Why You Should Clean Your Hivis Workwear Properly

Those of you in industries that require you to do your jobs dressed in hivis workwear must make sure you know how best to keep it clean – or you could actually be putting yourself at even more risk than you might otherwise have thought.

If your personal protective equipment isn’t cleaned or maintained appropriately, you leave yourself open to all sorts of hazards. These include severe burns, caused by wearing oily or greasy clothing while carrying out hot work, impaired vision due to the use of dirty or scratched lenses or shields, and skin irritation as a result of contaminated gloves, clothing and boots.

You could also hurt yourself through the inhalation of toxic chemicals if your face pieces or respiratory valves are damaged. And be aware that if you don’t look after your own equipment and share it with others at work, the spread of infectious diseases is highly possible.

Make sure that you don’t use any damaged, defective or contaminated equipment, and make sure that all unsanitary items are cleaned and disinfected properly before being reissued. For employers, it’s vital that you instruct your members of staff in the proper care, maintenance and disposal of this kind of equipment so that they can work safely each day.

Remember that you, as an employer, are responsible for providing, replacing and paying for protective equipment. Such workwear should be used when other measures are not sufficient to control exposure. When choosing your equipment, think about whether it’s suitable for the job in hand, if it offers the right level of protection, the kind of training and maintenance that might be required and that you know when it’ll need replacing.