Do you wish to keep your employees warm and safe in winter?
We know the answer is obvious. Protection of your workers’ health is also your priority. Depending upon the industry, the level of risk involved in performing certain tasks can be highly demanding and dangerous. Whether the work conditions are dangerous or not, there has to be a certain level of safety measures put in place to ensure your workers’ well-being.
From work station safety procedures to equipment, you, as an owner or the management should also pay attention to safety workwear for workers in winter.
And when it comes to winter safety workwear, here are 10 helpful tips to take into consideration.
1. Identification
Uniform helps to identify a person as a worker from the crowd. It helps to determine a worker is of certain field like construction, electrical, sales, service industry, manufacturing and so on. You and strangers can easily identify which company an employee belongs to. In a situation where there are a bunch of people or visitors on the work premise, uniforms help to identify your workers from the visitors. Even if you are standing and seeing the work in progress from a distance, you will easily be able to identify your staff on the site.
2. Safety
The main objective of winter safety workwear is to protect your employees from harsh weather conditions and perils involved in the employment. Each industry has its own work environment challenges. That’s why, winter uniforms should be customised to meet each field’s needs and requirements. To get better understanding what the uniform should be like, it’s a good idea to ask the people who have to work on the site on a daily basis while wearing the uniform. They know it better than anyone else the threats involved. So, get their help to improve work safety in winter.
3. Cleanliness
After a hard day at work, uniformsa re bound to be messy and dirty. So, the work clothes have to be cleaned on a regular basis. While cleaning and even after a couple of washes, workwear should not get damaged. Keeping the workwear clean should be a priority to prevent contamination and spread of hazardous bacteria and other harmful germs. If the wash requires special cleaning solutions, the management has to ensure it’s taken care of.
4. Durability
Safety workwear should be able to withstand the daily grind of the work. There may be few wear and tear on the uniforms but it should not compromise the safety of the workers.Safety workwear for winter should be of durable nature. It should last at least a couple of years even though working conditions may not be favorable. Employers and workers both have to ensure all the uniforms are in good condition for work. If not, the management will have to either replace them on time or take care of its maintenance. However, with good care one can increase their uniform’s longevity.
5. Visibility
In winter, there are times when the weather is unfavorable and it becomes hard to pin-point workers’ position. Have uniforms and gears in bright colours to easily find the exact location/position of your staff. Take for instance, an employee working on building maintenance or cleaning the windows on tall building, you will be able to see them from a far if they are wearing hi-vi clothing and gears.
Being able to spot the workers in poor weather conditions, or in dangerous work environment such as mining, building/bridge/tunnel construction sites, manufacturing sites as such will help to improve worker’s safety on the job. For high visibility jackets, shirts and vests, check our collection.
6. Layering
Learn the art of layering. Yes, even with winter safety workwear. We already wear clothes in layers to stay warm during winter and it’s same with work place uniforms. Make you’re your employees wear at least three layers of loose fitting clothing where they can take off or put on additional layer to be comfortably warm and be able to work at the same time.
7. Protection for hands and feet
When the work environment is freezing, it is vital to protect the hands and feet. If employees cannot use their hands to perform the job, a work day is wasted. Have them wear gloves and mitts to keep their hands warm in cold working conditions.
When the personnel have to work with delicate equipment or a delicate task, they can remove the mitts and gloves to do the job. If wearing gloves doesn’t hamper the finger dexterity, they can remove the mitts only.
There are various gloves and boots with good insulation in the market perfect for winter workwear. There is also option for water proof boots with good grip. Find the one that is suitable for your work environment and nature of job.
8. Type of clothing
Winter uniform should also be loose enough to let warm blood transfer to hands and feet as they are the ones to get cold first. Avoid getting tight clothing as it hinders blood circulation.If your staff have to work outdoor in extreme conditions, getting them wind and water proof clothing is a good decision.
9. For face
Many people don’t like being cold, not even on the face. And there are times when the weather condition demands it. For these situations,you should add knit mask to keep the face and mouth safe from the elements. Workers can choose when and where they want to wear it. You can keep it optional as well.
10. Head and Neck
We constantly loose heat from our heads. When you are looking for protection for head and neck in winter, see that the helmet you are getting has lining on it for warmth. Then there are options for hat, where it is better to choose the one which will cover and keep the ears warm as well. You can also opt for scarves to keep your head and neck warm. Again those are also optional.
For more information on winter safety workwear see here.
Corporate Uniforms & Workwear is the one stop solution for all your winter safety workwear needs. In case you are looking for new sets of winter uniforms for your organisation, contact us or call us at 08 8342 9422