Articles

Integrating PPE and Regular Workwear

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:39:00 GMT

As the responsibility of employers in the safety of their workers is recognised more extensively than ever before, and the cost of injuries to companies rises, the use of personal protective equipment as mandatory is also increasing. The long arm of the OH&S supervisor reaches to the eyes, ears, back and knees of workers on job sites across the globe - personal protective equipment is a must in the modern world. There are quite a few extra bits and pieces to put on before you get down to the nitty gritty of a job ... and if you've ever climbed to the top of a roof only to realize that you've forgotten your goggles, work kneepads, or other PPE, you'll realize the importance of integrating these requirement with normal workwear when possible. Today we look at work wear products to help reduce the time burden that PPE creates, and improve safety.

Common types of PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is defined as anything that controls or mitigates a risk to a person's health and safety. The term is most often used in a manual labour setting. Common types of PPE include:

Safety goggles
High visibility vests
Work kneepads
Tool vests to replace tool belts
Safety boots
Ear plugs or earmuffs
Face masks
Respirators
Lead aprons
Over the shoulder tool belts

PPE for the legs

Knee injuries have quite a large impact on both the future health and mobility of a worker, their efficiency and also the company's short term budget, in the form of medical cost responsibilities and time off work.

Workwear manufacturers have begun manufacturing work pants that include facilities for complying with PPE requirements, in the form of pants with work kneepad pockets built in. Kneepads can be comfortably worn all day, without the rubbing and constricted feeling that traditional strap-on kneepads can create.

PPE for the hips

The back, neck and knees are the big names in the PPE world, with a range of products aimed at helping maintain their good health. However, the health of hip joints is just as vital to the overall well-being of workers, and although there are few injuries directly associated with the hips and pelvis, accumulated strain here can transfer either up or down the body, to the knees and ankles, or up the back and neck.

One of the major culprits of hip fatigue is carrying a heavy tool belt for long periods of time. There are several solutions to this dilemma:

If the tools are not excessively heavy, an ergonomically designed tool belt alone may suffice. There are models available that are lightweight, padded and breathable, and offer multiple attachment points so that weight can be distributed evenly and moved as necessary.
To help distribute the weight over the entire body, a tool belt with shoulder straps may be used
To spread the load of tools over the shoulders rather than the hips, a tool vest can be used. Shoulders are better designed to carry load for long periods.

PPE for the back

Back injuries can make an enormous dent in both a worker's health and mobility, company budgets and project schedules. The average cost to a company of a back injury requiring corrective surgery can be thousands ; injuries that require continual treatment can cost thousands more, let alone the cost in time off work and low morale per year.

Even distribution of carried weight is essential to keeping the back strong and healthy, and the PPE solutions used for maintaining hip health are equally applicable as PPE for the back. Work kneepads also form a part of the back health equation - transferred stress and unnatural postures used to avoid knee impact can have a direct effect on the joints of the spine.

Current legislation requires several things of personal protective equipment, including that it should:

Fit properly
Not interfere with other equipment being used (so earmuffs and hard hats should be able to be used concurrently, for example)
Be comfortable
Comply with relevant Australian Standards
Not create additional health and safety risks
(What is the source of all these dot points?)

Investing in workwear that integrates PPE makes good sense for contractors, the self-employed, and employing companies.

Tradies' Favourite Masterpieces of European Design

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:22:00 GMT

They say that necessity is the mother of invention - but invention's step-mother would surely have to be the entire continent of Europe! Some of the oldest civilisations on the planet are located here, and so many of the inventions that we use day to day have come from the region known as the language and culture capital of the world. The sheer population volume in Europe means that industry would soon be crippled by the cost of injuries, if preventive equipment wasn't used; corrective action for both back and knee injuries can cost thousands of dollars. , let alone continual treatment costs, time off work and low morale. . European employers have thousands of reasons to look to preventive measures to keep their workers healthy! Today we are looking at what Europe has offered the workwear world, from the famous Swiss army knife to lesser known, but equally convenient products like tool vests and elastic belts.

