How Workwear Clothing Plays a Direct Role in Preventing Workplace Accidents

If your workers are working in an environment prone to injuries & accidents, investing in initiatives to prevent workplace injuries is always important. One of the most crucial things in every work environment is workplace safety. Whether your employees are operating heavy machinery, working outside, or just sautéing in the kitchen with flammable liquids, it is vital to ensure they’re safe from any workplace accident. One of the best and most reliable ways to increase workplace safety is using specialized workwear clothing/uniform. These customized uniforms play a direct role in preventing workplace accidents.

In this article, we will see some of the most significant ways workwear clothing can help prevent workplace accidents.

Protective clothing prevents workplace accidents
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and certain other authorities have issued industry-specific guidelines for employers and workplace safety. It is imperative for certain industries to implement protective clothing for workers working in dangerous work environments. The design of the uniform typically depends upon the hazards of your workplace. The following are a few examples of clothing solutions for employees working with hazards:

Velcro wrists: This helps workers dealing with dangerous chemicals. It can prevent liquids from getting under the sleeves or gloves.
Fitted clothing: Baggy/loose clothing can cause chemical spills, and they often get caught in running machinery, which can result in major injuries. Workwear clothing that fit close to the body where sleeves aren’t too long or have elastic wrists helps to avoid these types of accidents.
Thermal gloves: They enable workers to handle heated objects safely. Some thermal gloves come with added chemical resistance as well.
Flame Resistant clothing: In many industries, open flames, chemicals, and electronics pose threats of fire damage. This is where flame resistant clothing helps majorly. This type of clothing is not just for fire-fighters, but lab technicians, utility workers, or anyone working in direct contact with fire hazards must wear flame resistant clothing.

Flame resistant uniforms can help prevent workplace accidents
As per the requirements of NFPA 70E, employers must provide workers coming in contact with electrical hazards with flame resistant clothing for their protection. Fire & electric hazards cause thousands of injuries every year, which, if not appropriately handled, cost companies hundreds of thousands in lawsuits. Arc flash fires, combustible dust, and reactive chemicals are just a few of the hazards that workers should be aware of. This makes it crucial for employers to consider suiting their employees with the right protective workwear clothing.

Industries that often need to follow NFPA 70E regulations include:
Pharmaceutical plants

• Electric utility companies
• Industrial plants
• Chemical laboratories
• Food processing plants

High Visibility Uniforms can keep your employees visible
High visibility workwear & reflective gear prevent workplace accidents, exposures, and certain major injuries. Whether working in a warehouse or outdoors, having hi vis clothing is a necessary precaution for workers working around large machinery. For instance,

Employees working in indoor facilities with heavy machines on the floor need to have a uniform that makes them stand out. Thus, providing employees with hi vis vest helps machine operators keep track of where other employees are walking.

Employees working in outdoor jobs such as road construction, traffic directing, and utility work must have bright reflective uniforms, which makes them visible from a distance.

Ending Note
Using the right workwear clothing/uniform design depending upon your industry and work environment can prevent some major workplace accidents, exposures, and injuries. A study conducted by the Connecticut Department of Labor in 2014 revealed that arc flashes and relative hazards occur 5-10 times a day which causes over 2,000 injuries per year. Even though laboratory accidents are less common, but they can still be fatal. Thus, keeping the safety in mind, it’s a good idea to look for a workwear clothing provider that understands your industry and will provide you with the right uniforms to prevent workplace accidents. This will enable you not just to follow the security regulations but keep your employees’ lives safe as well.