Choosing Corporate Clothing for Industrial Jobs
You may think that in this day and age, choosing corporate clothing is as simple as sending an email and waiting for the items you ordered to arrive. But as the person responsible for the cost of that clothing, there are a lot of factors that you need to think about before you order, especially if you work in an industrial context, such as a factory, a mine or even in a workshop.
In this context, there are a variety of types of corporate wear that you may want to consider before you press the order button. For one thing, ATPV, or arc thermal performance value, is very important, since it represents the maximum capabilities clothing has for arc-flash protection. In layman’s terms, this refers to the amount of wear and tear a piece of clothing can take. If the ATPV is low, then the clothing may not be very durable.
Important Things to Consider
Also on the list is flame resistance and retardancy. These describe the way that a fabric or piece of material either fights off flames and sparks or absorbs them. If you work in an industry in which sparks and flames are common occurrences, this is a very important consideration. The most common fabric choices for the types of industries mentioned here include cotton and nylon.
These are fabrics that breathe well, allowing the skin to sweat through them which is very important if you happen to be a mechanic. Their durability and flame resistance are important features if you are a fireman. Another material, Kevlar, is sometimes used in a scenario where some form of resistance to flying missiles may be required.
We have all seen how bulletproof vests protect the body in our favourite TV shows about cops, but in reality, these may also be necessary in places like the aviation industry for example.
The Real Cost of Corporate Clothing
If safety is your first consideration, cost should definitely be your second. While you should never compromise on the quality of an item if it enables safety, you also need to be aware that your business does not have an unlimited budget to play around with. If this is the case then you will need to get comparable quotes to ensure that you are getting the best bang for your buck, so to speak.
This balance of quality and cost is a difficult one to achieve and you may need the manufacturer to advise you on the best items, that is, those that are right for you and that you can afford. No matter how you eventually choose to order, try to remember one very important thing: the people who will be wearing the corporate uniforms that you order for them have a right to feel cool, comfortable and safe.
As the person responsible for ordering their corporate clothing, your loyalty to the business should take second place to your loyalty for the workers. After all, without happy, comfortable employees you cannot have a fully functioning business that runs smooth and sound.