Wear and Tear are not the only things that cause industrial safety workwear to degrade. Other elements include sweat, dirt, sunlight and washing can contribute to the lifespan of your workwear. Regardless of how well you take care of your safety clothing, you most definitely have to replace it after a while. This post takes a look at the signs that tell you that you need to replace your safety clothing.
Visibly Thin Fabric
The first sign of worn-out clothing is visibly thin material. This happens in the areas that are regularly used. If you notice that sections of your industrial clothing are noticeably thinner or even see-through, now is the best time to replace them. Thin fabric means the clothing is no longer offering the level of protection it is supposed to. Holding a fabric up at a light source helps perform a light test, which lets you know that your safety clothing may need to be replaced.
Frayed Fabric and Holes
If you notice holes and frayed fabric on your industrial coveralls, you should highly consider replacing them right away. Even if other areas are intact, you need to change the workwear immediately. This is for the simple fact that frayed fabric and holes may expose you to danger. For example, if a welder’s clothing has holes, sparks can get through the holes and cause severe injuries.
Discoloration
The discoloration or fading is often a sign you need to replace your safety clothing. This is more so when it comes to high visibility clothing. Discoloration and fading could have an effect on how the reflectivity of the protective clothing will preform on the reflection of light. When most safety workwear starts to turn white or a lighter color, it means the core fabric has been potentially compromised.
By the time the core is exposed, the yarn has already been worn away, and the clothing has thinned out.
The smallest compromise may potentially weaken the structural integrity of your clothing and leave you exposed and putting you at risk.
Launder The Safety Clothing Properly
Your safety clothing will definitely get dirty and, at times, may start to smell. How you launder your clothing will affect its longevity. Cleaning the clothing incorrectly has been found to reduce the effectiveness of safety clothing. It is good to consult the clothing care labels that are placed on the clothing by their manufacturer. These labels will help and guide you on how best to care for your safety clothing.
Don’t Use The Clothing As a Tool
Just because you have fire-resistant clothing, doesn’t mean you use it to put out fires. Using protective clothing for the wrong reasons is the number one reason why most clothes get worn out prematurely.
There is no piece of equipment that lasts forever. That is why you always have to keep an eye on your industrial workwear to ensure they are in good condition and offering the protection you need. Investing in high-quality clothing and using them in the right way is the best way to increase the lifespan of your protective clothing. Don’t try and save money by buying cheap clothing, stick to proven, high-quality clothing that can be purchased from Northern Workwear.
Respect your safety clothing
There is no piece of equipment that lasts forever. That is why you always have to keep an eye on your industrial workwear to ensure they are in good condition and offering the protection you need. Investing in high-quality clothing and using them in the right way is the best way to increase the lifespan of your safety clothing. Stick to proven, high-quality clothing that can be purchased from Northern Workwear.