a stainless steel travel coffee mug. This is especially true for those who drink 2-3+ cups per day.
No discrimination intended towards tea – the same applies.
Messenger Bag Or Backpack
Working in Construction Project Management can feel like you’re carrying a mini office with you at all times. The laptop, chargers and accessories, notebooks, paperwork, drawings, binders, samples, supplies discussed in this article and a whole slew of other things can travel frequently between home, the job site, meetings and the actual office – that’s a lot of moving.
It pays for Project Managers to have a good, high-quality bag. Whether you go for a backpack or messenger bag is up to you, but getting one with ample space, many compartments, waterproof outside and thick, durable straps is key.
Notebook & Pencil
If I don’t write something down, I forget it. It’s essential that Project Managers carry with them a notebook and pencil at all times to catch all of the those information butterflies floating around. Whichever type you like will work – legal pads, ringed notebooks, etc. I prefer hardcover notebooks that can fit inside a jacket pocket.
Read Next: Project Management Note Taking Tips: Double The Value (With Examples)
Flashlight
Many of us can get away with using our smart phone’s flashlight in a pinch. On job sites in basements, trenches, underground or at night, a high quality flashlight is a good idea for many reasons.
Whether you prefer a large Maglite or small LED pocket-sized flashlight is up to you.
Laser Pointer
When conducting a site meeting or reviewing work in progress, it’s difficult to verbalize exactly what we may be talking about. For instance, a complex building under construction will have all types of work going on that contains many adjacent components and complicated details.
To effectively discuss details like this, we need to be able to point to stuff. So many times I’ve found myself wishing I had a laser pointer to help explain what I’m talking about. We don’t always know when we’ll need it, so it’s good to have at all times.
Tape Measure
When estimating quantities, field-checking dimensions and figuring out onsite logistics, a good tape measure is key. It’s such a common construction tool that pretty much everyone has one, yet it’s a good idea to have your own – you never know when you’ll need it!
Sunblock & Bug Spray
Spending a lot of time on job sites is like spending a lot of time anywhere else outside – we need to look after our bodies the same way.
We’ve covered pants, shirts, boots and eyewear, but we also need to protect ourselves from the sun and from bugs. Sunscreen and bug spray is a must have.
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Essential Jobsite Clothing & Gear For Construction Project Managers: In Summary
For most of us, we got into construction project management because we love the action of work happening. In turn, we’ll hopefully get to spend a lot of time onsite. When we’ve prepared accordingly for the conditions we’ll be facing, we’ll have a lot more fun at work than if we walking into it blindly! I hope this list of jobsite clothing and gear has been helpful – thanks a lot for reading!
