Uniforms have their purpose. There is certainly a reason why many industries and businesses require uniforms at work, not the least of which is to show that the company is fashion-forward.

I know. Hard for me to write that with a straight face.

But maybe you know why some industries have uniforms and some don’t. While it could be a fashion statement (a statement like, “I do not know what is fashionable right now”), the reality is that uniforms serve an important safety function. And when you think about the industries or jobs that uniforms are usually present on the worksite, it would make clear sense.

[Image courtesy of Flickr user Chris Yarzab via a Creative Commons license]

[Image courtesy of Flickr user Chris Yarzab via a Creative Commons license]

The Modest Safety Tools

When we are all out in public, it is usually understood that we will wear clothes. For someof us, this is not so much a safety thing as it is a modesty thing. but clothing can have a very important role to play in the safety of others as well as ourselves. Uniforms, especially, fill this role.

When you think about certain industries, workers will likely need to protect themselves from fire, heat, cold, hazardous chemicals or materials, noxious fumes, sharp edges or blades or other hazards. While many people have helmets, breathing apparati, gloves and other accessories to help with these hazards, the clothes you wear are especially important. And having a uniform is a great way for companies to ensure that all workers who are exposed to these various hazards have the proper protection.

You see, uniforms can be designed with certain fabrics and of the right length and may have some fire- or flame-resistant agents in them that can help workers be safe around any number of hazards.

Standards? What Standards?

The challenge right now, at least in North America, is that the industries fend for themselves in terms of having safety standards for uniforms and other protective clothing. The main reason is that there are so many different types of clothing that it is tough to have uniformity or consistency among all of them. It seems there is difficulty coming up with uniform standards among fast-food workers, mechanics, firefighters, medical personnel and the like. Each industry is relied upon to have their own standards, or even individual companies have their own safety guidelines in terms of the uniforms they order and require workers to wear while on the job.

There is at least an attempt at some consistency and uniformity (pun intended) in Europe,  where six different types of work uniforms are featured in what is called ISO 16602. Outside of that, each industry – as they usually have their own independent hazards and risks compared with other industries – develop their own standards for fabric, fit and instructions for care and handling of uniforms and other protective clothing. Whether Canada and/or the United States will develop a uniform code for uniforms remains to be seen, but there is a risk that some companies or industris may be deficient in proper safety clothing for their industries, perhaps as a matter of cutting costs or a belief that workers are not exposed to hazards as much as they really are.

It is always a good idea to have uniforms on your worksite whenever possible, as this way you can have some control over the protection that your workers have, especially those who are in constant contact with hazards, chemicals, fumes, flames and other risks. If you want some ideas, take a look at CSA Group in Canada, ISO 16602 in Europe or some standards from the National Fire Protection Association based in Quincy, Mass.