It is very important that employees have the right equipment and know how to use it. Training is often disregarded when bad habits and lackadaisical attitudes enter the workplace. All it takes is a little pressure to complete a task quickly, and safety is bypassed. That is a huge sacrifice when you consider the disaster that could happen compared to the few seconds it takes to do the safe thing.

Training for safety clothing should be taken very seriously by the employer to make sure that employees know about and comply with the proper use of protective clothing. Training should also be taken very seriously by the employees to make sure they are listening and comprehending, because it is their well-being that is endangered if proper safety guidelines are not followed. When high visibility garments are a part of your business, ensure that your employees know their correct usage.

1. What is the purpose of the safety apparel?

2. When and where is it necessary to use safety clothing?

3. How does the traffic safety clothing work?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the facts of high visibility garments through online information

When seeking guidance for training, the Internet can provide you with thorough and accurate information quickly. Information found here is helpful for refreshers in between formal trainings. These facts can also be used when making fliers and handouts that will remind employees to be safe.

I recommend: The Reflectory gives training online by using facts, charts and well-explained answers to many questions concerning the use of reflective wear. Depend on sites like Occupational Health & Safety, where you can sign up for their newsletter to get the most current information to share with employees.

Attend seminars or webinars that include training for safety clothing

You can glean wisdom from industry experts that speak on seminars and webinars. When the experts can combine efforts to reach a large audience by sending out the information to many companies at once, more people can benefit from the training. Webinars are convenient because they can usually be viewed at your convenience instead of on a schedule.

I recommend: The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse offers a high visibility garments webinar discussing new traffic safety clothing regulations. The American Traffic Safety Services Association has a Roadway Safety Training Institute. As part of the institute's curriculum, they offer a selection of traffic worker industry webinars.

Utilize video and media trainings for protective clothing training

Use multimeda to convey a lot of information quickly. Video is a great training tool with the fast-paced ability to relay information and the way video keeps viewers' attention. Retention percentage for a video is much higher than reading or hearing information.

I recommend: The Emergency Responder Safety Institute has a selection of videos featuring safety vests, safety coats and other safety apparel. Safety training packages, like the one offered at Coastal Technologies, provides several media types to really drive home the information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Safety clothing suppliers and safety clothing distributors sometimes offer training materials on their websites. 24/7 customer support is also a benefit to working loyally with a supplier. The information you need is on the other end of a phone call.

Employee safety is paramount on jobs dealing with potentially hazardous conditions. Providing employees with high visibility garments and safety clothing while on the job is your first responsibility.

Safety clothing distributors and safety clothing suppliers specialize in appropriate garments for certain types of work. Safety clothing suppliers are experts at giving you the right types of safety clothing to keep your workers safe on the job. Wholesale safety work wear is a great way to get the best from safety clothing distributors at an affordable price. Sacrificing quality for value just isn’t an option when outfitting your employees.

High visibility garments like traffic safety clothing are essential for any job that involves working around roads, bridges or in the vicinity of heavy equipment. Road construction jobs are especially hazardous and need high visibility garments to keep workers safe at all times.

Purchasing the best safety apparel from safety clothing suppliers will:

1. Ensure your worker's protection while on the job.
2. Meet Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
3. Make workers in high traffic areas visible at all times.
4. Provide high quality protective clothing at affordable prices for your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose safety clothing appropriate to your work environment

Protective clothing is available for any work environment where hazards are present. Work with safety clothing vendors who specialize in a variety of safety gear to meet all your employee needs.

I recommend: Both Safety Supply America and Industrial Safety Gear supply a wide range of safety clothing and offer corporate plans and group rates on purchases.

Purchase wholesale safety clothing that meets or exceeds OSHA standards

OSHA provides guidelines for adequate safety clothing for on the job protection. OSHA exists to oversee safety standards and to protect workers.

I recommend: Check the OSHA website for the most up to date information on changes to industry requirements for safety clothing. The American National Standards Institute, ANSI, also certifies brands in the safety clothing industry.

Look for traffic safety clothing that keeps workers visible at any time in any weather

Weather conditions can change quickly, so road workers and those operating heavy equipment need reliable high visibility clothing. Road construction projects happen anytime of the day or night, so traffic safety clothing has to be high quality.

I recommend: See UrbanHart.com and DiscountSafetyGear.com for the best high visibility clothing at affordable prices.

Purchase the most reliable brand safety clothing at the best prices for protection and affordability

Brands like Dickies and Carhartts have been around for years. Workers trust brands they know stand up to the everyday challenges of a construction site and give the most protection for the money.

I recommend: Visit The Working Person’s Store and MidWest WorkWear. Both these companies specialize in industry respected brands at wholesale prices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Protective clothing provided or required by your job site must meet or exceed all OSHA standards for safety and compliance. If your job site fails to require or provide appropriate safety clothing, your employees have the right to file a complaint with OSHA.

