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High Visibility Clothing Is Great as Long as You Don't Do These 7 Mistakes
Whether it be wearing your safety vest the wrong way or disregarding an important safety rule, the fact of the matter is that when it comes to your personal safety and the safety of others, there’s only so many mistakes you can afford to make. The thing is, when you’re putting on your protective set of clothing, you’re not doing it for your employer, but for the benefit of yourself and the people around you.
So to avoid repeating the same kind of mistakes that others are making, we’ve amassed a list of the top 7 ones that you shouldn’t allow to happen even in theory:
1. Tucking your trousers into your boots
While tucking your trousers into your boots might seems like the logical thing to do when they’re too long, it’s actually a mistake – it will hinder your reflexes. Some people prefer the way this looks, but bear in mind this is much more than a mere styling choice, since it comes with the drawbacks mentioned above
2. Not tucking in your shirt
For safety reasons, you actually should tuck in your safety apparel if it’s intended to be worn this way. It could also be that your safety trousers have high-visibility elements around the pocket area the shirt should not cover, lest you risk losing out on its effectiveness.
3. Not cleaning it often enough
This may be common knowledge to some, but it cannot possibly be stressed enough how important it is to keep your safety clothing clean. Otherwise, the person wearing it will no longer be as visible in the dark, and the clothing will no longer meet safety standards.
4. Washing it incorrectly
Expanding on the point made above, while you should wash your safety clothing as often as necessary, you need to be careful to follow all the instructions that go with it. Otherwise, you risk damaging the fluorescent areas. Mind the temperature and your choice of detergent. Whenever in doubt, do not hesitate to ask a professional.
5. Not wearing it at all times
In certain times of the year or in certain climates, it gets hot. But that doesn’t mean you should forsake the core safety principles in favor of comfort and convenience. One example of this is taking off your safety vest or jacket just to cool off a little. It may just be the moment that you’ll end up regretting, as a potential accident is always around the corner.
6. Not checking your clothing regularly
It’s your responsibility to check whether your safety equipment is in good condition on a regular basis. In case you determine the opposite to be the case, you’re encouraged to think in terms of repairs (small changes can go a long way).
7. Wearing damaged clothing
Once things get so far there’s visible damage on your clothes, you should either repair it immediately or find a replacement as soon as possible. This is especially true if some of the fluorescent material is torn off or damaged.
Avoid these mistakes and you’ll be on your way toward a much safer workplace. The good news is, every one of these situations is easily solvable, so there’s absolutely zero excuses for repeating these kinds of mistakes. So act on your knowledge and stay safe!
