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- LATEX vs. NITRILE COATED: WHICH IS THE RIGHT GLOVE?
- WHAT KIND OF WORK GLOVES ARE RIGHT FOR MY JOB?
- HAND PROTECTION THAT KEEPS PRODUCTIVITY HIGH
- THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF HAND PROTECTION
- VITACOMFORT: A NEW LEVEL OF COMFORT & SAFETY
- WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A WINTER WORK COAT
- WHY IS SYNTHETIC INSULATION BETTER?
- AIRBLAZE INSULATION DELIVERS MORE WARMTH WITH LESS WEIGHT
- WARMPLUS GRAPHENE LINING MAKES WARMER WORK GEAR
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- CHALLENGES OF WORKING IN LOW-TEMPERATURE INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
- PROTECTING PERISHABLES IN FOODSERVICE DISTRIBUTION
- TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNDER FSMA
- BEST HIGH-VISIBILITY JACKETS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
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- QUALITY WON'T BE COMPROMISED
- WHY IRON-TUFF IS THE MOST ICONIC COLD WEATHER CLOTHING
- WHY ALL WORKERS NEED HIGH-VISIBILITY WORKWEAR
- HOW TO SAFE IN LOW VISIBILITY & HIGH TRAFFIC CONDITIONS
- THE REAL COST OF HIGH EMPLOYEE TURNOVER
- HOW DOES PPE AFFECT YOUR BOTTOM LINE?
- MEDICAL COSTS OF PREVENTABLE INJURIES
- Use & Care
UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF WORKING IN LOW-TEMPERATURE INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
How RefrigiWear Can Help You Protect Your People
Modern technology has done a lot to prevent perishable items from going bad too quickly. Refrigeration and freezing mean food, medicine, flowers and more all last longer and can be more widely available. But the conditions created to store and transport these items, while great for the products, are not ideal working conditions for the dedicated employees who handle them.
Indoor temperature-controlled environments present unique challenges that go beyond the low temperatures. It's vitally important to get the best insulated workwear and PPE for your people so they can stay safe and productive in the cold.
Protection from the cold seems pretty cut and dry – a coat, some gloves, work boots, maybe a hat and done! But in a work environment, especially a constantly cold one, there are more considerations than just the air temperature when choosing protection. From standard workplace injury concerns to the effects of cold on equipment used, a number of factors need to be considered to choose the best protection for your employees.
Footwear is the Foundation
The foundation for safety starts at the feet and builds up, for both general safety and cold protection. Why the feet? Slips, trips and falls are the cause of most workplace injuries. Proper footwear helps prevent these injuries by reducing the chance of slipping in hazardous conditions.
Proper footwear also provides cushioning and support for the feet and legs, reducing the likelihood of feet, leg or lower back injuries. When you are on your feet all day, the proper support is vital.
But you also have to consider the unique floor condition of your temperature-controlled environment. Most box-store work boots are not designed to handle the cold transfer that occurs from frozen warehouse floors. Choose boots with soles specially designed not to crack or break down due to the cold. After all, if your feet are cold, it’s hard to concentrate on your work and safety.
Gloves Help You Beat the Cold
Cold transfer doesn’t just happen on the ground. Employees also have to worry about cold transfer from everything they touch.
Insulated gloves provide protection against the cold in the air and against cold transfer. It isn’t just insulation you want though – hand injuries can be costly. Make sure you protect against the hazards of the job with gloves that provide features like impact protection or cut resistance. Also consider glove liners for cold conditions as they can turn a regular pair of gloves into insulated gloves for low cost.
Sometimes, insulated gloves make using keypads or touchscreens difficult, but you don’t want employees removing their protective handwear. Solutions like the Touch-Rite and Key-Rite Nibs allow your employees to maintain accurate data entry without loss of protection.
Choose Each Layer Wisely for Maximum Protection and Versatility
When it comes to protecting the body, base layers are the foundation of warmth. Start with the right base layer then layer up with mid and outer layers that fit your temperature zone and activity level.
Remember that cold in the indoors can be constant, but your activity levels will change. So, if you are moving around a lot, you will not need as much insulation or as many layers.
Choosing the right coat, vest or insulated sweatshirt is paramount for overall warmth. This is because keeping your core warm (the torso where many vital organs reside) will promote proper blood flow to other parts of the body – a key goal of keeping warm. From pants and bibs to sweatshirts, fleece, and -60°F rated jackets, the right combination exists to stay warm no matter the conditions and job duties.
Don’t Forget Headwear
While it isn’t true that heat only escapes from the head, it certainly will be a factor if you forget the proper headwear.
Keep the head and vulnerable areas like the ears and nose protected from frostbite or other cold-related injuries with gear like knit caps, neck gaiters, or full face masks and balaclavas. If every part of your body is properly protected, you can focus on work, staying safe and getting the job done.
Fully Protected Workers are Safer and More Productive
Now your employees are protected against the unique conditions of your workplace. Great! Having the proper protection means better performance, because valuable energy isn’t spent by the body trying to warm up or prevent injury (just be sure not to overdress, as that can hurt productivity as well).
Temperature-controlled indoor workplaces are unlike any other. Addressing your unique challenges with flexible workwear and innovative features like Performance-Flex improves the safety and performance of your workforce. For more advice on selecting the right insulated workwear and PPE for your refrigerated environment, please contact RefrigiWear customer service.