European Development: Tool vest

Taking the weight of your tools off your hips and putting on a broader area much better designed to cope with excess is a development that has been fronted mainly by the European workwear company Snickers, known as Skillers in Australia. Carrying tools is an efficiency necessity - but the impact on back and hip health that traditional tool belts have needed to be reviewed.

European Development: Swiss Army knife

When a screwdriver was going to be needed for soldiers to take apart a new rifle introduced to Switzerland in 1889, the army decided to produce a multi-purpose tool that would incorporate the screwdriver, a knife, a reamer and a can opener ... and thus the most famous Swiss invention, the army knife, was born.

European Development: Wenger watches

Wenger makes both watches and Swiss Army knives, and if you have ever asked about the toughest, most punishable watch on the planet, a sales rep has probably pointed you in the direction of Wenger at some stage.

European Development: Elastic belts

It isn’t clear which continent can lay claim to the actual invention of elastic belts, but workwear pioneers Snickers have brought a stylish, infinitely durable design to tradespeople the world over. Ordinary leather belts tend to cut into your middle when you squat down or sit - no matter how well toned that midsection is! Elastic belts solve the problem beautifully.

European Development: Steel toe boots

Steel toe boots prevent thousands of potential amputation-situations every single year, and are mandated for use in certain work situations in many countries. It has been said that wooden clogs were the original steel-toe boot or safety shoe!

European Development: Pants with kneepad pockets

Kneepads worn over work pants look incredibly comical; worn under work pants, only slimline models will fit. European workwear company Snickers developed pants that have work kneepad pockets sewn into the body of the pant, to solve the dilemma and save tradies' knees well into their fifth decade and beyond.

European Development: Tool Belts with shoulder straps

Despite the invention of tool vests, some people have good reasons for continuing to wear tool belts. The addition of shoulder straps by European workwear companies creates a halfway point between the tool belt and the vest.

European Development: Holster Pockets

Putting pockets outside work pants looks strange at first - but the comfort and efficiency improvements they provide are so important that this development has seen fast,widespread acceptance

European Development: Velcro Tool Holders to attach whichever tool pouch or tool you need.

Velcro held together a human heart during the first artificial heart surgery(is this true?), is used to help create nuclear power, and claims NASA as one of the biggest users of the material. It is also a sturdy, easy to use materials for workwear applications, like attaching tool pouches and holster pockets to different areas on a tool belt or work pants.

5 Most Inventive Workwear Products

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:15:00 GMT

Work wear has come a long way in the past decade. We've moved from bulky, sometimes painful leather belts to new elastic alternatives; the older style tool belts with fixed attachment points have been replaced with more ergonomic alternatives like tool vests; three quarter work pants are now available where the alternatives used to be short-shorts or long pants ... and that was all! Today we are looking at how new developments in the workwear arena are ultimately adding to quality of life for tradespeople - allowing you to get your work done faster and more safely, and come home feeling healthier and more energetic.

Inventive product: Tool Vest

Distributing the weight of tools over your shoulders rather than your hips makes good physical sense - but new generation tool vests go beyond the simple idea of moving tool garments upwards. In new generation tool vests, you'll find features like:

Sturdy mesh sections for ventilation and durability
Pockets for phones, pens, notepads etc as well as tools
Double Velcro attachments for tool pouches and holster pockets
Expander sections to make wearing over winter clothes possible

Back treatment costs can run into the thousands, with continual back treatment also costing thousands, let alone sick leave and low morale for the employee effected and his co-workers seeing the potential results of their efforts. The small investment of a tool vest compared to the costs of not having the right equipment is money very well spent.

Inventive Product: Kneepad work pants

The annoyance of putting kneepads on under ordinary work pants used to mean that most tradespeople simply didn’t bother - and lived with the consequences to their knees over time. New generation work pants have kneepad pockets built in, and work kneepads that are specially designed to fit in them. The cost of necessary corrective surgery on knees can run into thousands of dollars to the employer, and if continual treatment is needed around which could cost thousands more, let alone the cost of sick leave and low morale for the worker and probably his co-workers, could add upto thousands more per year . Choosing not invest in work kneepads and an easy system for using them could end up being quite risky.

