Three Types Of Protective Clothing Than Can Better A Person’s Work Life
Some workers face more risks than others, especially if their jobs require them to be outside, facing the elements or working in hazardous environments. Work injuries can become big issues in the United States — it’s estimated that almost a third of nonfatal work injuries in 2013 that required time away from work were suffered by employees who had been working for less than a year. These kinds of injuries can permanently affect a person’s professional and even personal life. They lead to high medical bills, and days away from work that would have been better spent earning money and learning about the job. One factor that many don’t take into account is the kind of clothing worn by employees. This includes work safety pants, as well as
Some workers face more risks than others, especially if their jobs require them to be outside, facing the elements or working in hazardous environments. Work injuries can become big issues in the United States — it’s estimated that almost a third of nonfatal work injuries in 2013 that required time away from work were suffered by employees who had been working for less than a year. These kinds of injuries can permanently affect a person’s professional and even personal life. They lead to high medical bills, and days away from work that would have been better spent earning money and learning about the job. One factor that many don’t take into account is the kind of clothing worn by employees. This includes work safety pants, as well as work safety shirts and a variety of other items depending on what kind of environment the employee is working in. The right materials can go a long way towards protecting someone, as well as keeping them more comfortable in the workplace. Below, we’ll look into a few different items of clothing that can make people a lot safer in the workplace. Whether it’s work safety plants or a high visibility jacket that makes a difference for you — don’t neglect the items of clothing that could make you safer at work.
1. Earplugs
Earplugs can really make a difference in loud work environments. On a short term level, they make it easier for people to pay attention to what’s happening to them, rather than being distracted by noise. This makes navigating a work environment that could be dangerous a lot safer. Of course, the long term issues that come with working in a loud environment can be much more damaging. Research has shown that permanent hearing loss can occur after a person’s been exposed to 85 decibels. Permanent hearing loss can cause an employee to quit his or her job, and can affect his or her prospects for the rest of their life. Earplugs may seem to be a simple solution — but it’s not like any earplugs will do the job. They need to be adjusted so that they fit correctly, and block the right amount of sound. This means buying heavy-duty earplugs. Earplugs can be adjusted to the point that they block out 15 to 30 decibels of sound, making a big difference for employees.
2. Reflective Clothing
You may notice that a lot of safety work pants are reflective or brightly colored. In fact, some pairs of safety work pants are both. This is because many people find themselves working in dark or heavily wooded areas. Now, when people need to work in wooded areas, safety work pants and work clothes in general are often advised to be brightly colored during the hunting season in particular. Rural areas can be prone to hunters whether or not it’s legal — and bright orange safety work pants could prevent you from being mistaken for a deer. Reflective clothes serve a similar purpose, but in a different environment. Reflective clothes are advised for those working at night, and especially those that do road work at night. Most headlights should pick up on reflective clothes, and thus make the driver aware that there’s a person working nearby. With that being said, people should also be alert in general, and if they’re work in such environments, abandon things like music and cell phones so that they can stay fully alert.
3. Protective Footwear
Whether you’re working in a wet environment or a place involving heavy machinery, you should invest in protective footwear. Protective footwear can keep your feet from being crushed by heavy weights — or exposed to bacteria. It’s estimated that about $70 is spent per employee on protective footwear. This may seem pricey, but it’s worth it in the long term. Better to buy expensive shoes ahead of time, than end up paying for expensive medical bills for the rest of your life.