Safety Workwear Now Covers A Range Of Options

By Darren Crane


Safety workwear has come a long way over the past few decades. Specialized equipment and clothing is available to cover virtually every eventuality and every profession. Whether you are a butcher, builder or lecturer, there are certain safety items which you will need.

High-visibility clothing is one of the most common items seen. People wear these items as a matter of course. You may choose anything from a simple vest to a hoodie, jacket, pants, shirt or overalls. Both men and women's styles are available. Yellow or orange are the main colors available. Reflector stripes are particularly useful when visibility is low.

Steel-capped boots are standard wear in industrial areas. Those working as manual laborers also need this type of protection. Extra long boots give added protection to the upper ankle. Fastening may be by zip and/or laces. Some workmen prefer elastic-sided footwear. Safety footwear has good resistance to various chemicals and acids. They will also withstand excessive heat and are water repellent.

Administration workers on industrial sites might prefer a slip-on sports shoe. These also have steel-capped toes and the soles are resistant to most acids and chemicals. They will also take heat up to 130 degrees Celsius.

Hard hats have been worn on building sites for many years and are now obligatory in many areas. To give protection from the sun, a brim can be added. These have flaps to cover the back of the neck. Brow guards are another option and have clear, anti-fogging visors. UV protection is just under 100%.

Goggles protect the eyes from scratches, UV rays and chemical splashes. Choose goggles with Wide straps and foam padding to ensure that they are comfortable for long periods. Goggles are often combined with a dust mask.

Some trades produce undesirable air-borne particles. These need to be filtered from the air being breathed in by operators in the area. Respirators may be a simple, disposable cloth mask or a more complicated affair with replaceable filters. Adjustment points ensure that masks fit snugly against the face.

Working in noisy conditions over long periods of time can result in industrial deafness. Wearing earmuffs will help prevent such a condition. Modern earmuffs will protect the ears from noise to 110 decibels. Some muffs clamp to a hard hat. Choose those with a low clamping force. These will stay comfortable when worn for long periods. However they must still fit well. Small, foam earplugs are another option. These are disposable and can be purchased in bulk in pairs. A cord is often used to join the two plugs together so they hang around the neck when not needed.

Those who work with their hands would be well advised to protect their fingers and hands. Long PVC gloves can be purchased and give good defence when handling chemicals, oil and grease. Interlock poly/cotton gloves are often used as liner gloves for greater comfort. Fingerless gloves allow better dexterity and 'feel'. This can also be achieved by choosing gloves which have Lycra in their make-up. The contours of the hand are followed, giving good grip under both wet and dry conditions. With safety workwear, everyone can go about their daily tasks with greater peace of mind.




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1 comment:

  1. High visibility clothing is also called safety workwear which do includes high reflective properties which makes the wearer visible even in low visibility. This is ideal to wear for individuals who are bike riders and left their working areas late night.

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