Workshop safety clothing buyer's guide

Individual Safety Clothing: What and Why

Protective trousers

What do protective trousers do?

Specific workwear trousers are ideal for jobs involving woodwork, metalwork, welding, or hazardous substances. They help to protect your legs from cuts, abrasions, chemical splashes, and electrical sparks.

Features of protective trousers to look out for include:

• Durable, high-quality fabrics built to last, e.g. triple-stitched seams, reinforced hems.
• Task-specific protection, such as cut-resistance or flame-retardancy.
• Comfortable and lightweight fits that permit good mobility.
• Knee pads or built-in padding for impact absorption and comfort.

Safety helmets and hard hats

Protective helmets are essential to protect your head and brain from falling objects, knocks, and bumps.

Important helmet features:

• Certified safety standards for your industry.
• Adjustable fit system.
• Chin strap for security during mobile tasks.

Remember, you should always replace your helmet if they become damaged as they’re much less likely to offer you sufficient further protection.

Gloves

Hand protection is vital to keep your fingers and palms safe from cuts, chemical burns, abrasions and further impacts. The type of glove you’ll require depends on the work you typically carry out.

Popular protective glove types include:

• Cut-resistant gloves: The MCR Graphene Gloves feature a high-density PU coating and Graphene Fibre Technology to protect your hands from slashes and cuts, without sacrificing grip.

• Water-repellent gloves: For protection in cold conditions, the MCR Thermal Water Repellent Gloves keep your hands warm and dry.
• Touchscreen gloves: Ideal for work that requires you to use a phone or tablet while remaining protected, the MCR Nitrile Touchscreen Gloves make staying connected seamless.
• Oil-resistant gloves: For precision tasks involving oil handling, the MCR Oil-Teq Gloves utilise a double-layered nitrile coating to prevent oil and water penetration.
• General-purpose gloves: Designed for basic abrasion protection and grip enhancement, the MCR General Purpose Gloves are great for daily workshop tasks.
• Flame-resistant gloves: Typically made from leather or Kevlar, heat-resistant gloves help to guard your skin from hot work and tools that cause burns.
• Chemical-resistant gloves: Look for gloves crafted from nitrile or neoprene if you commonly handle corrosive or toxic liquids.

Other useful features for protective gloves include:

1. A comfortable fit or longer length to cover your forearms.
2. Reinforced palms or fingers for impact protection and heavy tasks.
3. Breathable materials to reduce and absorb sweat and promote good ventilation.

Upper body protection

Upper body PPE can include a broad range of workshop products that protect your torso and arms from injuries and contaminants.

Popular upper body PPE includes:

• High visibility jackets/vests to ensure you’re visible around vehicles and machinery.
• Bodywarmers are ideal for layering in colder weather, often with hi-vis or rain-resistant features available.
• Coveralls and boiler suits are one-piece protective garments used as an extra layer of full-body protection. They also help keep your clothes clean from oil splashes and contaminants.

When looking for upper or whole-body protective clothing, long sleeves, high collars, and easy-access closures (zips or snaps) can be very beneficial.

More essential safety equipment

Footwear

Although not technically clothing, having appropriate footwear is hugely important in every kind of workshop.

Examples of PPE shoes include:

• Steel-capped trainers or boots – with a reinforced steel toe, these shoes protect your toes, feet, and bones from dropped objects and compression.
• Slip-resistant shoes for soles purposefully designed to prevent slipping and accidents on oily, rainy, or slippery surfaces.
• Safety boots: The Scruffs Switchback 3 Safety Boots prioritise safety with a water-resistant composite mid-sole for sole puncture protection, and a slip-resistant sole.

Eye protection

Shield one of your most sensitive spots with our reliable safety glasses designed to guard your eyes from irritating dust, chemical splashes, and more.

Features of protective eyewear include:

• An ergonomic fit to prevent readjustment and discomfort.
• Anti-mist, anti-fog, and anti-scratch coatings for visibility and durability.
• Impact-resistance to withstand against flying debris.
• UV-protection to shield the eyes from ultraviolet rays, particularly relevant for outdoor work.

Knee pads

Although your workwear trousers can also support this, separate knee pads are a useful purchase when it comes to protecting your knee joints and mobility.

Look out for knee pads that have an adjustable strap, a hard-shell outer surface, and a padded (or gel) inner lining for the right balance of comfort and safety.

Ear protection

Earplugs and ear defenders are most effective when you wear them every day (if relevant). Although helmets and steel-capped boots protect you from accidents, ear defenders protect your ears and hearing every single day!

If you regularly work with noisy machinery, vehicles, or power tools, hearing protection is vital. Damage to your ears can be subtle and gradual over years of work, so taking preventative steps as early as possible is best.

Workwear maintenance

Your safety gear can only protect you efficiently if you keep it properly clean and maintained. Easy steps to get the most out of your PPE includes:

1. Buying clothes that are practical and easy to clean, particularly when you wear them daily.
2. Inspect your gear regularly for signs of damage or wear, including tears, loose seams, and thinning spots.
3. Keep spare clothing on hand, in case yours is faulty or a co-worker requires it.

Ultimately, making sure you’re fully equipped and appropriately dressed for your role is important for workshop safety and performance. Keeping your workwear clean and well-maintained means it'll last you longer, limiting the need for replacements and keeping workshop costs to a minimum.