Month: April 2021
Understanding How Crucial is Protective Workwear Clothing
Protective or safety clothing is any garment designed to increase the safety & well-being of the wearer. The right personal protective clothing will reduce the risk of accident & employee injury. For any clothing item to be considered PPE, it must first correctly fit to protect a certain body part. And next, the garment should be selected for its ability to protect against the type of hazards present, such as electrical, chemical, biological, heat/fire, or physical. And finally, the protective workwear clothing must be strong enough to act in one of the three ways:
- Acting as a total barrier against infiltration of harmful substances
- If infiltration does occur, it should reduce the extent of injuries from serious to minor
- Protecting workers long enough for them to escape the area or the hazard
Read on to understand more about protective clothing and why it is so crucial.
Protection from Chemical Processes
Many organizations use strong chemicals during their manufacturing processes that require chemical protective suits to minimize the risk of exposure. Manufacturers of detergents, fertilizer, dyes, light bulbs, metals refining & plastics processing are just a few of the many industries that use some very strong & toxic chemicals. Protection from these chemical processes can be complex. Moreover, these chemicals are sometimes in solid or liquid form and also release toxic gases, which can affect workers in multiple ways such as inhalation, ingestion, direct skin contact, or by way of splashing into the mouth or eyes. For these reasons, workers working with them will require full protection from chemicals. Whenever workers are around harmful chemicals, an employer must provide eye protection such as face shields or goggles, along with chemical protective suits to protect the worker’s skin.
Disposable FR Clothing for Burn Hazards
Flame-resistant (FR) clothing plays an important role in protecting employees working under conditions where there are chances of sparks, embers, flame, or flash fire. Welders, cooks & grill masters, iron & steel mills, electrical utilities, and certain manufacturing processes that use furnaces or boilers typically present a heat or fire hazard to workers.
Disposable flame-resistant clothing can provide layered protection of primary FR garments for certain industries, while in other cases, the FR clothing coverall is worn with the normal workwear uniform. FR clothing is designed in such a manner that it self-extinguishes once it has been removed from the source of the fire. Instead of catching fire & bursting into flames, it gives the worker enough time to recognize the fire & make a quick escape.
PPE for Remediation Service Workers
Biological & health hazards are the main concerns for workers that work at removing lead paint, asbestos, mold, waste & clean-up, and for restoration workers that help to rebuild communities after heavy storms or floods. It is impossible to control the hazards that may exist in such types of conditions. Any biological or chemical exposure at these contaminated sites can cause various health issues.
Therefore, to keep workers safe from dangerous particles or waste material, it is important to use protective workwear clothing designed to put a barrier between the worker & substances that can lead to health problems. These PPE clothing will provide physical protection against toxic chemicals, mold spores, liquids, and particulates.
Moreover, OSHA’s safety standards make it imperative for companies working under various industries to follow the safety guidelines to keep their employees safe. Any organization that fails to do so may land up in legal trouble and heavy fines. Therefore, it is important to understand the safety requirements for your industry and make sure that your employees are well protected against potential risks.
5 FAQs About High Visibility Clothing
Various work conditions require workers to wear high visibility clothing. Maybe you’ve just got a new job that requires you to wear high visibility clothing. Whatever the case is, you suddenly have reason to be curious & ask — what exactly is high visibility workwear clothing?
In this article, we will discuss the most frequently asked questions about high visibility workwear clothing.
What is Hi-Vis?
Hi-Vis is a term used for high visibility referring to the clothing that has reflective properties & is made up of fluorescent materials & colors, which makes them easily noticeable from any background. Hi-vis clothing is typically worn by workers working at construction sites, on roadways & other industrial sites to avoid incidents that involve the use of large vehicles or equipment.
What is the difference between Class 2 & Class 3 Hi-Vis safety vests?
Class Hi-Vis vests are for workers working in heavier traffic where driver’s visibility is poor due to weather. A minimum of 201 sq inches of reflective tape, which is 2 inches in diameter, is required for a Class 2 Hi-Vis safety vest. Reflective strips should be over the shoulders & round in the middle with horizontal stripes. If we talk about the Class 3 vests, they are for high traffic incidents & often first or emergency responders. When you’re working in a condition where traffic is over 50 miles per hour, you will need a Class 3 Hi-Vis vest with a minimum of 310 sq inches of reflective tape, which is 2 inches thick. Class 3 Hi-Vis safety vest also provides more arm & leg visibility coverage.