Using safety clothing is preventative maintenance. Dangers prowl in every workplace, waiting for the unsuspecting employee to fall prey. Since employee safety is imperative, have the proper supplies for safety clothing on hand to aid in keeping employees uninjured on the job.

Your industry might dictate the type of safety apparel you will need. Even if there are no safety apparel mandates for your company, providing equipment for your employees is a smart alternative to the disasters that could happen without its use. Safety apparel is procurable for all types of work and any variety of needs. Some options are obvious, but other items may be useful that you might not have considered yet.

1. Disposable clothing

2. Flame retardant clothing

3. High visibility garments

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find out what safety clothing is available

Do not make decisions without being informed first. Do you know exactly what you need? Have you checked to see if new products have come out that would work better at keeping your company safe?

I recommend: Go to American Safety Products and look over their chart of available safety apparel options. For definitions to help clarify the safety clothing options available to you, visit Airgas.

Decide what supplies for safety clothing you need

The choice you have is not to decide to use safety clothing, your choice is which safety apparel to use. Of all the various types of personal protective equipment to choose from, only certain ones will apply to your company. After you know what is available, you can make the decision on what is best for your company by seeing what experts recommend for your industry.

I recommend: National Safety Wear has a searchable inventory by occupation or safety standard if you have mandates to follow. This allows you to see products that are available specifically for your needs instead of having to dig through all the options. Auburn Manufacturing is a "must stop" for those looking for flame retardant clothing or fire resistant clothing. Their "Product Search Wizard" has eight different ways to search, so you are guaranteed to find just what you are looking for.

Purchase the protective clothing products you need

Safety clothing distributors will most likely have all the safety clothing and equipment you need. Becoming informed and choosing what you need are the most difficult steps to getting the supplies you need. Now all you have to do is keep the products in stock for employees to have on hand.

I recommend: Check out ProBuy for all your traffic safety clothing needs including safety vests and reflective clothing. Safe-T-Backs, one of many safety clothing suppliers, can be a one-stop place for you to get all your supplies. For a comprehensive listing of distributers by product, the International Safety Equipment Association provides a thorough buyer's guide.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Getting the supplies for safety clothing is not enough. Make sure your employees are properly trained on when and where to use the supplies.

Providing employees with proper safety clothing is the duty and responsibility of any employer. The cost associated with outfitting your organization is nothing compared to the benefit employees receive by having these resources, and employers should spare no expense in regards to their employees’ safety. Types of safety clothing includes flame resistant clothing, high visibility clothing such as vests, shirts and pants worn by construction workers, back/lumbar supports, earplugs/hearing protection, gloves/hand protection and safety glasses/goggles.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Flame resistant clothing

Flame resistant clothing such as hairnets, coveralls, jackets, lab coats and shirts work to protect individuals from fire and burns that have the potential to occur in their work environment.

I recommend: To see some of the various types of flame resistant clothing, refer to Safety Supply America.

High visibility clothing

High visibility clothing is a requirement set forth by the Federal Highway Administration 23 CFR Part 634 Worker Visibility regulations that aim to reduce injuries and fatalities to individuals working within the right-of-way on Federal-aid highways. Types of high visibility clothing include vests, shirts, pants, hats, gloves and coats.

I recommend: Refer to Industrial Safety Gear to view the types of high visibility clothing.

Back/lumbar supports

Backaches, pain, and sometimes injury, are a common complaint of individuals whose job duties involve lifting and/or standing for extended periods. Back/lumbar supports can help alleviate backaches, pain and injuries by providing support to the lower back and abdomen as well as keeping the spine in proper alignment. It is a organization's duty to ensure employees recognize the importance of wearing a back/lumbar support and view it as another piece of clothing.

I recommend: To see different styles of back/lumbar supports, refer to the DocOrtho.com webpage.

Earplugs

Prolonged exposure to noisy environments, such as manufacturing facilities, airports and auto body shops can negatively affect one's hearing abilities. Protect the hearing of your employees by providing safety earplugs or another form of hearing protection, such as quiet bands. Require the use of such ear protection as part of their work uniform.

I recommend: IndlSafety.com shows earplugs and other forms of hearing protection.

Gloves/hand protection

Gloves and other forms of hand protection are another example of one's safety clothing ensemble. It is important that an individual's gloves fit them properly to prevent hot metal from falling into the glove or worse yet, having loose fitting gloves getting caught on machinery and causing injury to the hand. Depending on the work they perform, types of safety gloves one may choose include leather, Kevlar, mechanics, welding and anti-vibration.

I recommend: To see the various types of safety gloves, refer to the Discount Safety Gear webpage.

Safety goggles

Eye protection is another important issue organizations face. While some individuals may think they do not need to wear safety goggles, it is important that organizations enforce this policy to prevent eye injuries. The company should ensure employees recognize the value of wearing goggles. There are safety goggles designed for environments such as fire and rescue, welding and laboratories.

I recommend: Refer to Safety Glasses USA to see the different kinds of safety glasses available.