The safety vests are essential and form the core of our protective gear. These jackets are vital in keeping the workers safe and visible in hazardous environments. If used correctly, high visibility jackets as workwear Perth can significantly reduce the chances of accidents and injuries at work sites such as construction and roadwork zones.
However, there are certain mistakes that the workers make due to which their effectiveness can be compromised. In this blog, we will examine the common mistakes that workers must avoid when choosing the best safety vests for themselves.
Choosing the Wrong Size for the Jackets
The safety vests should always be selected in the proper size. A poorly fitting safety vest can be uncomfortable, restrict your movements, and even compromise on the worker’s safety and visibility. Thus, before you choose a safety jacket for yourself, follow these tips to select the right size for yourself.
- Measure the chest, waist, and height of the worker. It ensures that the vest fits well. It will neither be too tight nor too loose.
- Do not buy the safety jacket directly when you see it. Give it a try before you buy. This helps you to find one that fits comfortably and ensures safety and visibility.
- Consider the work environment where you need the safety vest. For example, you might need a loose fit for colder climates because you need to fit the vest over the bulkier clothing.
Besides these, check for other aspects like the side straps or the side closures. These adjustments or features on the safety jackets help accommodate different body shapes and sizes. You can get adjustable and fitting safety jackets from our workwear stores, which can fit your body perfectly.
Improper maintenance and care for the jackets
Failing to follow proper storage and cleaning processes for your safety jacket can result in fading colours. It can also degrade the jacket’s material and reduce the overall visibility. The best practices available for maintaining the safety jackets are as follows.
- Follow the care instructions of the manufacturers. Each safety jacket comes with specific cleaning and maintenance requirements. Adhering to these instructions can help maintain the jackets’ performance and integrity.
- Make sure you don’t use any harsh detergents on the jackets. Opt for mild or neutral detergents and use cold water. Hot water, harsh chemicals, or bleach can damage the jackets and the materials and reduce the effectiveness of the vests.
- If there are stains, use mild stain removers to efficiently remove them. This helps maintain the brightness of the reflective straps and the fluorescent colours.
- Make sure you don’t twist the reflective jackets anytime. It can cause mechanical damage to the reflective materials. This also leads to reduced visibility.
Never try to use damaged safety Vests.
Using damaged safety vests can compromise the effectiveness of the materials and increase the risk for the workers. Vests that wear our reflective materials, faded colours, or poor structural integrity can fail to offer accurate visibility and protection to the wearers. Moreover, using the damaged vests will result in non-compliance with the safety standards and put both the employer and the worker at risk.
Regular inspections are essential to understand when a jacket must be replaced. You need to find the signs of damage, like frayed edges, tears, loose stitchings, and faded colours. You can also test the reflective material of the jacket by shining light on it in dark environments.
Conclusion
Ensuring proper maintenance and use of safety materials is a crucial responsibility for the employer and the worker. Avoiding common mistakes like ignoring the visibility standards, choosing the wrong size, and even improper maintenance can lead to wear and tear of the safety jacket.
Make sure you don’t make these common mistakes to maintain the integrity of the jackets. If you are looking for workwear online in Australia that is of the best quality, then you should check out Entire Workwear now and get your product.