Month: June 2021
Important Things You Should Know About Hi Vis Safety Clothing
Hi-Vis safety clothing is a type of personal protective equipment that is designed to keep you safe. Protecting industrial, utility, electrical, & construction workers on the job is no small feat. It requires appropriate PPE and can often require high visibility clothing. Hi-Vis clothing is not only important from a safety standpoint, but it also boosts visibility, making you more noticeable to drivers, other workers, and other pedestrians.
This blog post will cover some of the most important things that you should know about Hi-Vis clothing.
What is Hi-Vis Safety Clothing?
Hi-Vis safety clothing includes any type of apparel that has been designed to be highly visible. It can often include jackets, vests, shirts, pants, and even gloves or hats. These items are usually bright in color and reflective, so they stand out from other people on the road as well as protect you by helping drivers see where you are when visibility gets low because of fog or dark conditions like nighttime.
Hi-vis clothing has two components.
- Colorful fluorescent elements: These fluorescent elements are made with special pigments that are brighter than normal colors: These pigments reflect invisible UV light from the sun as a bright, visible light. The fluorescent elements of hi-vis clothing make the most of any existing light, and thus, they can be seen easily in low light conditions such as dusk, dawn & cloudy days. The fluorescent element of hi-vis safety clothing also provides a strong visible contrast against most backgrounds, whether natural or manmade.
- Reflective strips/tape: These strips/tapes are made from materials that reflect light back to where it comes from. This reflective material is most effective in darkness, as they don’t provide much contrast in daylight conditions.
Most high visibility clothing comes with a combination of both these components, such as a fluorescent-colored vest/jackets with reflective strips or materials that are both fluorescent & reflective.
Why Wearing Hi-Vis Clothing Critical for Safety?
Hi-vis safety clothing provides protection against workplace accidents & injuries by making the worker visible to each other and anyone else who may be in the same area. This clothing type is particularly important for workers in the gas & electrical utility industry, and in the transportation industry, such as railways, highway, & airport workers. Construction workers, first responders, surveyors, sanitation & warehouse workers also benefit from the increased visibility of these clothing types.
The key to maximize the high visibility safety features is choosing hi-vis clothing that will provide the most contrast between your worker’s body & their surroundings. Make sure that the high visibility safety clothing you choose won’t blend into your work environment in any way.
What Should You Keep in Mind While Buying Hi-Vis Clothing?
The most significant factors you should keep in mind while buying hi-vis clothing are:
Fit: You must review the sizes of the workers you’re buying for & what they’ll wear underneath. Make sure the hi-vis vest/jacket you’re buying is not too tight or loose. Consider the number of tools they’ll be carrying around. The garment should be large enough to accommodate their tools & not hinder the visibility.
Coverage: Consider the percentage of the body that will be covered by the hi-vis garment. It is better to pick a jacket over a vest for nighttime to provide better coverage. Also, you should provide garments with fluorescent stripping on both the back & front for better visibility. Always remember smaller garments equal lower visibility.
High quality: Make sure that the hi-vis garments you buy for your workers are of high quality. These garments should maintain fluorescence- polyester, acrylic & nylon fabrics keep their fluorescence for the longest time. Also, the garment should be close-knitted and, therefore, bright enough for low-light work areas.
Ending Note
Hi-Vis garments are crucial for most worksites, an important part of any construction site. Not only do they help workers to be seen, but also for the equipment and vehicles on a project as well. However, it is imperative that you choose the right garment that ensures workers are safe and efficient while they’re working!
Understanding the FR Clothing Layering System
The layering system of FR clothing is meant to keep the wearer warmer or cooler and drier as per their working condition while providing the added mobility & comfort. But, have you ever thought that when you’re wearing multi-layered garments, what specific clothing combinations are tested together to determine their effective arc rating?
Flame-resistant clothing typically comes with a layering system that offers the highest levels of protection. Workwear USA goes a little beyond usual while testing the popular clothing combinations to determine their actual ATPV Cal/cm2 rating. This makes it easy to know if your FR apparel’s combination meets your required ratings & work safety requirements.
Now, you must be wondering what this FR layering system is all about. Read on to understand the ultimate FR layering system and the purpose of each layer.
The Ultimate FR Clothing Layering System
When you are choosing a clothing layering system, start by finding one that offers permanent moisture-wicking technology in every layer. From base layer to button-up work shirt, hoodies to outer jacket, a layering system that offers moisture-wicking technology will never wear out, wash out, or stop providing protection to you.
An FR clothing layering system offers the following benefits:
Built to move: Each component of the FR layering system comes with added stretch, which enables you to move as freely as you do.
A beveled tail for warmth: This safety clothing is designed with a longer, swooping backside, where your midsection remains protected from the hazardous elements whether you’re reaching high or bending forward.
Water & wind-resistant: Your layering system will protect you even when you add or remove layers. Your outerwear offers water & wind resistance that makes you feel confident in your apparel.
