Protective Clothing

Protective Clothing - Expert Advice

Depending on the individual circumstances, protective clothing can cover several areas, but the main element to bear in mind is that this is not the same as standard uniform or an employee’s own clothes. These have not been designed specifically to minimise the risk of injuries, and they won’t adequately protect workers. Protective clothing also doesn’t refer to items designed for food hygiene reasons or clothes used when riding a cycle or motorbike, or for competitive sports.

Why is protective clothing necessary?

Protective clothing, such as high-visibility items, should not be the main way of keeping workers safe, but rather as a last resort, where all the appropriate measures have been taken to minimise the hazards but the environment cannot be made completely safe. This means the correct use of protective clothing is vital, as when it’s called into play, all the other safety measures are likely to have failed.

Types of protective clothing

There are various forms of protective clothing that are all designed for specific situations and to protect workers against different threats.

On construction sites or road maintenance projects, high-visibility clothing is a vital part of a worker’s uniform. This not only allows them to be seen clearly at all times, but can also feature other safety components, such as providing body protection from stab risks, water resistance for all-year-round protection, and fleece linings to keep workers warm.

In some circumstances, heat and flame-resistant clothing is crucial to reduce the likelihood of injuries from heat hazards. These are essential for workers in industries such as welding, where they work regularly at extremely high temperatures.

Chemical-resistant clothing is also available, including coveralls, boiler suits, aprons and jackets, to give all-over body protection from a variety of elements.

How important is protective clothing?

Protective clothing is vital if your employees work in environments and situations that could possibly put their personal health and safety at risk. As an employer, you’ll want to carry out a proper risk assessment and ensure all employees are supplied with the right safety clothing.

Look at all employment roles within your organisation. Depending on your business, you may need to invest in protective clothing for painting, special safety clothing for construction workers, protective clothing for electricians and maintenance staff, as well as specialised safety clothing and equipment for those working with chemicals, flammable materials and other hazardous materials.

Do my workers really need protective clothing?

You may be surprised at how many of your workers should be wearing protective clothing or using other types of PPE. The Health and Safety Executive has estimated that there are around 555,000 non-fatal injuries per year to workers in the UK. In the year 2017-18, there were 144 fatal injuries in UK workplaces, which of course does not include deaths of employees who may have contracted long-term diseases at work, such as lung disease due to not wearing respiratory masks.

Even fairly minor injuries at work can result in disruption, lost productivity, short-term absences, and, of course, compensation claims. It really is worthwhile assessing the risk for all employees and ensuring everyone is using the right protective clothing or PPE, even if they work in such a capacity that it’s only needed from time to time.

Choosing The Correct Safety Clothing

As an employer, it is essential to select the right type of protective clothing for your employees as this could prevent them from suffering a serious or fatal injury when they are carrying out their work. The best way to assess the protective clothing that you need is to understand the health and safety threats that are present in your workplace and then work on ways to minimise these through the clothing.

When you’re researching the best protective clothing, there are several factors that need to be considered, including the comfort of the products, such as the issues of sweat and movement restrictions, and the ease and cost of cleaning the items. You also need to understand how much hygiene control is necessary and the amount of personal contamination protection that is required. The personal preference of workers is also a critical component, as they need to feel comfortable in the clothing if they're required to wear it all the time.

FAQs

How is protective clothing maintained?

This will depend on the type of clothing, how it is used and where it is stored. You should always ensure that the specific directions are followed in terms of usage and cleaning and that any repairs or necessary replacements are carried out or obtained quickly and correctly.

When is

flame-resistant clothing

necessary?

Those workers who operate in hazardous conditions where there is the risk of electric arc, flash fires or combustible dust explosions should use the appropriate fire resistant clothing.

Is training needed for protective clothing?

Where it’s necessary to provide workers with protective clothing, they must be told of the risks that are present and how they are being protected against them. They need to be shown how to use, wear and maintain the clothing so that it protects them properly.

When should clothing be replaced?

The lifespan of protective clothing will largely depend on how regularly it is used, how it is stored, and if any damage is caused to it. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when determining if a product needs replacing due to damage or deterioration.

How can I be sure my employees use protective clothing when needed?

As mentioned above, all workers should be trained in why protective clothing is needed, as well as when and how it should be used. Prominent personal protective equipment signage can help remind workers that they may need to protect themselves when doing a certain task or before entering a specific area.

Which protective clothing manufacturers are the best?

Always use reputable protective clothing manufacturers and suppliers when ordering safety clothing and other equipment. This simply isn’t an area where you should risk cutting corners. Here at Seton we offer a range of products from some of the best protective clothing manufacturers in the UK, at a range of price points. A few of our top products in this area include:

• Engel Light Safety Jacket – Made from highly reflective materials with a water, oil and dirt repellent finish


• Dickies® Flame Retardant Coveralls – Ideal for welding applications where heat and molten metal are potential hazards


• Food Industry Chemical-Resistant Work Dungarees – 100% waterproof, chemical-resistant, and designed to protect against grease and oil

If you need any advice on choosing personal protective clothing for your employees, feel free to get in touch.