Total Installer May-June 2019

SPONSORED BY
WORKWEAR: BEAT THE HEAT
AND STAY COMFY ON SITE
Peter Dumigan, Managing Director of the Hultafors Group UK which owns Snickers
Workwear and Solid Gear Safety Footwear, talks workwear and warm weather.
Working on site can be a hazardous
business. Bumps, cuts and bruises are
everyday occurrences and more serious,
long-term injuries often happen.
With so much happening on site, so much
machinery, materials and even potentially
dangerous working locations, the potential for
accidents is everywhere.
There’s a host of training and PPE products to
keep us safety-aware and protected. But it isn’t
just physical hazards in the working environment
you should be conscious of, you need to be very
aware of how weather conditions can affect your
performance and wellbeing on site – so that
means dressing right.
We’re all looking forward to sunny, warm weather
this summer. As long as you’ve got plenty of
sunscreen to protect exposed skin it’ll produce a
great tan, but it can also compound the health
and safety issues by creating an extra hazard for
personal wellbeing.
So dressing right for the environment you’re
grafting in is important – not only for working
efficiency, but also for personal comfort and
wellbeing.
Top tips and essentials
The best workwear for professional tradesmen
and women is designed to create a Climate
Control System for your body. It will help you stay
cool to make getting the job done as easy and
comfortable as possible.
There are many factors that affect how
comfortable your work clothes and safety shoes
are, particularly the materials they’re made of
and whether they’re right for the type of work
you’re doing.
Your feet
If you’re on the move a lot or want to keep your
feet cool, why not try out some of the newer-style
safety trainers, that combine lightweight,
breathable uppers and composite midsoles for
comfort and protection. You can even get socks
that will keep your feet cool, dry and ventilated.
Your legs
Shorts are fine in really warm weather and some
working environments, but they won’t provide
protection for your knees and lower legs. Work
Trousers made from heavy fabrics will get really
uncomfortable and impractical, so think about
getting yourself a pair of lightweight work trousers
made from a hi-tech fabric that combines
comfort with durability.
Your upper body
Keeping comfortable and dry will keep you
working efficiently. Our advice is to get yourself
top wear like shirts and lightweight jackets –
including Hi-Vis vests – that work for you by
pulling sweat away from your skin to keep you dry
and your body temperature on an even keel. The
last thing you need is for your clothes to get really
“Keeping comfortable and dry will keep you
working efficiently”
Above: Snickers’ FlexiShorts;
wet through sweat, leaving you feeling
uncomfortable and getting cold when the
temperature drops.
Get the right fit
To make sure that your working clothes fit your
body and the jobs you’ve got in hand, here’s
some basic advice:
• Choose clothes that are not tight, but
lightweight and comfortable.
• Choose ‘Climate Control’ fabrics that wick
sweat away from your skin.
• In general, keep in mind that you don't want
any clothing that gets in the way of the work
you’re doing.
• Don’t wear clothes that become uncomfortable
and therefore affect your concentration. For your
own comfort and wellbeing, it’s important to stay
alert and to pay attention to how you’re feeling
when you’re working hard on a hot day.
78 TIJULY/AUG 2019 PRACTICAL CONTENT FOR THE GLAZING INSTALLER & HOME IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST