Choosing the Right Protective Workwear

Apr 16, 2024

Proper training ensures employees won't put themselves and others at risk. Equally important is high-quality protective workwear that helps minimize on-the-job injuries.

A safe working environment for employees is the paramount concern for manufacturing facility managers and owners. Proper training ensures each employee knows how to perform their tasks without putting themselves and others at risk. Equally important is outfitting workers with high-quality protective workwear that helps minimize on-the-job injuries. Protective attire also keeps your facility compliant with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

What is the different protective clothing on the market? What qualities should you look for in protective wear for the manufacturing industry? Find out the answers to these and more questions below.

Types of protective clothing include:

Consider these essential factors when choosing which protective workwear is right for your manufacturing facility.

Focus on Comfort and Safety Balance

A significant contentious issue is finding the balance between safety and comfort when buying protective clothing. People want to be comfortable when working. An uncomfortable experience increases the chances of accidents, and work morale drops. However, make sure you are not overcompensating and purchasing wear with a higher safety rating than you require. High-rated protective gear can be heavy, which fatigues employees and may be too uncomfortable and stiff for them to do their job efficiently.

Assess the threat level of each task in your manufacturing facility and choose the best equipment to cover the employee doing it to find the right balance. Remember, do not go overboard.

The most overlooked factor when selecting protective workwear is ensuring it fits each employee. Loose clothing can help workers doing manual labor stay comfortable. However, these baggy clothes are also easy to catch in machines and passing vehicles, with disastrous results. Instead, make sure you consider the size and fitting of protective workwear. Clothing does not have to be form-fitting, but it should not also be baggy.

Remember to consider the neck size when the employee works around sharp objects like glass. Collars will help cover the entire neck in such cases. This coverage can help save lives.

There are several factors to consider when selecting the right protective workwear for a manufacturing facility. Your industry, sizing, comfort, vehicles, climate, and threat level all influence your decision. However, always go for quality and durable clothing. Following these tips will help ensure your employees are safe and make your workplace safer.