With the coming of winter also comes darker mornings, darker evenings, and colder, damper weather. If your business’s staff work in the outdoors and will be facing these conditions almost daily, until the season changes, what sort of additional considerations should your business make when putting together an effective outdoor winter work uniform? Simon Jersey takes you through some of the things to keep in mind.
Extra layers to keep comfortable
Multiple layers that help keep you warm in the cold are definitely a necessity during winter. That said, something important to keep in mind when it comes to wearing multiple layers is the breathability of your clothing. This should especially be the case if you’re in a particularly active job, like construction. During a long and demanding shift, for instance, your staff might begin to overheat and sweat excessively, making it uncomfortable for them to work.
This is why a layered uniform can be useful. For example, your light underlayer, which can help wick away moisture from the body, could be a sochi softshell jacket, which would be light and easy to wear, but still sturdy enough to protect you from the weather.
When the weather takes a turn for the worse, however, you can add a much more heavy-duty winter jacket on top. When looking for these jackets, look for a top-of-the-line entry into the market, which will feature large amount of interior insulation, such as 140gsm wadding, and high-quality advanced waterproofing on the exterior.
Combining these layers will mean that your staff are able to stay comfortable yet dry whatever conditions your staff will work in.
High-quality shoes
The damper weather and lower temperatures of winter often lead to wet and icy surfaces outside. This can lead to an increased risk of slips and trips, which could cause serious injury.
Also, if your shoes aren’t sturdy enough to keep out the rain, sleet or snow for long periods when working outside, it could start to seep through your footwear. This can leave you with very damp and cold feet.
So, to make sure your staff stay safe when working, you should look for tough leather safety boots made from oil-treated leather to ensure they stand up to the elements. Work boots that feature rubber soles will also ensure your staff have a steady grip on any terrain. If there are other safety concerns, you should also consider looking for boots that additionally feature steel toecaps.
Always keep visibility and safety in mind
The darkness of winter also means that visibility should be a major consideration throughout the day, in order to ensure that your staff can stay as safe as possible.
You should invest in high-visibility reflective jackets and trousers to ensure your staff can be seen clearly in all weather. Your visibility clothing should feature reflective tape markings, and be made from polyurethane coated polyester. They can also wear these over other layers to make sure they stay safely warm and visible at the same time.
There are other safety considerations you should keep in mind too.
For example, the majority of a person’s body heat is lost through the head. So a thick, fleece-lined hat can be a simple but effective addition of clothing to help reduce the risk of hypothermia, or frostbite, in extremely cold conditions.
Alongside this, cold weather can severely limit manual dexterity when working with your hands. If staff can’t work effectively because of a lack of mobility, the risk of them having an accident or suffering an injury is greatly increased. To avoid that risk, consider adding padded, insulated fleece gloves to your uniform. Having warm gloves available will help staff maintain hand and finger flexibility and reduce risks of accidental injury.
Keeping your staff warm and safe with the right winter workwear
Ensuring your team is warm, safe, and able to work effectively is vital when working outdoors for long periods, especially during the winter. Providing a well-thought-out outdoor uniform can also help show your staff that their health and wellbeing is important to you, which, in turn, might help them feel more invested in the work they do. Simon Jersey is proud to provide winter workwear which is:
• Stylish, professional and practical- We translate current trends into comfortable workwear to continuously give your customers the best impression
• Tailored and personalised to suit your brand – You can choose colours of clothing that fit with the latest fashions and best match your brand. We can also personalise your uniform with your company name or logo
• Designed with industry knowledge and expertise – We have 45 years’ experience providing businesses with on-trend and stylish uniforms for their staff
If you’d like to find the right workwear for whatever business needs you’re looking to meet, take a look at our Workwear web page. Alternatively, you could request a catalogue or contact one of our staff members for more information
