How To Choose The Best Protective Clothing For The Workplace

Certain professions come with specific threats and potential hazards. Unfortunately, this is just the reality of some jobs, but there are ways to minimise accidents occurring as a result of such risks by choosing the best protective clothing for the workplace.

But how do you go about choosing the right clothing to protect yourself and your team from illness and injury at work? In this article, we explore some of the key elements involved in making an informed decision when choosing your workplace safety wear.

Workplace protective clothing must conform to specific certifications and standards

All workplace safety wear purchased must adhere to EN-ISO standards, which indicates that the clothing you are investing in is deemed satisfactory to wear in whatever context and environment it was intended for.

Furthermore, any PPE that you buy for a workplace setting must bear the CE mark, which means that the clothing is in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and adheres to a particular set of health and safety standards.

Keep in mind your employees’ unique needs

While certain PPE, such as hard hats and high-vis vests, come in standard sizes, there is a range of task-specific items that require a more tailored approach. An example of this can be seen in the context of respiratory protection, which involves face-fit testing to ensure an adequate fit.

Employees with certain medical conditions, such as respiratory or dermatological issues, will also need to be taken into consideration as they may be unable to wear the standard PPE provided. Provisions should be made to protect their comfort and safety in such circumstances, so seeking advice from your safety wear supplier on potential alternative options is recommended.

Comfort is key when it comes to protective clothing

If you consider how much time workers spend wearing PPE daily, it is important to aim for a certain level of comfort with the clothing you choose.

Yes, it has to be functional and adhere to the relevant standards, but there are also measures you can take when ordering to promote wearability.

Checking the weight and make-up of the fabric is a good place to start, while criteria like the fit and length of time it takes to put on should also be taken into consideration.

After all, the more comfortable the clothing the more likely your employees are to wear it when they should be.

Ask yourself some important questions

There are a couple of vital questions that need to be answered before purchasing PPE.

Firstly, who is wearing the clothing?

With such a vast array of PPE available, it is crucial to ensure the items you buy are sector-specific and more importantly, role-specific.

Secondly, what hazards require protective clothing for the workplace?

Before investing in new safety wear for your employees, a risk assessment of the working environment should be carried out to assess potential hazards and enable you to select PPE accordingly.

Choose Ark Safety as your workplace safety wear provider

To ensure you are getting the best, you must first order from the best. Opting for a reliable provider with a good reputation is highly advisable, as is sourcing one that provides head-to-toe solutions for all your needs.

Ark Safety does just this. As a full-service supplier of quality PPE and workwear solutions, we operate across a wide range of sectors, including manufacturing, engineering, construction, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and facilities management, as well as specialising in the food and aviation industries.

Serving customers throughout Ireland and the UK, we are proud to offer a comprehensive range of PPE and workwear solutions to satisfy the most demanding safety requirements.

Get in touch with our experts today and ensure your team is fully protected and fully equipped to help grow your company!