Wearing the proper clothing and personal protective equipment in the working environment is critical. Appropriate clothing is your first and often only line of defense against many safety and health hazards.
Proper clothing is key. Simple as it may sound, you must dress for the occasion. Wearing stylish clothing can create a bigger hazard or may not provide protection from hazards while you work. Proper clothing that protects is the key.
Protect Your Feet. Standard footwear—for most industries—should be sturdy, leather footwear—preferably, boots equipped with safety toes. Tennis shoes offer little or no protection against worksite hazards.
Hand Protection. Gloves are inexpensive and easily available protection that guard against many hazards. They can protect hands from exposures ranging from chemical spills and cuts, to heat and cold. Hand protection comes in huge assortment of styles, materials, and sizes. All are made to protect your hands from specific hazards. It is important to select the proper style of glove to effectively protect hands from the hazards that you may encountered. How often has a nearby worker cleaned parts or washed the grease from their hands with gasoline or a solvent of some kind. Don’t take the unnecessary risk! Select and use the proper hand protection.
Jewelry. In the workplace, jewelry can be a hazard that is often overlooked. Rings, bracelets, chains, etc., can be the cause of a much more severe hand-related accident. Common sense should be considered when wearing jewelry. The best choice is to keep your jewelry at home.
Head and Eye Protection. Hardhats and safety glasses should be worn at worksites whenever there is an overhead hazard or potential for an object to enter the eyes. A hardhat not only protects you from the rain, it may save your life! The benefits received from eye protection are significant. Safety glasses are a sure way to help save your eyesight!
Dressing for the workplace by wearing the right kind of clothing helps protect you from injury. It is your first line of defense against worksite hazards. Carefully choose work clothing and personal protective equipment that will best protect you while on the job. Improper clothing is an invitation for an accident to occur.