Work Uniforms - Look Smart, Work Smart!

As signs of recession approach, how many companies have assessed how fit they are to weather the storm? It is interesting to note that Tie Rack has seen an unusual leap in sales. Could this be put down to employee concerns over job security? Several analysts think that this is the case. The last time that the tie was considered a fashion statement was back in the early seventies, paisley, kipper, pencil etc & etc.

Well, the employee has seen the light but what about the employers?

Harris Interactive Polling and J.D.Power & Associates have both produced data that shows that customers have more trust and confidence in employees that are in a work uniform. They also report that uniformed employees provide products and services that are perceived to be of higher quality.

However, let us not kid ourselves that an embroidered oxford shirt constitutes an extension of a well thought out corporate identity. There is far more to this than at first appears.

What about the benefits that the business receives from its employees in performance, self / company image and attitude. A well designed, functional corporate wardrobe can have a startlingly positive effect on employees which can translate into improved / service levels and stronger customer loyalty.

A poorly designed / quality wardrobe can turn the potential customer away and make the employee feel a complete lack of worth to the business.

Put yourself in the position of the customer. Would you trust or buy from someone who looked like a bag of spanners or would you trust someone that was dressed in smart workwear and had pride in their appearance – at the same time, projecting the company image?

It’s a no-brainer!

When selecting your company uniform / work wear supplier, asses their experience and look to see how you can incorporate safety items, PPE and functional fabrics to make a complete corporate image.

www.graniteworkwear.com supplies end users and distributors with a comprehensive range of only high quality and tested workwear, PPE and corporate clothing. We like to sleep at night knowing that our customers are going to be around after the recession.

Chainsaw Safety Clothing

Regulations generally recommend that chainsaw users wear protective clothing, also known as Personal Protective Equipment or PPE, while operating chainsaws. There is general agreement worldwide on what clothing is suitable, but local jurisdictions have specific rules and recommendations.

Clothing Types

Helmet

The helmet attempts to protect the user's head against impact with the cutter bar of the chainsaw should a kickback occur. This can only be successful if the chain brake has operated to stop the cutter chain. A chain running at full speed easily cuts the helmet.

The helmet also protects against impacts from small falling objects, such as a dead branch from a tree being felled.

The image shows a helmet which integrates visor and ear defenders into one unit. This is a very popular arrangement with chainsaw users.

In the EU, the helmet must meet the requirements of EN397.

Visor or Goggles

A visor or goggles reduce the chance of chips penetrating the user's eyes.

The relatively flimsy visor, with imperfect coverage of the face, is considered acceptable because the chips produced by chainsaws are of relatively uniform size and speed. Unlike other woodworking tools, a chainsaw produces little or no sawdust, only chips. The chips are too large to fit through the visor's mesh.

Some chainsaw users prefer conventional safety goggles. The choice may depend on the environment. The visor provides better ventilation for hard work in hot weather.

In the EU, a visor must comply with EN1731, or goggles must comply with EN166.

Ear defenders

Ear defenders and ear plugs attenuate noise to levels that cause little or no damage to the user's hearing. The chainsaw is very loud, typically 115 dB.

In the EU, ear defenders must comply with EN352.

Trousers

Special fabrics have been developed for chainsaw clothing, and this development is still very active. Conventional fabric is useless at protecting against a running chainsaw, being immediately cut through.

There is a real struggle between making a fabric proof against more violent impact, and making it light, flexible and comfortable enough for the user. Clothes which make the user too hot, or which prevent the user moving easily, are a safety problem in themselves. A worker suffering from heat exhaustion is not safe. Extra fabric layers can be added to clothing to improve cut resistance, but clothes which cannot be cut at all by a powerful saw are impractical, even with modern fibres. What is worse saw and chain technology seems to be outstripping fabric technology. High power saws with aggressively cutting chains are almost impossible to protect against.

A classification scheme has been developed in the EU to rate trousers, and fabric in general, for protection against cutting.

Chainsaw Fabric Classification
Class	Max chain speed m/s
0	16
1	20
2	24
3	28

The chain speed is specified in the manual for a chainsaw. Higher class trousers cost more and are heavier, so there is an advantage to choosing the trousers to match the saw.

There are two standard types of trousers, Type A and Type C. Type A protects only the front of the legs, and can be supplied not as full trousers but as chaps, worn over conventional work clothes. Types C gives protection all round the legs and are almost always worn as ordinary trousers; not over another garment. In the EU, most workers choose to wear type C trousers.