Inventive product: Led light hat

Remember the old-style miner's hat with enormous spotlights attached to the front? They are a relic nowadays - there are slick baseball style caps available that incorporate LED lights into the brim of the cap that are barely noticeable in normal use.

Inventive Product: Elastic belt

Materials technology has evolved in leaps and bounds from the time when your socks used to start falling down after three washes! Elastic belts must be tried to be understood - the improved comfort comes without any sacrifice in durability.

Inventive Product: Ergo belt

Once upon a time you might have hung tool pouches from an ordinary leather belt. Nowadays tool bets are made of strong yet light and breathable materials like Cordura, with padding and multiple attachment points to help distribute weight in the most comfortable possible way. If you want to come home feeling almost the same as when you left, advancements like the Ergo Belt are a must.

Inventive Product: Tool belts with shoulder straps

If you prefer the accessibility and ease of use that tool belts provide, shoulder straps are a new invention in the work gear arena to help make them more ergonomically sound.

Inventive Product: Holster Pocket Pants with kneepad pockets and Velcro tool holders

Work pants have moved light years ahead in recent times, with advancements like:

Super lightweight fabric (as low as 5.6oz) that maintains durability and rip resistance
Holster pockets with separate compartments
Work kneepad pockets in the front
Velcro attachments for tool pouches and hammer holders

Inventive Product: ¾ pants with kneepad pockets and Velcro tool holders

Almost the same level of sun protection, but greatly improved breathability - workwear manufacturers 10 years ago didn’t even consider ¾ pants for men. Now the stereotypes have been broken down to allow hugely improved comfort.

Inventive Product: Work shorts with Holster Pockets and Velcro tool holders

Work shorts aren’t just a way to cover your neon-globe legs any more - now they can work as hard as you do, utilizing inbuilt holster pockets and Velcro attachments for tool pouches, hammer holders, etc.

Keeping Cool - Workwear Tips for Summer

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:02:00 GMT

One of the toughest seasons for trade work is summer. In winter, you can simply add layers of clothing, wear thermals, and drink plenty of tea, coffee or soup. In summer, there is still that minimum level of clothing you need to have on for protection … but every inch can feel as if it is suffocating you! Today we are looking at workwear that comes to the rescue in summer, offering protection and convenience while keeping you as cool as possible.

Fabric weights for summer

In general, the lighter the weight of fabric that your work pants or work shorts are made from, the more comfortable they will be during summer. Often the same 'toughness' exists in lightweight fabrics as in heavyweight ones - the major difference is in the internal temperature. Workwear designed for summer use will often weigh between 5 and 9 ounce fabric weights.

Shorts versus pants

The natural progression as the weather gets warmer seems to be pushing the work pants towards the back of your closet, and bringing our the shorts once again. The choice isn’t always as clear-cut, however. Before you automatically pull on your shorts on those mornings where 6am feels like noon, consider that:

Shorts are definitely not recommended by the Cancer Council of Australia for outdoor work - long pants offer the best sun protection. This is critical in a nation where around 1 in every 2 people will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime.
Work shorts don’t provide as much protection from cuts, grazes and minor burns that long pants do. Think about the hazards that your work exposes your legs to.
Shorts don't (easily) allow the use of kneepads to protect your knees from the rigours of down-low work.

If you are working indoors in a relatively hazard -free environment, though, lightweight work shorts can feel like a blessing on hot days! Some of the drawbacks can easily be compensated for, as well. Although work shorts frequently have fewer pockets that long work pants do, lightweight and breathable tool belts and tool vests now exist to help distribute the load more evenly over your body. Use work shorts where your legs are relatively safe, and you want to be able to concentrate on your job ... not your boiling bottom half!

Keeping cool - what not to do

It isn’t just the shorts versus pants dilemma where the Cancer Council weighs in on the subject of your workwear. In the arena of public health, recommendations have changed immensely in the past decades. It is recommended by the Worksafe OH&S Council of Victoria, and Sunsmart Australia, that you:

Not go shirtless to work, even on days that are warm rather than hot
Not choose short sleeved work shirts or short pants if you'll be spending time outside
Try not to work outside during peak UV times of day, which are generally between 10am and 3pm.
Use artificial shade where possible to complement long sleeved work shirts and long work pants. Worksafe Victoria notes that in many situations, tradespeople are exposed to reflected or scattered UV light from surrounding surfaces, including concrete, metal and glass, even when working under shade.

