Work clothes capital importance

Many employers are aware of their duty of care, to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) at work, but do they really consider the value and importance of workwear for health and safety in their company?

Work clothes: protect the employee

Employers recognize the need to provide safety clothing to protect their staff working in a high-risk environment. For example, to protect against combustion, if employees are working near a hot oven.

When an employee has to carry out a task in a risky environment, they do not feel completely protected, so it is recommended to protect themselves to perform the task as efficiently as possible. work and protective clothing help to overcome this fear.

When considering the purchase of new assets for a business, management will evaluate the best equipment in terms of yield, performance and value. The cost can be justified. But too often managers simply provide the basic level of protection to cover the risk, without thinking about the quality and options available, but poor quality workwear can have an impact on productivity.

Indeed, with quality workwear, employees are likely to feel valued and will be more motivated. Ultimately, it can help retain and recruit staff.

There are also unseen hazards that may not necessarily cause an immediate problem, but can cause significant problems to an employee's hearing, skin, lungs, and breathing. Employers should always consider weighing the risks. The choice should not be made solely from a production and value perspective, but from a knowledge that inappropriate personal protective clothing can have fatal consequences.

Before ordering protective clothing, a risk assessment must be carried out, for health and safety. Factors to consider include:

• What are the dangers?
• Who could be hurt?
• What controls exist and what other reasonable and practicable controls could be implemented?