We have all been there. We have all had that job (or jobs) where we have to wear a hideous uniform for work.
Yes, I said hideous. Even if it’s actually kinda fashionable (though rare), these are hideous uniforms because you can only wear them for work, and often they are not always that comfortable to wear. Because when it hangs in our closet, it reminds us of that job and the work that we do.
![[Image courtesy of Flickr user Program Executive Office Soldier via a Creative Commons license]](http://www.safetymatterstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/flame-resistant-by-Program-Executive-Office-Soldier-e1449530507211.jpg)
[Image courtesy of Flickr user Program Executive Office Soldier via a Creative Commons license]
We might have hated wearing the uniforms, and when we were younger we always asked under our breath, “What is the point of this anyway?” And then when some hot oil gets splashed or spilled on that very uniform we’re wearing, we start to get our answer to that question.
Work clothing or uniforms are very rarely fashion-forward, and they usually are made of slightly uncomfortable fabrics and materials, simply because those that are more comfortable – cotton, satin, etc. – are not very good at protecting our bodies from various risks such as hot liquids, flames, or chemicals, never mind extreme heat or cold.
The purpose of work clothing is to protect us. But as I wrote in my previous post, work clothing selection is not a simple process, since there is different clothing designed to protect workers from different hazards. The challenge is finding the right clothing for your workforce.
Once you have conducted a full, detailed assessment of the hazards present on your work site, you can go about finding the right protective clothing for your workers. Some things you will have to consider are those fabrics and materials which are breatheable, permeable and non-permeable. Let’s take a quick look at the value of each of these types of materials.
Breatheable materials are pretty self-explanatory, as these are light materials (like cotton) that allow for freedom of mobility, less weight on the body ad when working in extreme heat, is valuable in helping cool the body by allowing sweat to evaporate away, whicle in some way providing some protection from the heat or sunshine. Breatheable fabrics very rarely are used exclusively from other materials; they are often used as a layer closest to the body.
Permeable or semi-permeable materials are also good choices for helping with body heat, but they are a little thicker and are more designed for protecting against some cold temperatures and solid chemicals or some liquids that are toxic against human skin. They can also protect against some flames and embers coming from those flames, or even sparks.
Non-permeable is the hardened outer layer of any layered work clothing. This is the material that is often the thickest and most flame-resistant available. It protects the skin from flame and fire and keeps away those toxic gases that can corrode the skin. It can help keep body heat in extreme cold, but it’s not very good in extreme heat – which is why firefighters are not seen spending large amounts of time fighting a fire; they often have to rotate out every few minutes due to the heat.
As was mentioned earlier, you could wear these various materials individually or as part of a layered system, depending on the hazards that you find when you do your worksite assessment. But the other point is just as important: The assessment should also include having the right measurements for your workers. The best protection for workers is clothing that fits. Too tight, too loose, too short, too long, can all exacerbate the risks and hazards and increase the chance of your workers being caught by these hazards.
This is part of the due diligence standard for all employers. And has has been said before, the initial investment now in such materials will pay off in the end with more productive workers and less time-loss thanks to healthier workers.