What is the Purpose of Each Layer?
Layering is very crucial to worker safety in any kind of weather, be it summers or winters. The right flame-resistant fabric will keep your team protected & comfortable for longer. Here is the breakdown of the three main layers of the FR layering system:
Base Layer
Having a solid foundation is the key to any strong structure; the same can be said for the layering system of FR clothing. The base layer keeps you dry by pulling moisture away from your body; this helps to keep your body cool during hot summer days and warm when it’s freezing cold outside. The base layer clothing is usually made with a blend of hydrophobic & hydrophilic fibers that constantly pull moisture away from your body, moving it to the garment’s outer surface to allow it to dry.
Mid Layer
You can easily get a wide variety of mid-layers at Wokrwear USA; each of these clothing options is designed to work with the base & the outer layers to keep moisture off your body & make you feel comfortable. In addition, these layers are typically built with effective, lightweight fabrics that help to increase worker comfort without reducing mobility.
Outer Layer
The outer layer of FR apparel is really the cherry on top of the FR layering system because it is wind-resistant, water-resistant, and moisture-wicking. The unique garment design of this layer keeps all the elements at bay while moisture is being pulled away from your body to the outermost layer. This enables you to focus on the task at hand without causing any distraction or discomfort.
Final Word
The FR clothing layering system is an excellent way to stay warm & comfortable in extreme weather conditions. Knowing what each level of insulation does & why you need it can help you stay safe while you’re working in hazardous work conditions. The purpose behind Workwear USA’s FR clothing design is to create a custom fit that will keep you protected regardless of how many layers are on underneath.
Things you Need to Keep in Mind While Looking for Hi-Vis Jackets & Work Shirts
The dangers employees are exposed to make it imperative to be visible while you’re at work. It’s a key responsibility of an employer to ensure that you & your employees are safe while working. High visibility clothing is an excellent way of being seen by others when you need to be safe and seen. One of the key ways of doing this is by equipping them with high-visibility clothing. Hi-vis jackets or work shirts are made from bright colors & reflective material that can be easily seen in low light conditions.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about the things you need to keep in mind while looking for hi-vis jackets & work shirts but before that, let’s take a quick look at why hi-vis clothing is important.
Why is High Visibility Clothing Important?
Different types of workplace hazards can make it difficult for workers to be seen. Employees are often exposed to hazardous substances or equipment in poorly lit areas, where other works might not be able to see them. To help ensure that you have a safe working environment with minimal risk of injury, employers should consider purchasing high visibility clothing for workers who need protection from these dangers.
Hi-vis clothing is typically worn to alert drivers & other equipment operators of where workers are located. In dangerous conditions, such as close to roadways, in dark conditions, or in areas where workers might be blocked by traffic barriers, construction equipment, or trees, wearing high visibility jacket or work shirt is a must. However, it is crucial to keep certain things in mind while looking for Hi-vis jackets and work shirts.
What to Look for
In Hi-Vis Jackets
When you’re looking for high visibility jackets, it’s important to take into account the type of environment they will be working in. See if they need protection from wet weather like rain or snow. Will they be exposed to a kind of fire, electrical arcs, or other flammable materials? Safety features in high visibility clothing like breakaway elements can help protect workers from hazards such as moving vehicles & equipment. Once you’re aware of what essential safety features you require for your workers, here are three more things that you should look for while comparing high visibility jackets:
- Useful features such as pockets, pen slots, and easy access to mobile phones or any other communication tool can make it easier for your worker to work faster.
- Comfort is very crucial for workers. Many hi-vis jackets come with elements like improved ventilation, increased flexibility & lighter weight fabrics. Such elements are more likely to make your worker feel comfortable while working.
- Finally, it’s important to keep durability in mind. All hi-vis jackets have a limited lifespan & can lose their high visibility feature with time. Make sure your hi-vis jackets are replaced when they become faded, torn, or overly dirty. Hi-vis jackets, worn every day for work, often last for six months, whereas jackets that are worn less frequently can last a year or more.
In Hi-Vis Shirts
Hi-vis shirts are often be used as a base or mid-layer by workers, so the material choices of these shirts are extremely important. One of the key pieces in a high-visibility shirt is selecting moisture-wicking fabric, so your team stays dry and protected no matter what the weather or their activity level is. In addition, keeping your workers comfortable on the job keeps them focused, reducing accidents & injuries.
Also, the environment that your workers face year-round should drive your choices for these shirts. Moreover, giving your team several hi-vis shirt choices to match their preferences will help to ensure that this important safety apparel is always worn. Consider offering short-sleeve hi-vis shirts to keep your workers cool in the heat and long-sleeve shirts for additional warmth in cooler weather.
Ending Note
It is important to consider each of these factors when choosing your team’s hi-visibility shirts. It will help keep them both safe and comfortable for their shift on the job. When looking at different high visibility workwear styles, think about what you are purchasing the clothes for to make an informed decision that fits your needs best!