During the winter months, the exterior of your business can become quite the mess. Workers will often find themselves in situations where they must clear snow, remove ice, and try to create safe pathways for employees and customers to enter and exit the building.
Along with proper removal equipment like salt, shovels, and snow blowers, you also want to consider the protective gear your employees wear while on the job. Protective gear offers multiple advantages. Learn about the gear and why you should supply the protective gear for anyone who works on exterior snow removal during the winter months.
Reflective Gear
Snow can create a lot of visual hazards for people who drive through business parking lots. The sun can reflect off snow and create a lot of blind spots. You do not want your employees to blend in with the surroundings. Ideally, you should purchase reflective gear that stands out in every weather situation.
Vests, coats, and other gear items will showcase reflective properties and enhance the safety of employees. Snowplows near your business can create large mounds of snow that makes it harder for vehicles to see around corners and other areas. Reflective gear creates a visual that is seen right away.
The contrast of bright orange and yellow colors will stand out against the snow and help increase the safety factor. The gear can prevent dangerous situations or accidents.
Warmth and Moisture
The winter months include a lot of harsh temperatures. The work gear you supply doesn’t just provide protection, but it can provide extra warmth. The layered protection can help lock in heat. As a person shovels or removes snow, sweat can build up as well. Multi-layered work gear can provide proper ventilation to keep workers warm while sweat and moisture escapes.
The warmth can ensure their body does not become too cold, especially for longer periods of time when the business needs a lot of snow removal and winter weather treatment.
Water Protection
Outdoor work gear often includes an outer layer that will not absorb any water or moisture. When a person goes to shovel snow, they are bound to get some snow flying at their body. The snow could blow in the natural wind or flow through the air with each shovel scoop. Work gear with water protection will prevent exposure to moisture on their inner layers or skin.
You don’t want workers soaking wet while they remove snow and slush. The exposure to excess moisture could create additional problems like frostbite or hypothermia. Waterproof materials will easily prevent moisture and are easy to dry off after a worker completes the outdoor tasks.
While the main focus may go to work jackets, you could also purchase protective work pants as well. A set of waterproof pants will really help for days when snow turns to slush and things get messy. Even with boots on, water and snow and splash upwards onto the pants. With waterproof pants, the moisture will easy just wick off.
Multi-Layer Protection
Part of snow and ice removal often includes the use of chemicals like ice melt. Protective clothes can also protect workers from any possible damage caused by salt and chemicals. When the salt gets wet and dries, it could cause stains on regular pants and shirts. The protective work gear will cover up any regular clothes a person wears.
Along with the extra protection for clothes, the workers will have skin protection as well. Sometimes, the chemicals used to melt ice and be an irritant on the skin. With proper work gear, your employees will not have any exposure to the chemicals and can remain protected throughout the whole winter season.
Hooded Work Gear
When you shop for work gear for your employees, consider the use of hooded jackets. In the winter, hoods can provide a lot of extra protection. For example, gusts of wind can create windburn on an employee’s face when little specks of snow come into contact with their face. Sun reflections off the snow can also create skin damage with excess exposure.
Hoods will provide a lot of extra protection from the wind and snow. The hood can also help insulate a worker’s head and provide some extra warmth. Many work jackets with hoods on them will include reflective colors right on the hood to ensure the worker remains visible even with the hood on.
Some hoods may include drawstrings so a worker can properly tighten the hood around their head and add some extra protection around their whole face. Look at the different styles to see which options your employees may prefer.
For more information on protective gear, contact us at Ben’s Cleaner Sales. We can provide a full catalog of items to purchase for your employees. We make our gear with high-quality materials and should last for many years of severe winter weather.