¾ pants Versus pants

One compromise that you can use in the summer months between the comfort of work shorts and the health and safety necessity of having long pants for outdoor work, is a pair of ¾ pants. Combined with socks or boots, these can shade 100% of the skin on your legs, but give better airflow and a cooler experience than long work pants.

There are plenty of ways to stay cool, and get your work done more efficiently in summer without compromising your ultimate safety. Use tool vests with your work shorts to provide maximum comfort, as long as you are indoors. Use ¾ pants in outdoor situations, and always wear long-sleeved shirts - and you'll be as cool and safe as possible.

Belting Options for Work Pants - Which is Best?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:01:00 GMT

You'd have to be a lucky man to find a pair of work pants that fits just right, with nothing more than the zip and button holding them up ... and even luckier to then have your waist stay the same size before and after lunch, and from month to month! Belts are a necessity for work pants, and there are quite a few options. We look at some of the more popular ones, and what purposes they are suitable for.

Elastic belts

The elastic formulation that these belts are made from is worlds away from the ribbed stuff in your boxers that ends up warping and losing stretch after a few washes. You can find elastic belts that have infinitely variable clasps (usually a toothed clamp that holds onto the exact millimetre of elastic you want it to), as well as some models that have a traditional belt's clasp area (holes and a buckle), with an elastic body. Here are some of the positives of using elastic belts with your work wear:

Comfortable for sitting as well as standing - that extra bit of give in the belt means that it won’t cut into you as much when you’re sitting down at the end of the day, doing paperwork
Comfortable for odd positions - crawling under and around things, stretching and twisting
Minimize belt loop stretch - that familiar peaking of the fabric of your belt loops on a favourite pair of work pants is minimized with elastic belts, which grip the fabric under them and rely less on the loop to hold them in place.
Most elastic belts have infinitely variable clasps, making for a great fit no matter how much your waistline changes.
Sleek look that translates well to a night out at the pub.
Some people feel they're cooler than leather belts.

Elastic belts for your work pants are comparable in price to leather belts - if you go for a quality brand, there really is no cost difference. The wearing of elastic that you find if you use the same place on the belt everyday is similar to the indents that leather belts develop when used at the same hole every day. However with elastic belts for your work pants, these tend to develop less quickly - you'll use a slightly different position most days.

Normal leather belts

Some men will remain leather belt devotees - they definitely have their own advantages in some situations. While genuine leather (especially with options like braiding or colouring) will tend towards the more expensive side, there are a couple of advantages over elastic belts:

For the style-conscious, there are more design variations with leather belts than with elastic
Leather belts can be oiled and waxed to get the same flexibility and durability that elastic belts have.
Leather belts have a more traditional look, and are a natural material - this will remain a preference for some workers.

5 Alternate Places to Wear Your Workwear

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:03:00 GMT

Work wear needs to be among the most durable, sturdy and dependable items in your wardrobe. It will see more wear than any other single item (except your favourite hat, maybe!), being out and about for a third of the day's hours, five days a week. Great quality workwear doesn’t need to be limited to these times, though - today we're checking out 5 different activities that can benefit from the strength, versatility and quality of work wear clothing.

1. Camping/Fishing/Hiking/4WDriving

Three activities that go together like roast lamb, gravy and potatoes can all benefit from attributes specific to work wear. You'll be kneeling down doing up tents and gutting fish - protect your knees the same way you do at work with work pants with kneepad pockets included. You'll need to be carrying a torch, a knife, lures and spare hooks, and tool vests or holster pocket work pants give you convenient options. Hiking will test the fabric of your pants to the limit, with branches and thorns ripping at you. And if you need to get under your 4WD in the mud and among the sticks to fix your rig, you'll want something to protect you from those elements. Work pants are made to survive this sort of treatment - look for some tough poly/cotton fabrics.

