How to choose a work vest?

Overalls are a mandatory attribute of absolutely any profession that is associated with the production and technological process. One of its types is a work vest. This attribute is used in various spheres of human activity in order to protect employees. In this article, you can find all the necessary information about special work vests, their features, types, colors and selection criteria.

Work vests are used in enterprises to ensure maximum safety for employees. Initially, this clothing attribute was used exclusively in the road sector. Workers who were involved in the maintenance of the road and sidewalk surfaces were required to wear signal vests. The drivers had a good view of the road service and the number of accidents decreased.

Today, this PPE attribute, as an element of work clothes, is widely used by employees:

• transport companies;
• gas stations;
• utilities and road maintenance activities;
• construction companies;
• woodworking factories;
• emergency and rescue service;
• firefighters;
• police.

What are the features, why is the scope of application so wide? The thing is that with the help of this clothing you can increase the employee's visibility for road users or other workers.

In addition to all of the above, it is worth noting the following advantages of the product:

• multifunctionality;
• ergonomics;
• strength;
• long service life;
• keeping the shape;
• resistance to constant exposure to sunlight (the fabric from which the vest is sewn does not fade in the sun);
• wear resistance.

In order for the product to serve as long as possible, you need to properly care for it, adhere to the rules provided by the manufacturer.

Since a work vest is one of the accessories for personal protective equipment, its production is fully controlled by the Labor Code and regulatory documents. According to regulatory documents, there is a certain classification of work signal clothing. According to her, the attribute can be like this.

• Summer. This is the simplest vest, lightweight and comfortable. Made of lightweight but durable fabric that does not hinder movement. Such vests are used in all types of production during the warm season.

• Insulated. This option is relevant in the cool, winter period. Such products are worn by road service workers who work in winter, subway employees, construction workers and many others. When working outdoors in severe frost, this is an ideal choice. Such fur clothes are both comfortable and warm.

Also, each work vest belongs to a certain class of protection. There are 3 of them in total.

• 1st grade. Provides a minimum level of protection. It's just a bright piece with no LED strips on it. Coarse calico is used for sewing. It is not recommended to work in such equipment at night.

• 2nd grade. This is the most commonly purchased and used work vest. It is durable, reliable, characterized by a long service life and resistance to mechanical damage and various temperature conditions. It has LED strips, so it is suitable for use in the dark;

• 3rd grade. It is characterized by the highest level of protection. The product has both horizontal and vertical LED strips. Made from quality materials.

All vests can also differ in their design. Some are made with pockets, others without them. The fixing method is also different: using buttons or Velcro.

The color may vary. The main thing is that it should be bright and noticeable at any time of the day. A work vest can be:

• Yellow - characterized by increased visibility, used by workers of the road and housing and communal services, traffic police officers;

• Green - an employee in such a vest can be seen both day and night, used as an attribute of PPE in various fields of activity;

• Red - one of the most popular colors of work vests.

The work vest can also be blue or white. Employees of utilities are often seen wearing blue garments.

When choosing this working accessory, you need to take into account many factors, of which the main ones are:

• the field of activity of the employee;
• product class;
• material from which it is made;
• the presence of LED strips in accordance with the requirements of the Labor Code;
• equipment.

It is important to choose the right color, size. When choosing a product by size, be sure to keep in mind that it is worn on clothes. Try it on, try to make a few of the simplest movements. The vest should be comfortable and comfortable, movements should not be constrained. Also, make sure you have quality certificates that confirm that the product complies with legal requirements.

For the model of work vests with hinged pockets, see the video.