Where people are working with machinery, it is crucial that they do not wear any clothing that is loose or has loose parts that could catch in equipment. For example, a tie could get caught in machinery, so anyone operating machinery should have appropriate clothing. Similarly, clothes that are too baggy can get caught in equipment and poor choice of footwear can also cause accidents through slipping or tripping.
Assessing risks and hazards
Some workplaces have a higher level of risk than others, so employers should perform a risk assessment to determine what PPE should be provided and whether certain protective clothing should be provided to employees. There are other considerations to take into account such as the practicality of wearing types of clothing. As an example, someone working in a kitchen will often be working with flames but fire-retardant coveralls would not be appropriate for the type of work they do. People working in areas that require good levels of hygiene will also need to choose workwear with the most hygienic fabric.