What are the Benefits of Hi-Vis Clothes?
There are many benefits of Hi-Vis safety clothing, some of them are:
They make employees highly visible: Hi-Vis clothing differentiates wearers from the environment & gives them more opportunity to see them. This protects workers from oncoming traffic.
They promote a safe environment: Nowadays, providing a safe work environment should be the priority of any business firm. When a worker feels safe at their workplace, they tend to be more productive. Investing in Hi-Vis workwear clothing would benefit any business tremendously.
They reduce the risk of an accident: Most workplace accidents occur because of the incapability of drivers to properly see the onsite workers due to improper lighting & similar reasons. Hi-Vis clothing provides great visibility to vehicle operators. Thus, the chances of accidents decrease automatically.
Other than the transportation industry, Hi-Vis clothing is used by construction workers, emergency service providers, school crossing guards, parking lot attendants, utility workers, warehouse workers, shipyard workers & many more.
What should you keep in mind while using Hi-Vis Safety Clothing?
Those who wear Hi-Vis safety clothing at work must know the following points:
- Fluorescent clothes are most appropriate for dark conditions
- For maximum visibility, use full-body coverage clothes
- To enhance the visibility of the wearer in motion, using contrast stripes on arms & legs will be helpful
- Don’t wear any other garments on these Hi-Vis clothes
- Wear Hi-Vis clothes that are specific for your work site & the type of work.
How to take care of Hi-Vis Clothing?
- It is always better to wash them inside out in cold water with similar colors. This helps to preserve the reflective material on the outside. Washing them with a reflective side outside can cause the reflective tape to wear out more easily, leading to fading & eventual tears in the material.
- Hi-Vis safety vests are a bit different. The mesh material of this apparel can wear out in the washer, so it is better to soak them in neutral laundry detergent dissolved in cold water. Let your vest stand in the dissolved detergent for about half an hour. This will help stains & other particularly soiled spots to brush out.
- Remember, if you are not seen, you are not safe! That’s why it is important to keep replacing your hi-vis clothing regularly. If your apparel isn’t visible from 1,000 feet away at any time of the day or night, it’s time to replace it!
- When worn daily, most Hi-Vis clothing will last for about six months before becoming ineffective. When worn less often than that, these clothing items can last up to one year.
We hope this information will help you make an educated choice when it comes to Hi-Vis clothing!
Why is HI Vis Clothing of Great Importance?
High-visibility (Hi-Vis) clothing is the most common type of personal protection equipment (PPE) that is used for a wide range of roles. This safety clothing has reflective properties & is made up of fluorescent materials & colors, making them easily noticeable from any background. As the popularity of high visibility clothing rises, so does some people’s mocking of health & safety ‘gone mad.’ However, this topic is not about making a fashion statement. For many reasons, in so many industries, this type of workwear clothing is of great importance.
In this article, we will see why Hi-Vis Clothing is of great importance but before that, let’s take a quick look at the three main components of Hi-Vis clothing.
Main Components of Hi-Vis Clothing
There are usually three main components:
- Fluorescent material– This especially boosts visibility during the daylight hours but can also improve visibility at night.
- Reflective stripes– They are designed for visibility during the darker hours; reflective stripes typically require a light source to work & create retro-reflection. These are essential for those working at night.
- Contrast material– This is a darker-colored part of the garment that is less sensitive to dirt than the fluorescent material & reflective strips, without which the functionality of some hi-vis clothing would diminish—the areas covered with the contrast fabric typically where the dirt is most likely to build up.
Why is Hi-Vis Clothing Important?
Safety
The main purpose for wearing hi-vis workwear clothing is the safety it provides to its wearers. This safety clothing is proven to prevent accidents & fatalities in a potentially dangerous environment, such as construction & industrial areas, where there are large vehicles moving around. This is exactly where the legal requirements come in.
