How Work Uniforms Can Help Improve the Safety of Your Workplace
Company uniforms are an essential piece of safety protection. Many industries across the world use workplace uniforms to improve the quality of safety at the workplace. From hospitals to warehouses, uniforms have countless benefits.
There are several important safety factors to consider when designing uniform shirts and uniforms. First, determine how many different types of uniforms you need. Do you want to delineate position with a uniform Next, consider what kind of protection you need. Fire protection, anti-microbial fabrics, and the like are just a few things to consider. Next, have a maintenance program for continued success. Providing a laundry service might not only be required, but it is also a sure way to help your employees uphold a high health and safety standard.
Skill Sets Are Quickly Recognizable
In some workplaces, it’s essential to be able to identify different workers. For example, a worker on an assembly line might not have the same skills as a welder in the same manufacturing facility. However, if you color-code your uniforms by rank, trade, or skill set, it’s easy to identify who is who.
Use uniforms as a way to organize your team in a safe manner. That way, you’ll know if you’re asking a team member to perform a task they may or may not have the training for. In many circumstances, this could be unsafe. Also, it can help identify newer employees who are still undergoing safety training. That way, fellow team members can easily help a newer team member learn how best to do their assigned task. Coded uniforms take the guesswork out of the situation and help your management team make safer decisions.
Not to mention, dress such as restaurant uniforms make it easy to identify different personnel too. You wouldn’t ask your chef to deal with a disgruntled customer, so having workplace uniforms makes quick (and safe) work of identifying members of your team.
Work Uniforms Offer Protection
The most important aspect of any work uniform is the protection they offer. Construction uniforms are essential as the first line of defense between your team members and potential hazards. Welders, inspectors, and those working in certain construction industries may need specialized fire-resistant clothing. Using fire-rated uniforms ensures all of your employees are protected equally. Even if you don’t need fire protection, simply having sleeves and a barrier between you and your work keeps employees safe. Just a small fabric barrier can be the difference between a safe day at work and a recordable injury.
Ensure your employees stay safe by allowing for a certain percentage of uniforms to be re-ordered at regular intervals. Damaged uniforms should be replaced as soon as possible. Damages, like rips and tears, not only leave your skin vulnerable, but they can also void safety ratings of clothing. Inevitably, clothing that’s meant for protection eventually wears out, so having a standard order cycle keeps your team safe.
Clean Uniforms Stop Disease
Many hospitals and medical offices use business scrubs as a uniform. Scrubs not only offer protection from unforeseen spills, but they stop the spread of disease too. Germs like viruses and bacteria can live on clothing. When your employees wear scrubs, they can stop the spread of disease simply by changing before they leave work. Clothing acts as a buffer, and in many instances, wearing a uniform is the first line of defense against illness. Even desk staff at medical facilities benefit from wearing scrubs. These easy-to-wear outfits prove to be a safe uniform for employees.
Regular hygiene helps too. That’s why all uniforms designed to help stop the spread of disease should have a rigorous laundering policy in place. Always make sure that uniforms like scrubs get cleaned regularly and fresh clothing is available to all of your employees.
Visibility Counts
Another vital aspect of safety is visibility. When you’re operating heavy machinery, vehicles, or other potentially hazardous tasks, a uniform allows others to easily see you. Safety clothing should be bright and visible. Think uniforms with reflective tape, safety yellow or orange highlights, and other bright hues. Consider visible clothing as an essential part of your worker’s kit. If you don’t want to go for a full safety uniform, you can require safety vests to be worn as a part of your outfit.
Throughout the workforce, many companies opt to use uniforms as a safety measure. From people who deal with the sick to hazardous jobs like welding and mechanical work, uniforms have a lot of benefits. Safety is a number one priority at higher-risk jobs. To ensure a safer workplace, let your company uniforms do some of the heavy liftings. Use uniforms as a way to protect your employees, alert others to their presence, and keep your team healthy.