A downside to working outdoors is that you have to be prepared to work rain or shine and with winter upon us this can sometimes be a challenge. During the winter months, workers have to endure colder, wetter and windier days. In addition to health risks that are caused by exposure to cold weather, there are other issues that winter weather presents in the outdoor workplace. Extreme cold can decrease efficiency and increase the likelihood of work-related accidents and injuries. This is because your brain and body are both slowed by the cold.
Since protecting yourself in the cold is important for multiple reasons, it’s important to think about the best ways to do that. Safe Work Australia refers to wearing personal protective clothing (PPC) as a crucial step in fighting the elements. However, wearing the personal protective clothing is the easy part. The hard part is deciding which type of protective clothing will provide the greatest barrier against rain, wind and the cold.
In order to select the right clothing, it is important to consider the specific conditions you will be exposed to (temperature, wind, wetness) and the tasks you must accomplish (do you need to grip or have free movement?). It is also important to consider the hazards of your job and make sure that the clothing is not too loose.
Elliotts Z50 FRAS Wet Weather Jacket has been developed to address specific flame retardant anti-static (FRAS) needs and hazards for all Australasian conditions. This is because it is a “4 in 1” FRAS Jacket which means it has four components that can be pulled apart to suit any environment. Essentially, the jacket has four layers:
- Complete Jacket;
- Outer Shell Jacket acts as a rain coat;
- Inner Jacket protects you from the cold; and
- Vest that keeps your body warm and your arms cool.
The Zetel ZX FRAS material ensures that the jacket is breathable, waterproof, windproof, flame retardant and anti-static. This is particularly important in our unpredictable weather where a sunny morning can turn into a stormy afternoon in a matter of seconds especially in Victoria! An added benefit to using this kind of material is that is conforms to AS/NZS 1906:4:2010 Retro-reflective Material and Devices for Road Traffic Control Purposes and are certified to AS/NZS 4602:1999 High Visibility Safety Garments.
The bat-wing design and sleeve construction allows for maximum movement that is when the arms go up, the jacket stays down. The Z50 FRAS Wet Weather Jacket also features the following:
- a zip closure with Velcro storm flap
- a draw cord waist for close fit
- two large external gusseted hand warmer/gear pockets
- two front chest zip pockets for mobile phones or radios
- ribbing storm cuffs with Velcro closure tabs to keep out water and cold.
The Z50 FRAS Wet Weather Jacket is available in orange navy, yellow navy and all orange and all jackets have hi-vis reflective tape. This is beneficial as it means they are suitable for any worksite requiring antistatic clothing.
Whether you like it or not, winter has arrived and it is important that you are prepared for the colder, wetter and windier months. Remember, wearing weather resistance clothing is the easy part. The hard part is deciding which type of protective clothing will provide the greatest barrier against rain, wind and the cold. So make sure you are ready this winter.
For more information about the Z50 FRAS Wet Weather Jacket please visit our website www.elliotts.net or contact our sales staff on 07 3265 2994.
Add Comment