Article provided courtesy of Arborwear
People often underestimate the importance of clothing when evaluating safety among jobsites and situations. This can lead to serious problems both for workers and employers especially when weather turns ugly and conditions become extreme. What you wear can make a big difference: the more comfortable you are, the less likely it is that accidents will happen.
Cold weather can be some of the worst weather in which to work. Some dress with heavy clothing that is too cumbersome to move, limiting range of motion. With limited range of motion, shortcuts are taken. When shortcuts are taken, accidents happen. Others dress too lightly and become cold quickly. When people get cold, they rush. When they rush, careless mistakes get made. When careless mistakes get made, accidents happen.
One method to function comfortably in cold weather is to layer clothing properly. The first layer next to the skin should be a layer that wicks moisture away from the body. This is called a base layer. Typical base layers are long underwear made of polypropylene, wool, blends or something other than 100 percent cotton.
The next layer is your mid layer and should be your insulation. Think of a heavy fleece vest or a thick sweatshirt that keeps your warmth from escaping; something with a zipper or a snap collar that will help you regulate how much or how little air can get into your layering system. The focus here is to keep your core warm. More than one mid layer can be used, depending on the severity of the weather.
Your outer layer, or shell, keeps rain and/or snow out but should also block the wind. Again, something with a zipper or snaps, where you can regulate how much air gets in or out, is helpful in modifying your own temperature.
Lastly your extremities should have proper coverage. A great deal of heat can be lost through your hands, fingers, head, toes and ears. Proper extremity coverage includes warm socks, gloves, some type of headwear to keep your head warm and something to cover your ears.
Dressing the right way on the jobsite will increase your comfort and decrease the likelihood of accidents.