Chainsaw protective fabric works on a number of principles. The outermost layer can be made both tough and slippery, so that the chain skids across it rather than cutting in. Lower layers of fabric can be tough to cut, absorbing saw power. The final defence is that long fibres of the protective fabric (commonly Kevlar) are drawn out by the running saw, not cut through. These long fibres travel with the chain to the saw drive sprocket, where they jam the mechanism and stall the saw. After this, the saw has to be taken apart for cleaning out. Chainsaw protective trousers in the EU must comply with EN381-5.

Gloves

Chainsaw gloves have cut-proof fabric protection like that for trousers, but only on the back of the left hand. It's especially important that work gloves are flexible, which limits how much padding they can have. Experience has shown that most chainsaw injuries to the hands occur on the back of the left hand.

In the EU, chainsaw gloves must comply with EN381-7.

Boots

Chainsaw boots are based on ordinary steel-toe boots, but have layers of chainsaw protective fabric on the exposed front surfaces. They are available in lace-up leather or rubber Wellington boot versions.

In the EU, chainsaw boots must comply with EN345-2.

Logos for Fabric

Chainsaw Logo

In the EU, chainsaw trousers, boots and gloves (the items containing chainsaw protective fabric) must carry a special chainsaw logo. This shows that the fabric is of a type tested to protect properly, and also shows the class of protection, the rated maximum chain speed.

Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

First Aid Kit

In the UK, workers are required to carry a first aid kit containing at least a large wound dressing.

Whistle

In the UK, workers are recommended to carry a whistle to call for help if they are injured. Colleagues may be close by, but unable to hear over the noise of chainsaw(s) still running. The whistle tends to overcome this.

Do You Have A Noise Problem At Work?

This will depend on how loud the noise is and how long people are exposed to it. As a simple guide you will probably need to do something about the noise if any of the following apply:

• Is the noise intrusive - like a busy street, a vacuum cleaner or a crowded restaurant - for most of the working day?
• Do your employees have to raise their voices to carry out a normal conversation when about 2 m apart for at least part of the day?
• Do your employees use noisy powered tools or machinery for more than half an hour each day?
• Do you work in a noisy industry, eg construction, demolition; woodworking; plastics processing; engineering; textile manufacture; forging, pressing or stamping; board making; canning; foundries?
• Are there noises due to impacts (such as hammering, pneumatic impact tools etc), explosive sources such as cartridge operated tools, or guns?

Noise can also be a safety hazard at work, interfering with communication and making warnings harder to hear.

The health effects of noise at work

Noise at work can cause hearing loss that can be temporary or permanent. People often experience temporary deafness after leaving a noisy place. Although hearing recovers within a few hours, this should not be ignored. It is a sign that if you continue to be exposed to the noise your hearing could be permanently damaged. Permanent hearing damage can be caused immediately by sudden, extremely loud, explosive noises, eg from guns or cartridge-operated machines.

But hearing loss is usually gradual because of prolonged exposure to noise. It may only be when damage caused by noise over the years combines with hearing loss due to ageing that people realise how deaf they have become. Eventually everything becomes muffled and people find it difficult to catch sounds like 't', 'd' and 's', so they confuse similar words.

Hearing loss is not the only problem. People may develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears), a distressing condition which can lead to disturbed sleep.

Remember

By law, as an employer, you must assess and identify measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to noise so that you can protect the hearing of your employees.

Where required, ensure that:

• hearing protection is provided and used such as ear defenders;
• any other controls are properly used; and
• you provide information, training and health surveillance.
  

A wide array of noise protection is now available from the simple disposable ear plug to electronic ear defenders with intercom and radio features.

At Granite Workwear we have chosen to sell the Peltor range of ear defenders. Peltor offers a huge range of ear protection supplying the military, industry, police etc.

Formal business wear is key to promotion says UK workers

A recent survey of 3200 staff

• 51% believe that dressing smartly helps win promotions
• 87% wear suits for Interviews

It seems that Richard Branson’s ban on his employees at Virgin from wearing jeans is not unusual. According to a Reed Employment survey of 3200 office workers registered on that database, jeans and comedy ties are banned from the majority of offices, with 47% of workers wearing smart casual business wear to work every day and 40% wearing formal office attire such as suits. What’s more, the majority of people questioned felt that dressing smartly will advance their careers, with 51% believing it will help them win a promotion.

