Article - Protective Clothing For The Summer Heat | XCO Group

01 Oct 2019

3 Protective Clothing Tips to Beat the Scorching African Summer Heat

 

Although South Africa’s winter weather brings tricky outdoor working conditions, the summer  brings with it its own unique set of challenges. Hot and humid summer conditions can present several Occupational Health and Safety hazards, including exposure to potentially cancer-causing UV radiation, dehydration, and heat stress.

  

The summer – and the scorching hot weather it brings – makes it hard to keep cool, especially when you work in an industry like construction that requires you to wear protective clothing while working outside in the heat. Overheating can cause the body to go into shock and experience heat stress and heat stroke, which is why working hours must be adapted and altered to minimise sun and heat exposure. There should also be frequent rest periods in a cool, shaded space with clean water, and employers should encourage workers to remove their PPE when resting. Apart from keeping workers cool and hydrated, beat the summer heat with these three protective clothing tips:

 

1.      Wear Breathable, UV Resistant Long-Sleeved Shirts and Pants

 

This may seem impractical, but long sleeves will protect you from sunburn, especially if the material is UV-resistant. Also, as a bonus, it will keep workers safe from insect stings and bites. Long trousers will also protect from stings, cuts, and grazes, and provide sun protection. However, if you cannot handle the heat, wear sunscreen and insect repellent.

 

2.      Wear Light-Coloured Reflective Clothing

 

Dress your workers in light-coloured clothing, as this reflects the sun’s rays better than dark clothing. Invest in moisture-wicking and UV-resistant properties, as well as reflective stripes on high visibility clothing if you can. Reflective clothing works well to deflect UV and heat, but they are often poorly ventilated, which is why workers should wear them as loosely as possible.

 

3.      Headgear and Skin Protection

 

Although the body does most of the work, it is the brain that gets the body going. That said, when the sun beats down, the focus should be on anti-fogging goggles, cooling bandanas, sweatbands, neck shades, sweat liners, and further sun protection on the face and neck. If your workers need to wear a hardhat, make sure it has vents for circulation, and ensure that the neck is covered with a loose, UV-resistant cloth to reduce the risk of burns. Workers are also required to apply sun cream on their neck and ears every two to three hours, and eyes should also be protected with tinted safety glasses.

 

These tips will ensure that your workers remain protected throughout the summer months. But, if you are looking for one of the leading PPE suppliers in South Africa that can provide a wide range of quality protective clothing for summer, then turn to XCO Group.

 

We Deliver Affordable, Quality Protective Clothing Throughout South Africa

 

The South African Occupational Health and Safety Act states that employers must protect their workers from worksite injury or death, and it also states that employers must provide protective clothing at their expense. As one of the leading sports, corporate, and protective clothing suppliers in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, you can trust XCO Group to produce and deliver quality protective clothing at affordable prices.