Workwear versus Protective clothing

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Whether in catering and retail, on the construction site or in production, many millions of working people in Germany wear work clothing every day. They provide functional support or visual team affiliation, and in some industries they even protect employees from hazards. Dominique Frühauf, Product Manager at CWS Workwear, explains the differences between workwear and protective clothing.

Employers choose workwear for their employees because it offers safety and a certain recognition value for the company. The company logo and name tag should not be missing. In this way, the clothing promotes cohesion among employees and ensures a professional, representative appearance.

But starting the day well equipped means more than just a professional look. Depending on the area in which an employee works, protective clothing may also be necessary.

First, work clothes must fit properly and look good. Functionality and comfort make for the ideal overall package. If protective clothing is not required, workwear will suffice. Depending on the employee’s field of activity, the requirements for wear and tear and, if necessary, special features such as working while kneeling, bending or working outdoors must be taken into account. On this basis, the thickness and resistance of the fabric, and functional details such as reinforcements or padding for the knee area should be selected. Freedom of movement and comfort are at the top of the list for employees when it comes to workwear requirements.

If personal protective equipment, PPE, is required, it must be provided to employees by the employer. A risk assessment of the workplace determines the risk or likelihood of harm to health from certain hazardous substances or activities. In Germany, the employers’ liability insurance associations often specify which work clothing must be worn. Companies must ensure the safety of their employees during working hours.

There are three different risk categories of PPE. Depending on whether there is a risk of injury and how likely it is, the group falls out. In category I falls protective clothing that protects against a minor hazard, such as weather protection. Category II means protection against a medium risk. An example of this is high-visibility protective clothing. Category III is complex PPE that protects against life-threatening hazards. This includes, among other things, heat and flame protection. In addition, all protective clothing is subject to at least one standard, within which there may also be gradations in terms of protection requirements.

If work clothing fits properly, employees automatically feel more comfortable. With PPE, wearing comfort also plays an important role. If the protective clothing offers good freedom of movement, employees can avoid hazards more quickly. When certifying the standards of PPE, the fit is therefore also checked.

So what could happen if a good fit is not given? For standards such as heat and flame protection, for example, the pants and jacket must always overlap, even when the arms are extended. This is to ensure that the body is well protected even when moving. In the case of high-visibility protection, the leg and arm length in particular should be right for the employee. Because if the pants are too long and the reflective strips disappear in the fold of the shoes, visibility is no longer given and there is an increased danger for the wearer.

Companies that use workwear and protective clothing for their team want an appealing appearance and a uniform look across the board. Manufacturers such as CWS Workwear therefore offer workwear and protective clothing in the same colors and similar designs to ensure that all employees are visually harmonized with one another.

In the case of protective clothing, however, there are some design restrictions. This is because the roof tile principle applies: beads of sweat, liquid metals - everything must be able to roll off the textile from top to bottom. Nothing must be allowed to get caught in seams. For this reason, protective clothing usually has fewer seams, partly because it is often made of thicker fabric that is more difficult to process. There are also special specifications for pockets in terms of size and angle. In addition, manufacturers are limited in terms of color options, as certain high-tech fabrics can only be dyed to a limited extent.

Protective clothing requires professional handling during washing and regular checks, where possible, of the protective functions. For example, the correct temperature and handling of the clothing must be maintained so that the PPE provides long-term safety. This is not feasible in private household laundry. This is especially true since original materials must always be used for any alterations and repairs. In the case of workwear, the specifications are less complex, but here, too, attention should be paid to professional care.

Service provider CWS Workwear offers workwear and PPE made of high-quality materials that are washed and professionally maintained for companies. This gives employers the certainty that their employees’ workwear is always provided in a clean and functional condition and that all safety regulations are complied with in the case of protective clothing. This is because the service provider always assumes responsibility with the textile takeover.