There are all kinds of safety clothes available that protect workers in every imaginable situation. From breathable reflective rain gear to hi vis long sleeve shirts, protective eyewear to workwear for the feet and hands, personal protection has come a long way. As you’re considering safety clothes for your company, there are three important questions to ask yourself:
- How long should I expect gear to last? There’s no one answer to this question, since different types of gear go through different types of abuse in the course of a day. What you should do is look at warranties and life expectancy as promised by the manufacturer. Many safety clothes have tags that give an estimated lifespan.
- How do I know if it will fit? It’s extremely important that safety clothes fit correctly. If they don’t, not only might they not protect you in an accident; they might actually be the cause of an accident.
Every employee should be carefully measured to make sure that all safety clothes orders are made correctly. When measuring, it’s crucial to take certain things into account, such as whether someone might need a different size of protective eyewear because of glasses, or whether someone might have one foot of a different size than the other.
- Is it time to replace my gear? It’s important to know when it’s time to replace gear. Consider the manufacturer’s lifespan, but also carefully inspect all safety clothes and gear that have been involved in an accident. Most of the time, they’ll need to be replaced. Finally, you should conduct regular inspections and immediately replace anything that does not pass inspection.
Cleaning and Repair
Is it possible to repair or clean your safety clothes? In some cases it is, but you should only repair according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cleaning is a bit more simple, but it’s still important to clean only in the way the manufacturer suggestions.
The cleaning process for any type of safety clothes, such as gloves, varies according to the purpose of the item. Kevlar gloves can often be cleaned in the washing machine, for example, while certain fire-retardant gloves cannot. Some eyewear can be cleaned quickly and easily, while eyewear that is part of full-face protection may require more complicated cleaning to get right.
Protective safety clothes, even as simple as an orange safety vest, might just be the thing that saves your life or the life of someone at your job site. Make sure you’ve gotten the right clothes for the job and that you know how to clean, inspect, and replace them as needed.