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Personal Protective Clothing (PPC) and What you Should Know

From US Department of Labor Blog

by Mandy Edens

Photo credit US Dept of Labor

Photo credit US Dept of Labor

Protective Clothing is the most important way to avoid cold stress. The type of fabric even makes a difference. Cotton loses its insulation value when it becomes wet. Wool, silk and most synthetics, on the other hand, retain their insulation even when wet. Here are some clothing recommendations for working in cold environments:

  • Wear at least three layers of clothing. An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic to wick moisture away from the body. A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet. An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating. Layering provides better insulation. Do not wear tight fitting clothing.
  • Wear a hat or hood to help keep your whole body warmer. Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
  • Wear insulated boots or other footwear.
  • Keep extra clothing (including underwear) handy in case you get wet and need to change.
  • Do not underestimate the wetting effects of perspiration. Oftentimes wicking and venting of the body’s sweat and heat are more important than protecting from rain or snow.

Read full article here

Online at http://bit.ly/1V7GnFa

BareBones WorkWear has many products to protect you from the cold and to help you layer.

Carhartt Men’s Jackets

Men’s Hoodies and Sweatshirts

Flannel Shirts

Headwear

 

 

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Ariat and PBR Getting You Close to the Bull Riding Action

bull

Bull riding is the most popular rodeo event and may be the world's fastest-growing sport.   But along with growing popularity, comes the growing pains. No, I'm not trying to segue into an Alan Thicke

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Put a Lid on it!

High Altitude Hiking

Say you have a head. And a pair of ears. Which you really do have, unless you're a headless alien or VanGogh or something. In that case, I'm sorry and you probably won't want to read this blog because

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Bright or Die

You know what does not sound like a good time: being killed on the job. Nobody wants their obituary to read “gutted by a backhoe” or “flattened by a dump truck”. It would be embarrassing. At your funeral, people would laugh. Plus, who’s going to ride that jet-ski you’ve been putting in overtime towards when you’re six feet under?

 

No, dying peacefully during naptime at the ripe age of 95 or whilst saving a family of fifteen from a burning building sounds like a much better way to go.

 

“But how do I prevent this mortifying untimely demise, Lindsey?!” you scream, clutching the remote to your brand new flat screen tv.

 

Fear not, my friend. Those DVRed episodes of Sons of Anarchy will not go unwatched. The rival sports team of your hometown will not go unpunished. That six-pack in the fridge will not go unopened.

 

The solution is simple. You will be alive to experience it all because you will be wearing the appropriate High-visibility safety apparel during your work day!

 

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Here’s a quick rundown of the different classes of Hi-Vis gear available that are going to keep you from kicking the bucket before your time.

(Pro tip: the higher the class, the more protective the garment)

 

Class 1:

These garments are restricted to people working where there is ample separation between the worker and vehicles, the background environments are not complex, and speeds do not exceed 25 mph.

Examples: Parking attendants, warehouse or sidewalk maintenance workers

Dickies VE200 Class 1 Vest

Class 2:

For work in harsh weather and in proximity to vehicles moving at speeds between 25 and 50mph. Workers in this environment may not be paying attention to traffic and working in complex backgrounds.

Examples: Roadway construction and utility workers, survey crews, toll booth attendants, law enforcement

Berne Apparel HVV046 Class 2 Vest

Class 3:

When exposed to high traffic (speeds over 50mph) and/or conditions where visibility of workers may be reduced, this garment would be necessary. Wearing this garment the worker will be conspicuous through a full range of body motions at a minimum of 1,280 feet away and identifiable as a person. At night or during a storm, this class would be appropriate.

Examples: Emergency responders, accident investigators, roadway construction and utility workers

Carhartt 100503 Class 3 Zip-Front Sweatshirt

 

 

If, even after all this information, you’re still worried for your survival, here are a few more nuggets of wisdom that are most assuredly going to keep you safe.

 

  1. The combination of a Class 2 or 3 vest with hi-vis pants or shorts creates a Class 3 ensemble. Jumping into a pair of hi-vis pants when the sun goes down will help you to remain visible.

 

  1. Beware of unclassified garments. Always make sure the clothing you buy meets ANSI/ISEA 107 standards.

 

  1. Check the label! It will include information about class, standards compliance, and care instructions.

 

  1. Watch out for improperly loose vests that may become caught in equipment or vests that have been washed too many times and lost their florescent values.

 

  1. Keep your garments clean and closed!

blog photo happy guy

 

 

That’s it. With all this knowledge crammed between your ears, you can breathe easy. You’re going to live to see 60, 70, hell, probably 100. By the time you’re settling down for a dirt nap, people are going to be flying around on jetpacks and travelling at light speed.

 

So buy some freaking Hi-Visibility gear and kick back with a cold one.

 

The future is now.

 

 

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All’s Wool That Ends Wool

Fact: It’s cold outside.

Another fact: you have to work.

Whether you’re fixing someone’s leaky roof, working on the roadways, or even enjoying the slopes (lucky!),  you don’t want jack frost nipping at your nose–or any part of your body for that matter! And the last thing you want is for your clothes to get sweaty while you’re helping someone put snow chains on their car. We’ve already learned that cotton isn’t the best thing to wear when you’re working all day in the cold and that polyester and fleece are both good substitutes for those long winter days. But what we didn’t tell you yet is how awesome wool is. Wool repels water, which gives it similar moisture-wicking properties as polyester, making it a great natural alternative to polyester.

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Wool You Like It? 

 

One of the deciding factors in buying new clothing is how easy it is to maintain. How many times have you found the perfect coat, but put it back because it was dry clean only? Nobody has time for that! Neither do sheep. Think about it: sheep wear wool every day of their lives, using it to protect them from the elements, including dirt and grime. The fibers in wool have a special casing that traps dirt close to the surface, making it easy to clean. And have you ever seen sheep with a wrinkled coat? Probably not. That’s because wool is resistant to wrinkling.

carhartt

Carhartt Men’s Wool Chore Coat

 

carharttwomen

Carhartt Women’s Camden Plaid Wool Jacket

horacesmall

Horace Small Men’s Heritage Trousers

Wool is a natural enemy to dust. Seriously, they hate each other. Dust likes humid environments commonly found in synthetic fibers, and wool is having no part of that! Which means that you won’t be suffering so much from allergies or asthma.

Hands for Spinning

 

What else can wool do? A whole lot. It’s a lightweight insulator, holds dyes better than many other fabrics,  resists mildew, and makes you less stinky by reducing body odor.

 Merino on Your Feet-o

 

When you think of wool, you might think of those itchy sweaters that grandma used to knit. You know, the ones you had to wear whenever she came to visit. You don’t want to have to stop your snowboard mid-slope just because you’ve got a case of the wool itchies! While some wool types can be quite itchy, some are actually quite comfy. It all depends on the sheep!

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Unlike your grandma’s sweaters, merino wool clothing is quite comfy. This type of wool is very fine and soft, unlike the thick, itchy fibers you see popping out of some wool clothing. In fact, it’s one of the softest wools you can find. Merino wool is also known to be quite durable, which is important when you’re hammering nails all day. Merino wool is a popular fabric for socks because it keeps you dry, it’ll last through anything your feet can throw at it, its insulated nature keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and it’ll keep your feet comfortable and not grandma’s sweater itchy.

wigwam

Wigwam Merino Comfort Hiker Sock

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New Year’s Resolutions That Rock the Job Site

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Every New Year's Eve, we make resolutions to be healthier, accomplish goals, or do something we have never done before. Nine times out of ten we never fulfill, achieve, or keep a resolution. Maybe