Safety jackets are an important Personal Protective Equipment (P.P.E). They perfectly keep your workforce protected from a different number of workplace hazards.
However, despite training and educating the employees, they are bound to make several mistakes when wearing safety jackets. The mistakes can be minor or major in some cases. But any mistake can be costly enough to compromise the workplace safety.
Employers are responsible for procuring good quality safety jackets from reliable Safety Equipment Supplier. Training and educating employees about these safety jackets and safety protocols too fall within their purview. But, employees have a major role to play in workplace safety. They are expected to wear safety jackets while on duty. And they are expected to wear them properly without any mistakes.
Even the smallest mistake can result in grave consequences. Therefore, it is essential for employees to understand the correct method of wearing safety jackets to avoid any costly mistake. However, despite proper training and awareness, employees may overlook certain crucial aspects when it comes to wearing safety jackets. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the following 7 common mistakes to avoid when wearing safety jackets to ensure maximum effectiveness and safety on the job.
1. Not Wearing the Right Size
Comfort is the key and it should be given the first preference when selecting a safety jacket.
And comfort only comes when the safety jacket is perfectly fitting. One of the most common mistakes most employees commit is wearing a loose and ill-fitted safety jacket.
Poorly fitted safety jackets will only cause more problems to the worker. It’ll distract the worker, restrict his movements and instead of providing protection, it’ll cause more discomfort. So, for employees, choosing the correct size is essential. If a safety jacket provided is loose or too tight, employees should promptly notify the management and get a replacement.
Continuing with an improperly fitting safety jacket can pose risks not only to the wearer but also to those around them.
2. Failing to Fasten Properly
Any safety garment must be fastened properly.
Safety jackets too must be zipped, secured and fastened properly. Failing to fasten the safety jacket is a grave mistake that can compromise its effectiveness.
Surprisingly, for some employees, improper fastening their safety jacket has become a matter of fashion rather than safety. They leave the jacket unzipped or straps hanging, and in doing so, make the bright reflective material invisible from every angle, thus decreasing the visibility and compromising the safety.
Properly securing the jacket ensures that the reflective material remains visible from all angles, maximizing visibility in low-light conditions. However, It’s easy to make this mistake that only compromises its effectiveness and also increases the risk of accidents and injuries.
3. Neglecting Damage
You cannot ignore certain aspects of safety jackets, particularly tears, rips, or frayed edges.
It is critical for employers to procure only high-quality safety jackets from a reliable Safety Equipment Supplier. Damaged ones should be quickly returned and replaced to maintain the superior workplace safety standards.
Employees should regularly inspect their safety jackets and promptly report any damage to their supervisors for replacement. However, there are instances where employees continue to wear damaged safety jackets, deliberately overlooking signs of wear and tear for reasons known only to them. Employees found wearing torn or damaged jackets should face penalties to uphold safety standards.
Conducting a quick inspection of safety jackets takes only a few minutes, and spotting any signs of damage takes even less time. Employees should also notify their colleagues if they notice any damage on their safety jackets, fostering a culture of safety and accountability in the workplace.
4. Layering Improperly
Safety jackets are critical safety garments.
Especially in challenging weather and low-light conditions, safety jackets offer comfort, visibility and safety.
In winter, to get more warmth & retain the body heat, some employees layer clothing underneath the safety jacket. The inner padding and the extra clothing beneath the safety jacket adds more warmth. Thus, layering keeps you warm, keeps you protected against the chilling cold & keeps you safe while keeping the mobility intact.
However, layering can go wrong. Improper layering can compromise your safety and mobility. Improper layering can just disfigure the reflective stripes and affect the visibility in low-light conditions. Improper layering can cause discomfort as well, compromising the ease of movement.
When layering clothing, employees must keep comfort and mobility in mind. And also make sure that the safety jacket & reflective strips are visible from all angles.
5. Using Non-Compliant Jackets
Workplace safety must comply with the safety standards set by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and ANSI/ISEA (American National Standards Institute/International Safety Equipment Association).
Safety jackets too must meet the acceptable safety standards. Remember every jacket is not a safety jacket and not every safety jacket complies the safety standards. There are many duplicate & counterfeit safety jackets available in the Dubai market. Find a reliable Safety Equipment Supplier that only deals with genuine high-quality safety jackets.
So cross check before buying & always ensure that your safety jackets meet relevant safety standards, set by OSHA ANSI/ISEA. Only these safety jackets will provide comfort, high-visibility & safety in any working conditions. The safety team should also conduct routine inspection and make sure no employee is wearing any duplicate counterfeit safety jackets that don’t comply with the safety standards and compromise workplace safety.
6. Failing to Replace When Faded
Over time and with regular use, safety jackets can wear out.
Exposure to sunlight, frequent washing, and general wear and tear can weaken the fabric and cause the fluorescent color, critical for visibility, to fade quickly.
Wearing faded safety jackets can significantly increase the risk of accidents, particularly in low-light conditions where visibility is already low. Furthermore, weakened fabric will be less durable, less resistant and ineffective, against different workplace & environments hazards.
Good quality safety jackets provide you comfort, safety, warmth and mobility. However, The specialized materials, insulation, fluorescent color & padding have limited lifespan.
Therefore, It’s crucial to replace safety jackets when they become old, faded and loose their.
7. Not Wearing in All Conditions
Safety jacket is personal protective equipment for all seasons.
It offers protection against sunlight, rain, winter, dust and other workplace hazards. It also enhances visibility in low-light working conditions.
Therefore, it is crucial for employees to wear safety jackets consistently, regardless of the weather & working conditions. Following are some of the reasons why workers might not wear safety jackets in all conditions:
- Lack of awareness of the potential hazards
- Lack of awareness about the importance of wearing safety jackets
- For their own comfort and convenience
- Bulky or uncomfortable safety jackets
- Lack of enforcement or no strict policies or penalties
- Oversmartness or misguidance
- Perception of low risk
- Employers not providing adequate safety jackets
- Unsafe working culture that de-emphasizes the importance of safety jackets
Wrap Up - 7 Mistakes When Wearing Safety Jackets
Safety jacket is one of the most crucial personal protective equipment (P.P.E). There are some really good safety equipment supplier in Dubai. Reach out to them to procure high-quality safety jackets for your workforce. Additionally, make sure to hire the best safety team to provide comprehensive training and education on workplace safety. Your employees must be well-trained about the proper use of any safety equipment like a safety jacket. They must be aware of these 7 mistakes to avoid when wearing safety jackets. These mistakes are common but can prove costly. So always wear the right size, fasten properly, never ignore damages, layer properly, never use non-compliant jackets, replace the damaged ones and wear the safety jacket in all conditions.
