Safety Shirts: Which One to Choose

When you have been assigned the task of choosing the right safety shirt for yourself or your team, it is a little confusing to figure out where you want to start with. Will you choose a water repellant or a windbreaker shirt? Or will you choose a moisture-wicking shirt instead of a plain cotton t-shirt? You might want to incorporate the recommendations specified for the job that you perform. After all, no one wants to compromise on personal safety.

At Abolox Safety, we have a range of safety shirts to keep you protected and comfortable during your work. We recommend that you choose your safety shirt based on the following factors.

1. Weather
2. Hazards
3. Safety Recommendations for your profession

Available in a variety of colors and designs, your safety shirt can be the first step to ensure that you are visible and protected.

Weather

To start with, it is important to know what kind of weather you will be working in. Is it snowing, or sweltering heat or windy? What will be the temperature you will be working in? Are you planning to work in congested spaces? Or climb high altitudes? You must choose your shirt according to the weather.

If you are working in extremely hot weather, you need a shirt that is of breathable material and provides the moisture-wicking treatment. You might want to choose a light-weight t-shirt like Ergodyne 8289, Class-2, which is made up of ANSI compliant polyester. Another good choice is Radians ST31-Class Cooling & Wicking T-shirt. The shirt makes use of a technology that circulates the perspiration through the fabric to keep you cool. Both of these shirts have heat transfer, a segmented reflective tape which makes the wearer visible in the bright light as well as low-light.

If you are into biking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice fishing or any other outdoor job which exposes you to extremely cold weather, you probably need a sweatshirt or a pullover hoodie to keep you warm. Ergodyne 8373 hooded sweatshirt can provide you all the warmth you need. Made up of 100% polyester polar fleece, the shirt is fitted with a draw-string hood and elastic waistband and cuffs to keep the heat in during extremely cold weather.

Hazards

You might also want to consider the hazards you will be exposed to. Whether it is the fire, chemicals, wind or darkness, your shirt should prepare you to meet the challenges of your workplace.

If your workers tend to work in a place where they are exposed to rain or wind, then choosing a windbreaker shirt is a good idea. Radians SJ03 Quilted Windshirt provides excellent protection against wind. The wind shirt has a button closure and keeps you warm when exposed to cold wind.

If you are exposed to flames, then choose one of our flame-resistant shirts. Dewalt DST921 shirt can protect you from the fire. It is made up of modacrylic cotton polyester material that repels flame. Reflective stripes enable you to be visible during the dark.

Working in low light on a roadside can expose you to the danger of approaching traffic. Even during the daylight, you want to warn the drivers of your presence while working on the roadside. Wearing a high-visibility shirt can keep you safe and visible. Radians ST12-2PGS Hi-Viz Safety Polo T-shirt is made of reflective material that enhances visibility during low-light situations. Made of 100% Polyester, they are comfortable to wear.

Safety Recommendations by Employer

If your employer has set up some recommendations for your safety apparel, you might want to consider them too. Usually, the employers refer to ANSI standards, for recommending appropriate apparel for their workers. According to ANSI, safety apparel is classified into the following categories:

• Class 2: This apparel is for the workers who are on or near the road with a complex background. They are in imminent danger from the on-coming traffic at the speed of 25mph.
• Class 3: This type of shirt is for the people in the highest-risk situation. Such people need to be visible at a distance of 1280 feet and are exposed to high-speed traffic.
• FR: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) required the workers to wear flame-resistant clothing whenever there is an exposure to electric arc flash. Made up of different materials, these shirts provide various degrees of fire-protection.

Make your choice according to the recommendations of your employers and stay safe.

Colors and Designs

The safety shirts are available in a variety of colors and designs. The most common colors are orange, orange and black, lemon, lemon and black, khaki, grey and red.

Similarly, you can choose among a long sleeve, no-sleeve, polo-shirt or short-sleeve t-shirt.

Key Takeaway

If you work outdoors and are exposed to a variety of hazards or bad weather, you must choose a good safety shirt. When you are choosing your safety shirt, you might want to consider the weather, the hazards that you are exposed to and any safety recommendations for your job. Safety shirts are critical to keeping you protected and comfortable.