How to choose your protective clothing?

Where to choose protective clothing for men and women?

Workwear constitutes personal protective equipment, as it protects professionals from various hazards and accidents. However, there are criteria to take into account before choosing your protective pants, support belt, etc.

PPE and its uses

protective clothing should be chosen according to the frequency of use by professionals. For this, it is necessary to know whether they are used occasionally, regularly or intensively depending on the nature of the workers' activity. In addition, comfort is essential, whether it is a protective jacket, garment high visibility or knee protectors.

PPE and type of work

One of the criteria to consider for protective clothing is the type of work and the nature of the job. In addition, the manufacture of these garments must offer additional protection depending on the trades:

• Carpentry;
• Painting;
• Construction;
• Workshop DIY, etc.

However, the wearing of these garments must favor the comfort of the employees above all.

PPE and working conditions

PPE must also be selected according to the working conditions. This usually comes down to whether workwear will be worn indoors or outdoors. If the work is carried out in a cold, humid or hot environment, there are suitable clothes. These are of high quality, whether protective pants or a protective jacket for professionals. Among these clothes, the following are the most common:

• extreme cold clothing;
• waterproof clothing;
• light clothing, etc.

It is possible to find support belts and heated clothes. The latter have an integrated lithium-Ion battery providing heat diffusion for a few hours.

PPE and risks

For the selection of personal protective equipment for professionals, the risks are also part of the criteria to be considered. Workers should choose resistant clothing regarding the level of protection. This helps to avoid bodily injury, especially to the forearms, knee protection and elbows:

• Risk of chemical splash;
• Risk of tearing;
• Chemical risks;
• Risk of perforation, etc.

PPE and materials

Protective clothing is chosen for the material it is made of, such as cotton, amor-tex, etc. Nevertheless, the choice of materials remains essential according to the needs:

• Cotton for light and breathable clothing;
• Polyester for resistant clothing;
• Fluorescent materials in strategic places on the overalls;
• Etc

The size of PPE

You also have to choose the work clothes in relation to the colors and the right size. For example, an optimal positioning belt is chosen according to the size of the worker. The objective remains of course the comfort of construction workers, electricians or even painters.

Various types of PPE

There is a whole range of protective clothing on the market that protects you from head to toe. All you have to do is choose the clothes that suit the employees. We can mention some ranges of clothes, the most common:

• Work trousers;
• Protection belt;
• Charlotte;
• Protective overalls;
• Disposable coveralls;
• Work aprons;
• Protective gowns;
• Protective jackets;
• Protective vests;
• High visibility clothing;
• Protective sleeves;
• Safety footwear;
• Etc

PPE and standards

Personal Protective Equipment is manufactured in compliance with standards. This is Regulation (EU) 2016/425 of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 9, 2016. This helps to meet health and safety requirements.

Concerning high visibility clothing, they must comply with the EN NF 471-2004 standard. For knee protection, standard EN 14404 is followed. work clothes follow general requirements and standards EN 340. Standard EN 342 governs clothing against the cold. Against bad weather, the protective clothing meets the EN 343 standard.