Almost any physical work requires the use of appropriate work clothing, which not only protects the worker's private clothing from dirt and damage, but also, most importantly, protects his body from various mechanical damage and harmful external factors. When working in a warehouse, the biggest threat to the health and safety of workers are falling objects and forklifts moving through the warehouse. The first line of defense here, therefore, will be both gloves to prevent parcels from slipping from the hands and shoes to protect the feet in case of collision with heavy objects. What else should be included in the basic equipment of a warehouse worker's closet?
Workwear for a warehouse worker
Every warehouse worker comes into contact with parcels and items of various sizes, which must be transported from point A to point B without damaging the goods. Although a lot of the power work is done by forklifts in this regard, the workers themselves have to put their own muscle power into the work at some stage, which automatically poses a certain degree of risk to their health. Leaving aside, of course, the principles of occupational health and safety and safe work on the job, a huge role in protecting the health of workers here is played by appropriate clothing, through which they are protected from various types of accidents at work.
The work clothing of a warehouse worker should take into account protection against the dust and dirt present in this type of facility, and often also the cold microclimate. For this reason, the basic elements of a warehouse worker's clothing should include not only shoes and gloves, but also appropriate sweatshirts, pants or work overalls that will protect his body from dirt and unfavorable room temperatures. Clothing chosen for a warehouse worker should not restrain his movements or restrict in any way the motor skills required to perform tasks properly. Shoes chosen for a warehouse worker should have a non-slip sole, be laced and reach to the ankle, protecting it from dislocation. It's also a good idea for them to have reinforced insoles to protect the toes from objects falling on them.
If the work takes place in low temperatures or the warehouseman has to go outside during his working day, his closet should be adapted to such situations - the warehouseman should have at his disposal an insulated jacket, a cap and shoes protecting his feet from negative temperatures, and in summer from sweating.
What clothing for warehouse work should you choose?
- Classic work overalls with a collar, numerous pockets and a properly shaped cut that allows full freedom of movement of the worker are one of the most common choices among clothing for warehouse work. Comfortable overalls made of reinforced cotton allow the body to breathe freely, they do not pinch, but at the same time guarantee sufficient body protection while performing typical warehouse work. Among the features worth paying attention to when choosing them, we should certainly mention reinforced seams and the already mentioned pockets, thanks to which the warehouseman can have at hand all the tools and accessories he needs, such as scissors, knives, screwdrivers or keys.
- The choice of suitable shoes for warehouse work is usually based on the microclimatic conditions prevailing in the facility. In the case of warm climates, the ideal solution will be ankle-length half-shoes, guaranteeing free breathing of the foot and at the same time protecting it from slipping and falling objects. An alternative for warehouse workers in cold microclimates, requiring greater ankle stability or forced to go outside during work will be typical ankle-length boots, which are also successful in winter.
- Some warehouse work, in which goods are stored at considerable heights and moved by cranes or high reach trucks, may require the use of appropriate head protection. In such working conditions, lightweight helmets that look like a traditional baseball cap will work well, and while they will provide sufficient protection for the head in the event of an impact, at the same time they will not cause discomfort while working.
- Gloves used in warehouses are primarily used to secure the grip of the goods carried by workers, so most models proposed for this type of work have special spotting to prevent packages from slipping. The best choice in this case will be cotton gloves, the elasticity of which will not limit in any way the ability to move fingers and hands, while allowing the skin to breathe freely and not cause additional sweating of the hands.
Warehouse work usually requires only light protection for workers' bodies, so there is no need for specialized protective clothing - work clothes will work just as well here, guaranteeing an adequate level of protection against damage and dirt. For this reason, in many lower-risk warehouses, employers allow workers to use their own comfortable work clothes, guaranteeing appropriate footwear plus a lightweight protective apron as part of the protection.
