how to choose the right protective clothing
Behind every choice of protective clothing there are several important considerations regarding risks, materials and function that need to be made. Understanding how different garments interact, from the inner layer to the outer layer, can be the difference between good protection and optimal protection.
From risk analysis to selecting protective clothing
Choosing the right protective clothing for a specific task requires a thorough risk analysis and evaluation of the work environment, legal requirements and regulations.
What are the potential hazards, how serious are they, and how likely are they to occur? Which standards and regulations are relevant? It is important to stay up to date with relevant standards and regulations to ensure that the selected protective clothing meets the necessary safety requirements and provides the appropriate level of protection.
Fit and comfort are also important factors. Uncomfortable workwear can negatively affect work performance, compromise safety or even pose a risk to the wearer.
Here, we guide you through the key processes and considerations when purchasing flame retardant workwear, from risk analysis and risk assessment to selecting the most appropriate protection. We also highlight the importance of quality in terms of safety, comfort, durability and cost-effectiveness.
By understanding these factors, you can make informed decisions that help create a safer working environment for you and your employees.
BEHÖVER DU GUIDNING TILL ATT HITTA RÄTT ARBETSKLÄDER?
I våra branschguider beskriver vi vilka risker som kan finnas på arbetsplasten och vilka skyddskläder vi rekommenderar.
EL OCH KRAFT
Arbete inom el och kraft innebär stora risker med ljusbåge, flamma och hetta och kräver heltäckande och korrekt flamskyddsutrustning för att undvika allvarliga skador.
SMÄLTVERK OCH GJUTERIER
I extrema miljöer som i smältverk och gjuterier krävs certifierade flamskyddade arbetskläder som tål hög värme, stänk och gnistor.
JÄRNVÄG
Arbete på järnväg kräver strikt följsamhet till säkerhetsföreskrifter och användning av flamskyddade, ljusbågecertifierade varselkläder med hög synbarhet enligt gällande standarder för att förebygga olyckor och säkerställa trygghet i den riskfyllda spårmiljön.
Svets
Att arbeta med svets innebär att man dagligen utsätts för ett flertal risker, såsom brännskador, ögonskador, elolyckor mm. För att skydda sig behöver svetsare använda flamskyddade arbetskläder och skyddsutrustning som tål svetsloppor och hetta.
GRUVA
Gruvindustrin blir allt mer automatiserad och säker, men arbetet har fortfarande många risker som kräver rätt skyddskläder. Vanliga risker är damm, gaser, kemiska ämnen, fall, begränsad synbarhet, tung trafik, brand samt risker i samband med sprängning.
KEMI- OCH PETROKEMI
Arbete inom kemi- och petrokemiindustrin kräver skyddskläder med rätt certifieringar och anpassning efter de specifika kemikalier som används.
Download the guide
8 STEPS TO THE RIGHT PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
This is what you get when you download the guide:
- Review of the different steps for purchasing protective clothing – from carrying out a risk analysis to how you adapt garments to achieve both the right safety level and high comfort.
- Overview of the purchasing process and thereby help to ensure that each step is carried out.
why protective clothing is necessary
According to work environment legislation, it is the employer’s responsibility to identify, analyse, eliminate and protect against the risk of injury at work. If it is not possible to completely eliminate an identified risk, the employer must by law ensure that the employee is protected from this risk. In this respect, personal protective equipment (PPE), including protective clothing, plays a crucial role.
Within the EU, legislation on personal protective equipment is governed by the PPE Regulation (EU) 2016/425. The basic rule is that personal protective equipment must be used when risks cannot be avoided or sufficiently limited by technical protective measures, collective protection or by measures and procedures within the work organisation.
The purpose of laws and regulations is clear: to safeguard individual safety. Anyone who goes to work should come home uninjured and safe.
Risk analysis and the right level of protection
The path to the right protective clothing always starts with a well-executed risk analysis and risk assessment. In this process, potential hazards in the workplace are identified, such as splashes of molten metal or chemicals, risk of electric arc, risk of explosion, poor lighting conditions or working in environments with traffic.
At the same time, the likelihood of these hazards occurring and the consequences they may have for employees are assessed. When the hazards have been identified and the risks assessed, measures must be taken to reduce or eliminate them.
Standards and certification requirements
If the hazard cannot be eliminated, the employer must adapt the level of protection of the personal protective equipment to the severity of the identified hazard. For this work, there are several standards that the employer must follow.
After the risks and hazards have been identified and assessed, it is important to determine which standards are relevant to the work environment being examined. The protective clothing chosen must be certified to these standards. The right level of protection is therefore determined by the identified risks and hazards and the relevant standards.
Eliminate or minimise the risks
The first measure in risk management is always to try to eliminate or significantly reduce the hazard. Protective clothing should be seen as the last line of defence and is used when other protective measures are not sufficient.
In risk analysis and risk management, it is also important not to rush to a solution. We recommend that protective clothing is tested in the environment where it will be used, as a standard solution may not always be suitable for every work environment.
