Safety clothing is key to protecting employees in the workplace. If you don’t have the correct safety clothing in place, you could be on the wrong side of the law. Here are 8 types of safety clothing that you might need in your workplace.
Whichever area of business you are in, safety clothing might be a necessity. From catering to construction, surgery to Covid-19 protection, each must wear a specific type of safety gear which keeps them protected in the workplace. In fact, if you work for an employer who does not provide you with safety clothing then your employer may be breaking the law. This article reviews the 8 types of safety clothing that you might encounter in the workplace.
The 8 Safety Clothing Items Which are Essential in the Workplace
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Not all pieces of safety wear will be ideal for every workplace. These 8 pieces are present in multiple workplaces around the globe. Remember that your employer ought to provide you safety gear by law. You can find relevant information on your government website.
1 – PPE
The most obvious form of safety clothing in the workplace lingers with us since 2020. Personal Protective Equipment includes things like latex gloves, face masks, face shields, and disposable outerwear. The role of PPE is to protect the workforce from the transfer of bacteria, viruses, and germs. It provides a sterile setting where you can complete your work at minimal risk from catching any diseases.
2 – High Visibility Clothing
If you work in construction, high visibility clothing is a must-have. This type of clothing is also worn by runway operatives, highway and freeway workers, and litter pickers. Anywhere that an employee is working with vehicles requires high visibility outfits. Miners and construction workers are in particular danger of suffering an injury due to heavy machinery and equipment. High visibility clothing protects your workers by making them visible, even in the dark.
3 – Whites and Aprons
A chef wears white clothing which designers create specifically with the catering industry in mind. The aim is to supply chefs with jackets thick enough to protect them from hot plates and pans. The fabric is important too, since it does not emit fibres which can get into the food and affect food safety.
Aprons complete the kitchen look for chefs. If they must lean on the floor or if they spill something down themselves, the apron can take the hit. A pot of spilled soup is far cooler with the extra layer of fabric in between.
4 – Steel Toed Boots
Another favourite of the construction site, steel toed boots help you protect your feet, should the worst happen. One of the most common ways workers are injured in the US each year is by items and equipment falling. This equates to the third most common type of workplace accident in the US, which represents around 50,000 accidents. Wearing steel toed boots is essential on a building site. Catering workers also rely on these shoes to protect their feet from dropped knives.
5 – Hard Hats
Along the same lines as steel toed boots, hard hats protect your head from falling objects. Since several people each year die when objects fall from buildings, from scaffolding, or from other heights, a hard hat is vital in certain roles. Construction workers need these, as do miners. You will see hard hats on tree surgeons, excavators, and on farms.
6 – Scrubs
Scrubs are what a surgeon might wear if they are walking around the hospital. Often the doctor will use a disposable set of scrubs when they are in surgery. The designers tailor the fabric to be smooth, just as that chef’s jacket is. This prevents fibres flaking off the clothing and doing harm to a patient.
7 – Lab Coats
Laboratory coats and chef’s jackets are similar to one another. They are both nice and thick and are both designed to handle chemicals in close proximity to the body. The fabric is tough and thick, allowing you to remove the jacket if you spill something, without suffering an injury. Lab coats are outerwear too, so if the chemicals do come into contact with it, you can remove it and still be safe.
8 – Coveralls
Along the same lines as the lab coat and chef’s jacket, a coverall works for a multitude of sectors. Asbestos removers must wear coveralls over their clothes. This prevents the fibres from the asbestos going home with the worker. Coveralls are good for painters and decorators, can be worn as PPE outerwear, and is largely disposable.
Is Your Workplace Safety Forward?
Does your workplace provide the appropriate safety clothing for the task at hand? If not, contacting the local authorities could be the best way to proceed.
