Page 45 - OHS, September 2020

Many vests are uncomfortable to wear with fall protection or lack harness holes, leading users to resort to ripping their vests to pass- through a harness in order to stay compliant while operating in a lift. As fall protection continues to be an ever-present concern on jobsites everywhere, vests with reinforced pass-through harness holes are incredibly important.
Comfort No Matter the Conditions. The topic of heat stress has begun to proliferate as a major concern on construction sites across the nation. According to a recent study, construction workers are at an elevated risk of heat stress due to the strenuous nature of the work, high temperature work conditions and changing climate.1 Additionally, the risk of heat-related illnesses is increased by the fact that little to no regulations are present or enforced to protect construction workers.
Recognizing the threat of illness or even death from exposure to heat, OSHA has provided some guidance to decrease risk factors and help prevent heat illness. Among the many tips is for workers to consider protective clothing that provides cooling features. This makes it only reasonable to search for vests that provide better breathability for wearers such as mesh backs and wider neck openings. Other options are vests with evaporative cooling properties and fabric treatments such as moisture wicking and quick-drying that help keep users cooler even when layered with a safety vest.
However, while a safety vest is often the first garment considered, companies may also consider garments that are worn underneath these vests, such as base layers and mid layers. Some
recent workwear designs have started to reflect the same type of cooling fabric technology found in sportswear. By mapping the general ‘heatmap’ of the body, this new type of construction workwear is designed with key features inspired by sportswear and adapted to construction site needs, including:
■ Fast drying sweat zones in the most common sweat areas to allow for more breathability.
■ Lighter weight fabric of less than 180 grams per square meter (GSM).
■ UPF 50+ sun protection and polyester material. Polyester absorbs less UV rays compared to natural materials such as cotton and rayon.
PPE is not a one-size-fits all factor of worker protection, and the more uncomfortable and dysfunctional the PPE, the less likely the worker is to wear it. When making PPE decisions for your workers in construction, seriously consider worker, the environment and the risks present. The power of a good, high-visibility vest might surprise you.
Zachary Richman is the Senior Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool. REFERENCES
1. Acharya, P.; Boggess, B.; Zhang, K. Assessing Heat Stress and Health among Construction Workers in a Changing Climate: A Review. Int. J. Envi- ron. Res. Public Health 2018, 15, 247.
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