High visibility clothing, coveralls, overalls, apron, jacket, waistcoat and blouse are by definition work clothing and standardized personal protective equipment (PPE). Necessary for workers, they are chosen according to their uses, working conditions, material and size.

Important features

  • Material
  • Cut
  • Use
  • Specificity

Choose your protective clothing according to their use

Awareness of the use of protective clothing

You have certainly noticed it, it is very rare to see a plumber in a three-piece suit or a boilermaker in shorts ! Each profession presents risks , it is therefore essential to understand them and to equip yourself accordingly to preserve your own safety .

All the solutions offered are grouped together in a category called  PPE equipment: Personal Protective Equipment . All protective clothing worthy of the name is subject to a standard , a guarantee of safety. Every profession and every site presents its own risks.

In addition to their frequency of use, it is also essential to consider the  work to be done  (gardening, DIY, logging, etc.), the working  conditions  (indoors, outdoors, in the rain, etc.),  elements that must be protected  (splashes, splinters, dirt, etc.).

Light work in summer

  • Prefer the use of cotton coveralls  if you do  light work  and mainly in summer.

Work with risk of tearing

  • Choose polyester and cotton coveralls (65 and 35%)  for jobs where the  risk of tearing  is frequent (mechanical, etc.).

Little messy workshop work

  • You can consider cotton lab coats  for DIY workshop .

Vegetable & garden work

  • Wear cotton overalls  for the  garden , orchard or vegetable patch.

Painting or cleaning work

  • Use disposable coveralls  for your various  painting jobs,  especially those with large projections such as painting .

Work on roads and construction sites

  • Choose high visibility jackets, pants and coveralls  for all your  work on roads, construction sites  where vehicles and men work in the same area.

Miscellaneous bad season work

  • Opt for waterproof clothing  if you are still outside  come rain ,  shine  or  snowing .

Specific works

  • Adopt reinforced pants  if you do  logging work, cold clothes for winter work

General on size and material

  • Whatever type of protective clothing you need, choose the right size  and above all, make sure to choose  the right material according to your present and future needs  ! The  protective clothing for gardening  are specific and meet other needs.
  • Protections such as coveralls  and  aprons  must not become disabling. Remember that  a protective suit  is “summer-winter” and that for this reason, you will have thick clothing in the cold season:  choose it loose.  !

Personal protective equipment

  • Keep in mind that work clothing is combined  with equipment and personal protection such as a  helmet ,  goggles ,  mask ,  gloves  and  safety shoes .

High visibility clothing for working while being seen

On the side of the road or on construction sites , it is essential to avoid bodily accidents with the vehicles which circulate there or which work there (cars, trucks, mechanical excavators, etc.). For this, there is a specific category of clothing to be well identified in the environment  : high visibility clothing .

High visibility clothing: standard

Jacket, pants and even a helmet or cap , you can be clearly visible from head to toe.

Fluorescent and retro-reflective material

  • A fluorescent material which can be yellow or orange . A retro-reflective material placed in strategic places to increase its effectiveness.
  • There are also several subclasses of the standard which classify garments according to the surface of different materials. For maximum visibility , direct your choice instead towards class II or III clothing .

Helmet or cap

The different protective clothing and their advantages

Indoors, in the workshop or anywhere else where you don’t need to be spotted and seen from afar, no need for fluorescent equipment! In all cases, you need an outfit adapted to your activity and your work . Work clothing should be comfortable , and not hinder your movement while providing you with some protection .

Protective pants & overalls

  • For all types of work, it is essential to protect your legs from dirt , cuts , minor impacts or burns . The ideal is to choose pants or protective overalls with multiple pockets (for your small tools , meters , accessories, etc.) and made of resistant materials (polyester + cotton).
  • For specific jobs , such as welding or woodworking, be aware that there are special protective clothing called ” anti-scalding ”or“  anti-cuts  ”.
  • In all cases, wear loose pants that do not hinder your movements . Knee protectors are useful for those who work often … on their knees!

Protective jackets & vests

  • Here, it’s the same as with protective pants! The goal is to protect your chest and arms from dirt, cuts, projections, etc. A protective jacket for work should not be too wide, nor should it restrict your movements (such as raising your arms). Electricians: watch out for zippers, snaps and any other metal accessory! For woodworking, as with protective pants, there are cut-resistant protective jackets. If you work indoors, do not choose a jacket or a protective vest that is too thick because you will quickly get hot, prefer breathable materials !

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Aprons & protective gowns

  • Used in addition to work clothing, protective aprons or work coats provide additional protection . More specific to certain works, protective aprons can protect you from products chemicals , the burn or projections .
  • Prefer models where the tightening at the waist and neck are adjustable and equip yourself with a respiratory protection mask . For good protection, also make sure the apron is wide enough .
  • For work coats, direct your choice towards cotton . Resistant and washable , it is the ideal material. A work coat should cover your trunk but also your thighs.
  • Choose a blouse that has multiple pockets (remember that your clothes are underneath and therefore difficult to access!), Buttons (rather than zippers) and if possible metal-free (especially for electricians )!

Protective suit

  • Almost complete protection! Ideal for dirty jobs , coveralls have the advantage of being able to be worn over your clothes . There are a multitude of types of protective suits and suitable for various jobs.
  • The suit can be disposable (chemical, bacteriological protection, etc.) with or without a fold-down hood or in fabric . In the case of a fabric work suit, as with protective jackets, prefer a breathable, resistant and light material .
  • If you occasionally use your overalls, direct your choice towards a model which does not require you to take off your shoes to put it on(generally this type of suit has zippers going from the neck to the ankles). In any case, choose a loose protective suit (don’t forget that you have your clothes underneath!) So as not to reduce your mobility .
  • Also think about the different seasons and temperatures , the traditional regulating fiber underwear has been proven and offers very good protection!

The best materials for protective clothing

  • Whether it is work suits, protective pants or safety jackets, the range of protective clothing is wide. To find your way around, focus on the materials and key points!
  • Blends with polyester (mini 65%, 270gr) offer better resistance than 100% cotton, however, cotton is a more breathable material . To be determined according to your needs!
  • The panels of oxford show better resistance .
  • The double slider zippers are a sign of quality.
  • Elastics at the ankles and handles provide better protection , especially on coveralls that slip on over clothing.
  • Equip protective clothing is necessary and as highly stressed, it is highly advised to direct its choice towards quality clothing, with reinforced seams , the lining panels and easily cleanable.