2. Overseas tourism

For backpacking journeys especially, you want to be able to carry most of your belongings with you. Holster pocket pants are the most 'ordinary' solution; if you have an array of items that need easy access, holster pocket tool vests have proven to be useful for having items easily accessible.

3. Work … at home

The reason that you're able to get big jobs done so efficiently at work is the processes and tools you have at the ready to facilitate your work. You can get some of this speed when you’re working at home, also, simply by kitting up as you would for a day on site. Put your tool belt or tool vest on, and save yourself walking back and forth to the toolbox; use a drill holster and have a range of power tools within easy reach for fast and efficient home handyman projects.

Pants with kneepads are always handy for all those unexpected times you end up working on your knees!

4. Home Cleaning

When you do something, show the rest of them how to do it fast, thoroughly and efficiently! The kneepads that you use in your work pants can help increase your comfort level while cleaning the house, and a tool vest can help keep things within easy reach while you are moving around. Don’t forget to grab your ventilation mask from your toolbox as well, if you’re dealing with noxious chemicals in aerosol form for cleaning.

5. Going out

We aren't suggesting you bring your drill in a holster to the pub (unless you knocked off half an hour ago!). Work belts nowadays are looking sleeker than ever, though, and if yours is in relatively good condition it will go well with a pair of jeans and dress shoes. Elastic belts look great, and are especially comfortable for all-you-can-eat restaurants! Your work phone pouch is just as useful when out with friends, also.

Feel Guide to Fabric Weights for Workwear

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:06:00 GMT

Buying on the internet has plenty of advantages - huge range, easy shopping around for best prices, access to things that stores don’t supply locally … the list goes on. However it also has its downfalls, and especially when buying a particular product for the first time, many people need to know how it feels before making the decision to buy. Don’t think that you need to give up all the benefits of net-based shopping to 'get a feel' for feel though - here we go over the common fabric weights of work wear, including work pants, work shorts and work shirts, and translate the numbers to something meaningful.

Conversion table

Depending on the origin of a store's clothes, even Australian work wear stores sometimes list fabric weights differently (either imperial or metric measurements). Here is a quick conversion table:

170gsm = 5oz
203 gsm = 6oz
237 gsm = 7oz
254 gsm = 7.5 oz
271 gsm = 8 oz
289 gsm = 8.5 oz
305 gsm = 9 oz
322 gsm = 9.5 oz
339 gsm = 10 oz
356 gsm = 10.5 oz
372 gsm = 11 oz
389 gsm - 11.5 oz

These are the most common fabric weights you'll find if shopping for work wear, although there may be some odd outliers.

11 ounce fabric

The most common workwear items to be manufactured in 11oz fabric are work pants. 11 ounce fabric is one of the heaviest weights of cotton twill available, and is even heavier than some denims. If you've ever owned a pair of Wrangler jeans (some of the toughest on the market), they typically run from 10oz to 12oz fabric. Look for 100% cotton in your 11oz fabrics for work pants - otherwise you'll find that you pour sweat under the pants as soon as the weather warms up.

10oz fabric

10oz fabric has almost the same strength as the 11oz, but is lighter and cooler. Some of the quality brand of work pants blend cotton and poly in their 10oz fabric - not suitable where there are fire hazards but great otherwise. You still won’t feel much air flow through the 10oz fabric - it makes a good winter work pant. Cotton/poly blends are less prone to shrinkage in the dryer. They are also much stronger when wet.

This lightweight fabric offers good ventilation and also good strength and rip resistance. 7.5oz fabric is used for a range of work wear items, usually in items designed for summer wear. It also offers UV protection which will be a factor for people working outside.

5.6oz fabric

New weaving technologies are allowing workwear companies to create lighter fabric weights with great strength and resilience. If you are moving all day or working in a hot shed and coolness is important, there are some excellent 5.6oz fabric work wear clothing options now available.

You'll need to remember that in work wear clothing items where there is a double layer of fabric (or even a triple layer, as in work pants with kneepad pockets), there will be extra warmth and extra sturdiness. If you are quoted a fabric weight that seems especially high for an item, check the description to see if the fabric is a specially designed ventilated type; you'll often find this is the case with items like tool vests.