Legality
The most significant reason for wearing HI-VIS workwear apart from safety is that it is a legal requirement for most industries. Regulating authority states that safety workwear must be conspicuous in form & reflective in nature.
Professionalism
Hi-Vis clothing sends a message to the world not just about the employees within a company but also about the organization. It portrays that they are professional, reliable, and respectful of the rules & safety standards of their employees. Therefore, people are more likely to trust a company that fully equips its staff with all the necessary workwear.
Identity
An especially significant note for workers working in larger companies having a big workforce, or in areas where there might be a mixture of people from different sectors, or when they are working within settings where the general public are present. Hi Vis clothing helps to identify staff & authorized personnel at any location. This enables the public & any outside visitors to identify staff members that can be important at goods inwards or security gates. Moreover, it can also create a sense of unity within the team & broadly promote the company’s identity, where hi-vis vests and jackets should be worn, at the very least.
Extra Protection
People working in jobs that require high visibility solutions come rain or shine. For cold weather, they need to wear hi-vis jackets that give them confidence that they will be fully visible & warm; thus, they can focus better on the job at hand. Additionally, there are also hi-vis waterproofs, including both jackets & trousers, that prevent workers from getting wet during rains.
Contact for Best Quality High Visibility Clothing
If you’re looking for the best quality high visibility clothing or have any further questions on the hi-visibility clothing range, please get in touch with Workwear USA right now!
Everything You Should Know About Choosing Safety Clothing for Construction Workers
If you belong to the construction industry where your employees need to work under challenging conditions, you must ensure they are wearing the right kind of safety clothing required for their job. For instance, if your employees need to perform duties in inclement weather, buying a weather-proof garment for safety is crucial. Or if they are doing something, where they should be identifiable by others from a distance, they must wear something which is bright & reflective. It won’t be wrong to say that ignoring such assessments can lead an employer into some major legal troubles.
Read on to understand everything you should know about choosing safety clothing for construction workers.
Choosing High-Visibility Garments
There are a lot of factors such as size, fit, color & design that can influence the choice as you need to consider different aspects in detail while making a choice. For instance, choosing large-size bright clothing, especially the one covering the body from all directions, can be better than a small one. And for colors, your focus should be on the stripes featuring on arms, waist & legs. These can be excellent visual clues for the other person on the same premises. The industry experts often tell employers to choose workwear clothing with contrasting colors & stripes for more visibility.
Other than these, features like comfort, flame resistance, water resistance, breathability & flexibility are also important. The clothes need to fit the employee so that they can perform their duties safely without any interruption. When it comes to fitting, you need to ensure it’s comfortable to wear. Roughness, sharp edges & dangling items often lead to irritation & injuries.
Furthermore, the brightness of the safety clothing is also critical. While making a choice, you must be aware that bright colors are more suitable for the daylight, and fluorescent tones work better in low light conditions, such as dawn & dusk.
Apart from this, the safety standard about the use of stripes & bands is also apparent. The garment should include a horizontal line or band around the waist covering the full body. It should have two stripes running vertically from the shoulders to the trunk in the front & a symmetric “X” design on the backside of the cloth. It should also cover shoulder & waist areas.
Among these things, make sure to check the color of the background material as well. It has to be either fluorescent yellow-green, fluorescent red, or fluorescent red-orange. If it uses bright tones, the choice of colors can be between orange-red & yellow-green.
Other Important Point to Consider
Some companies can also use retro-reflective material in garments. This material is well-known for sending back the light from where it comes. If the wearers are exposed to the light beam, drivers can quickly notice them. This material is usually more functional in low-light conditions. However, you should not expect it to reflect light by itself; thus, you cannot depend on it in sunny or daytime. Instead, you can choose reflective materials that can quickly reflect the light from its surface & provide better visibility.
There are many online & offline stores that offer high-visibility workwear. So, it won’t be difficult for you to get the right deal. But your primary focus while shopping should be on your workers’ safety. Thus, investing in high-quality clothing is critical. When you take utmost care of your workers’ safety, it will not just keep them safe but will project your company in good light. Consequently, you’ll experience improved workers’ productivity & output.
Moreover, if you cannot visit a physical store for this, you can also check the online stores for extensive collection & reasonable pricing. It will be convenient also!