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Potential hazards are found in every workplace, and in some industries, the day-to-day environment can

pose serious risks to hard-working employees.

Keeping up with safety mandates from various federal and state agencies, as well as professional guidelines within each industry, is the responsibility of the employer.

Protect your greatest asset—your workforce—from unnecessary risk, at the same time as you ensure longevity of your plant and equipment. Ultimately, the rewards in greater productivity, lowered costs, and best quality products and services will make for a healthier bottom line.

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Key federal agencies overseeing industrial safety are the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a division of the CDC. 1

Besides accounting for the latest guidelines in specific industries and from state agencies, be sure to perform regular, thorough surveys of all work areas to monitor safety and identify trouble spots. Then take steps to remedy them, or prevent their occurrence in the first place.

Many industrial functions require protective clothing or uniforms to optimize worker health and minimize risk.

Depending on the environment and

job function, options range from

flame-resistant shirts—work or dress

style—to denim pants, coveralls, and

more specialized protection. Look for

a specific Arc or ATPV rating to

match the right flame-resistant (FR)

garment with each function.

Each workplace has a different set

of potential hazards. Protective

clothing should be chosen

accordingly. Employer supplied

uniforms are a smart investment,

and help ensure that the company

is meeting official guidelines.

In general, all parts of the

body should be secured

against possible exposure to

threats such as: chemical

splashing, automotive oils and

caustic fluids, excessive heat,

flames, or electrical dangers.

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Now more than ever, the right apparel for dedicated medical professionals is essential for their own protection and for public safety.

Protective clothing can be as simple as scrubs or a long lab coat, or as specialized as a

surgical barrier gown.

Uniform suppliers offer reassuring solutions to the complex set of apparel choices employers must make. Take advantage of special laundering and delivery services that maintain uniforms with repairs to avoid safety hazards

like frayed edges, to keep up the highest standards of sanitation.

High visibility safety clothing is valuable in many industrial settings. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the common source for standards that protect the safety and health of

consumers and workers, while ensuring the global position of the American economy as a trusted source of quality goods.

ANSI has established three general classes that group reflective clothing and degrees of visibility according to function and assessed risk.

Class I garments are appropriate when the wearer can fully attend to oncoming traffic, for example, parking lot attendants.

Class II garments are needed in environments that offer less visibility, as with school crossing guards who operate around potentially distracted drivers.

Class III garments, the highest level of reflective wear, are called for in the most potentially hazardous settings, such as highway construction work, utility repairs, and emergency responders.2

High-visibility safety garments must indicate an ANSI compliance rating that is suitable for the industry and the

work environment. Reflective apparel may be as simple as a safety vest, or extend to pants, shirts, and outerwear.

Comfortable protective clothing is fundamental to achieving true safety. Apparel that is worn for long work shifts can become uncomfortable if it is confining or it

doesn’t accommodate individual sizes and common movements.

Look for items that have built-in features for ease of wear, like snaps instead of buttons, breakaway zippers, and adjustable side vents.

The convenience of full cleaning and laundering services for uniforms is a direct benefit to employees, saving them valuable time and directly supplementing household budgets. The end result will be consistently improved compliance with safety wear standards.

Be sure that visitors and employees alike enter a safe environment when coming to your facility. Safety floor mats are one simple, yet vital component in minimizing risks and reducing hazards at work. Logo mats can be a strong visual component in your company image, and safety message mats give clear visual cues to build awareness.

Everyone, from maintenance crew to executive staff, should rely on a non-slip surface when taking that first step into the workplace, or standing for long periods at a work station. Source the best quality so that the mat itself does not become a trip hazard.

Look for a manufacturer like Prudential Overall Supply that participates in National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) standards. The NFSI is a non-profit group that promotes research, education, and standards development.

Since 1932, Prudential Overall Supply has supplied top quality uniforms

for sale and rental in all kinds of settings, from medical to industrial.

Known for developing the first contaminant-free garments used by

NASA for astronaut John Glenn’s 1962 mission to orbit the Earth, we are

pioneers in cleanroom garment service. Currently, we serve more than

25,000 customers, including 110 Fortune 500 companies.

Contact us at www.prudentialuniforms.com

or call 1-800-767-5536 for more information.