how to choose the right protective clothing

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 build out an identified risk, the employer must by law ensure that the employee is protected from this risk. In this respect, personal protective equipment (PPE – Personal Protective Equipment), 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, one should find out which standards are relevant for the work environment being examined. The protective clothing chosen must be certified according to these standards. The right level of protection is therefore the protection that the risk, the hazard and the standard require.

Eliminate or minimise the risks

The first measure in risk management is always to try to avoid 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 towards the solution. We recommend that protective clothing is tested in the environment where it will be used, as a standard solution does not always work optimally in every individual 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 optimized.

But first and foremost, one 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 so-called multinorm clothing, which is more all-round in its function. 

Specifically adapted protective clothing is developed to provide optimal protection against the hazards that may arise in a particular work environment and to minimize the risk of injury or exposure.

In addition, this type of protective clothing has an ergonomic design that ensures good fit and functionality based on the requirements of the work task. By eliminating excess material and unnecessary features, better 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 and evaluate different garments in the environment where they will be used. In this way, it becomes easier to find protective clothing that works in practice, both in terms of protection level, fit and working comfort.

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 instead of providing protection. For a safe and secure workplace, it is therefore of utmost importance that all employees have access to protective clothing that fits their body measurements.

Protective clothing for everyone 

Good fit is a matter of equality, comfort and safety. When you choose protective clothing, it is therefore crucial that there are options that 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 many 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 possibility 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.

Read more about how we work with custom made protection

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 heat.

The air gaps that form between the garments have low thermal conductivity and low electrical conductivity. These properties provide effective insulation against 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 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

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. When the garments last a long time and can also be repaired, 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 constructions 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 employees’ safety and well-being, which can strengthen the sense of togetherness in the workplace.