Waterproof workwear is a must have when working outside in the UK, we always say it is constantly raining and we aren't wrong. When looking at the number of days we experienced rain in 2021 it was a total 149 days according to statista.
Certain industries are required to work outside more than others, industries such as construction, rail, utilities, agriculture and oil and gas are most effected. Ensuring you have the right waterproofs is essential for workers safety and also productivity, have you tried working outside without waterproofs on with freezing hands and heavy clothes? Not nice!
When looking for waterproof workwear online or in store it can be tricky to understand if the jacket or trousers you are looking at offer waterproof protection. Thankfully we have created this post so you know all you need to know about waterproof workwear.
What are the risks of working in wet conditions?
When working is cold, wet conditions this can cause a number of different risks. Every situation is different so it is important to carry out a risk assessment so you can better under the potential dangers to health. Other than physical risks there are risks associated to the weather itself such as hypothermia.
Here is the most common risks:
These risks vary in severity based on other factors for example, if you trip over and fall onto a tough object this can cause head injuries or other bodily harm. Health risks also vary in severity, it is best to ensure you have the correct workwear available to you and if you do not refrain from working in that environment.
Does the employer need to provide waterproof workwear?
Yes, this is made clear to employers within the personal protective equipment at work regulations which states 'a duty on every employer in Great Britain to ensure that suitable PPE is provided to ‘employees’ who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work.'
As discussed above not having the 'suitable' PPE in wet conditions can be at risk of the employees, making it the employers responsibility to provide and protect their employees.
if you feel that you do not have the correct workwear or PPE for your conditions then you should raise the issue with you line manager or health and safety manager.
Waterproof workwear standard EN 343 - what does this mean?
The safety standard EN 343 is a standard which looks at the water penetration resistance and the breathability of the garment, the safety standard goes into details on the fabrics used and other features that will define the level of EN 343 the garment achieves.
EN 343 is split into two sections:
- Water penetration resistance
- Breathability
Each section is then tested accordingly and awards a rank between 1-3, the higher the rank the better the performance of the garment in that given section.
For example, a garment which provides EN 343 class 3:3 offers the highest protection for both breathability and water penetration resistance.
The first digit is for water penetration resistance and the second digit is for breathability.
What waterproof workwear can OAKEYS Safety offer?
Here at OAKEYS Safety we work with a wide range of workwear manufactures such as Portwest, LEO workwear, ELKA Rainwear and many more, these manufactures have tried and trusted heavy duty waterproof workwear ranges which we supply at amazing prices thanks to our strong relationships with them.
What waterproof workwear do we supply:
Conclusion
To conclude, this is everything you need to know about waterproof workwear. Now you can be sure to work safety and know the safety standard to look out for when purchasing workwear waterproofs! OAKEYS safety have a great range of workwear solutions with a wide variety of styles, performance levels and safety standards, check out our online shop with the link below.
If you are interested or what to know more about arc flash clothing then check out our recent blog, or perhaps you are interested to learn more about the importance of workwear in which case follow the link to this blog.
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