What is optimal protection?
Optimal protection means a balanced combination of protection and comfort. Too low a level of protection can lead to serious injuries, while too high a level of protection can lead to unnecessary heat stress or lack of comfort, especially in warm work environments.
To avoid heat stress, which occurs when the body can no longer regulate its internal temperature, both employers and employees need to take into account air temperature, work intensity, humidity and the type of protective clothing used. Based on these factors and the current risk level, clothing can be adapted and optimised.
But first and foremost, employers should always strive to eliminate or reduce the identified risk. With reduced risk, clothing can be adjusted to increase comfort.
Specific protection or multinorm
Protective clothing designed for a specific risk situation has several advantages compared with multinorm clothing, even though multinorm clothing may appear more versatile.
Specifically adapted protective clothing is developed to provide optimal protection against the hazards that may arise in a particular work environment and to minimise the risk of injury or exposure.
In addition, this type of protective clothing has an ergonomic design that ensures a good fit and functionality based on the requirements of the task. By eliminating excess material and unnecessary features, greater freedom of movement and increased comfort are achieved, which in practice can also contribute to a safer work environment.
Read more about how we work with specifically adapted protection
Wearer trials before purchasing
To ensure both comfort and safety, it is important that users feel comfortable in their protective clothing. We therefore recommend that wearer trials are carried out before purchasing.
During these trials, users can try out and evaluate different garments in the environment where they will be used. This makes it easier to find protective clothing that works in practice, both in terms of protection level, fit and comfort.
Some of the most important standards for personal protective equipment
- EN ISO 11612
Protective clothing that protects against heat and flame - EN 61482-2
Protective clothing that protects against thermal heat from an electric arc - EN 1149-5
Protective clothing with electrostatic properties - EN ISO 11611
Protective clothing that protects against welding or similar work - EN 13034 Type PB [6]
Protective clothing that protects against liquid chemicals - EN ISO 20471
Standard for high-visibility clothing
The importance of CORRECT fit
Always wearing the right protective clothing is the wearer's life insurance if an accident occurs. Fit, ergonomics and comfort are therefore very important factors when choosing protective clothing. If the protective clothing is not comfortable or ergonomic, there is a risk that it simply will not be worn, a choice that can lead to serious consequences.
A garment with an incorrect fit can also increase the risk rather than provide the intended protection. For a safe and secure workplace, it is therefore extremely important that all employees have access to protective clothing that fits their individual body measurements.
Protective clothing for everyone
A good fit is a matter of equality, comfort and safety. When you choose protective clothing, it is therefore crucial that there are options to fit all your employees.
Every person is unique and has a different body type. Therefore, protective clothing should be available for both women and men, in a range of sizes and in different widths and leg lengths. It is also important that there are tailored solutions, for example garments for pregnant women.
Individually adapted protective clothing
When needed, there should also be the option of made-to-measure and individually adapted solutions. However, keep in mind that all adjustments and adaptations of protective clothing must be carried out by certified personnel to ensure that the garment’s certification remains valid. The same applies to any repairs.
MULTI-Layer for better protection
The layer-on-layer principle works very well when choosing workwear all year round, both in terms of protection and warmth.
The air gaps that form between the garments have low thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity. These properties provide effective insulation against the cold during winter and can at the same time help increase safety in demanding work situations. Our tested multi-layer system is called Tranemo Skinsafe™.
We test the entire system
All garments in a clothing system must be compatible with each other to ensure the correct level of protection. It is not enough to add together the protection values of each garment to obtain the total level of protection.
The combination of garments must be tested as a whole to ensure that the system provides the required level of protection.
Tranemo Skinsafe™ for electric arc Tranemo Skinsafe™ for radiant heat
Logo BRANDING and heat SEalEd BADGES
Heat seal badges and logo branding should always be taken into account when purchasing protective clothing. For flame retardant clothing, it is important to know that certifications impose requirements on the type of marking that may be used.
Incorrect marking can negatively affect the protective properties of the garments and in some cases mean that the certification requirements are no longer met.
Ensure that heat transfer prints, emblems and embroidery meet the applicable requirements and are tested together with the garment before use.
Quality provides a sustainable investment
One of our main recommendations when purchasing protective clothing is to think long term. Do not focus solely on the purchase price. Instead, place greater emphasis on quality and durability because when garments have a longer life span the total cost of ownership (TCO) decreases over time.
Protective clothing with a long service life also helps to reduce environmental impact. If a garment’s service life is doubled, resource consumption is almost halved.
An effective way to extend service life is to supplement the garments with certified accessories, such as aprons and arm guards. In this way, protection in particularly exposed areas can be reinforced when needed.
High-quality materials and construction also help personal protective equipment maintain its protective properties even after frequent and long-term use. By choosing high-quality protective clothing, the employer also shows a clear commitment to employee safety and wellbeing, which can strengthen the sense of togetherness in the workplace.
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