Mike Johnson’s look at what the well-dressed operative will be wearing this winter.
There was a time, in the not too distant past, when in demolition circles the term workwear meant a tatty pair of jeans topped with an ill-fitting t-shirt and a lumberjack-style shirt that could stand up under its own weight coupled with the ubiquitous tatty trainer shoes.
But as demolition contractors have evolved to take site welfare and worker health more seriously, so the working wardrobe of the average demolition operative has changed to encompass designer-style safety glasses or goggles, high visibility t-shirts, and safety gloves made from high-tech “breathable” fabrics and Goretex safety boots for example.
But never is the need for proper workwear and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) more apparent than in the dark days and early nights of a British winter. And in an enlightened age where it’s not uncommon for demolition contractors to provide sun screen for their site workers during the three and a half days that make up the British summer, the time has come for many contractors and their staff to take a closer look at some of the latest winter workwear products on offer. Of course, one of the key challenges faced when selecting work wear is that it needs to fit correctly and that it allows the wearer to move freely. This becomes more problematic during winter months when workers are inclined to layer items of clothing on top of each other to keep the bitter wind at bay.
The first line in defence against the cold is usually a high visibility jacket, and there is a huge array available, many of them with detachable linings that can be worn as a light jacket during the summer and then upgraded to fend off the rain and snow in winter.
However, as anyone that has worn a high vis’ jacket for any length of time will testify, they soon become hot and uncomfortable. At this point, they are often discarded by the wearer, freeing his movement but immediately contravening site safety regulations.
To address this, we have developed a range of high visibility sweatshirts and even hoodies. Not only do these ensure that operatives remain visible and safe if they remove their coat, they’re also extremely popular with younger and less experienced operatives. Many view the hoodies in particular as vaguely trendy and are, therefore, more inclined to wear them.
The range of work wear clothing available may seem overwhelming but with good advice from a trustworthy supplier you and your staff will be safe warm and dry.
It is interesting to note that many of these items share many characteristics with the clothing worn by athletes and footballer players, allowing the skin to “breathe” and drawing perspiration away from the body. This is particularly important during the winter months as it helps reduce the risk of rapid cooling of the body, a key contributor to the common cold and, therefore, absence through sickness. A good base layer garment is essential such as the old favourite long johns.
The choices of base layer thermal garments are now truly bewildering with all the major manufacturers providing them.
Another common problem during the winter months is the inclination to wear a woollen or thermal hat under a hard hat. This does a great job of keeping the wearer’s head and face warm but it can make the hard hat ill-fitting and, therefore, less safe. But there is a wide range of winter liners available that are warm enough to keep the chill wind out, but thin enough to ensure that hard hats fit snugly and safely.
Gloves, or more accurately high visibility gloves, are also becoming an increasingly common site on UK demolition sites. Not only do they offer an additional level of visibility and protection, they’re also easy to spot in the mud and are far less likely to get lost and require replacement.
They may cost slightly more, but the chances are you’ll need less of them!
To conclude, I would offer the following advice:
• Discuss the importance of workwear and PPE as part of your company or site’s Toolbox Talk
• In addition to checking that they’re wearing hard hats and high vis’ check to ensure that your operatives workwear is suitable for the job AND the climate
• Ensure that operatives have ready access to spare or replacement workwear and PPE, and bear in mind that some contractors, sites or industries have specific requirements on colour of workwear and PPE.
• Stay warm, be seen and stay safe.
Mike Johnson works for Active Workwear. Full details fo the company’s extensive range of workwear can be found on their website.
And if you would like to know more about taking care of your equipment during the cold winter months, please click here.