85% feel that in today’s office environment having a dress code is still highly relevant; 87% would always wear a suit to an interview and 62% also believe that wearing a suit is important to create the right impression on the first day at a new job.

Office workers seem to like their work uniforms believing it creates a separation from their office and home lives (37%), whilst 37% stated that they feel proud to wear a uniform as it represents their company’s brand image. We are not a rebellious lot either – 90% of respondents stated that they strictly adhere to their work dress codes every day.

‘Dress down Fridays’ is still quite popular and a third of respondents claimed that their company had a policy in place to allow more casual business wear on Fridays.

Lewis Woodward, Head of Network Marketing at Reed stated, “The old adage ‘dress for success’ clearly rings true, with the majority of office workers happily embracing their company’s dress code and feeling proud to represent their brand. It is however, surprising that so many people feel that wearing smart office attire is still highly relevant in today’s business climate and that it is key to advancing their careers.”

At Granite Workwear we feel the same feeling applies outside the office as well. Staff want to look the part whether they are a one man plumber or a member of a large organisation. Staff are often proud of their company and are happy to wear a logo on their workwear.

Eyes are Irreplaceable!

Always wear eye protection when grinding, spray painting, drilling, welding, sawing, working in a dusty environment, or handling chemicals. Develop the habit of putting on safety glasses or goggles whenever you work with hand or power tools.

Several types of eye protection devices are available:

Safety glasses

Standard eyeglasses and sunglasses provide frontal protection only. If you wear glasses, make sure they have impact resistant lenses. Safety glasses have heavier lenses that can withstand more shock than ordinary lenses.

Goggles

Plastic goggles protect the eyes against front and side impact. Unvented or chemical splash goggles also offer protection against chemical vapours and liquids.

Always wear goggles when striking hardened metal tools and hardened metal surfaces. This will protect the eyes against flying metal chips.

Face Shields

Face shields protect the face against splashing, dust, and chaff. However, standard designs offer very little protection against impact.

If impact protection is needed, wear safety glasses or goggles under the face shield. Special impact-resistant shields are also available.

Always wear a helmet when arc welding!

The eyes, face, and neck need protection against the burning rays of the arc, and from the splatter of molten metal and slag. To protect vision, make sure the welding helmet has a coloured lens with at least a No. 10 shade when welding up to 200 amps. (Darker shades are needed when using higher currents. Get specialist advice)

Never strike an arc before your helmet is on. Never look at an arc from any distance with naked eyes while someone else is welding.

Remember to use eye protection when chipping slag. The slag is often still hot and breaks away as sharp pieces.

Oxyacetylene welders

The lenses in welding goggles should be a No.5 or 6 grade for welding and cutting, and a No.3 or 4 shade for brazing.

Sun protection also important

Always wear sunglasses to protect you eyes while working outdoors to prevent damage by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Don't take your eyesight for granted!

Workwear | Safety Boots | Protective Equipment
Granite technical workwear industrial cloths

How will you cope outside this winter?

Keep cosy for as little as £130

Good old British weather is great when you can sit and look at it through the window while sitting by that lovely open log fire. But we all have to go out there at some time, to fix the car, clear the leaves from the garden, scrape the snow from the drive, or just put the recycling out.

Granite Workwear provide a whole range of clothing that is not just to protect you from industrial hazards. Keep the designer stuff clean for when it really counts and still look good in hard wearing every day outdoor clothes for those evening and weekend jobs.

Keeping dry is often the key to keeping warm. The Flexothane range provide breathable comfort with wind and waterproof protection. Keep a Rainsuit handy as well, packed neatly in the back of the car perhaps

Hands and feet are usually the biggest problem to keep dry and warm. The Muck boot range must be among the warmest fully waterproof you can put on your feet. Perfectly designed for comfort, protection and warmth using modern man made materials. The Granite range of work gloves can provide a solution for all activities. The Gripper gloves are warm with high grip waterproof palms yet comfortable to wear.

Layers are important, so build them up with a Highwicking T shirt and polarfleece jacket and Penine socks.

Visit www.graniteworkwear.co.uk and see how you can get fully kited out for as little as £130.00.

Workwear | Safety Boots | Protective Equipment
Granite technical workwear industrial cloths