10 Clothing Tips for Working at Heights

When you have both feet on the ground, construction work is just fine. When you start building up the way, it starts to get complicated in a whole new set of ways. Ignoring health and safety laws is an absolute no-no, of course, so you need to be properly equipped. It’s not about looking good… it’s about being safe. 

Let’s cover the best tips on clothing for while you are working on high.

Clothing for Working Up High

What are our top ten tips for clothing that helps you work at height safely? Let’s take a peek…

1 – Think visibility

Think about seeing and being seen. At height means you may be up in fog or mist, the easier you are to see, the better. Go for hi vis workwear to ensure that you have this base covered.

2 – Avoid Risk

If you are going to be working in conditions where you might slip or fall, and you are at height, you need to think about how to avoid those risks. If you are able to strap yourself on to something to save you in the event of a fall, this is a bonus. Consider adding safety harnesses where possible. 

3 – Skull Safety

Falling is obviously the last thing anyone wants to do – but when working from heights it is a possibility. There is also the chance that something will fall on the workers below. Hard hats are essential and should be worn at all times.

4 – Hands Free?

What about the employee’s hands? Are they protected? Gloves should be worn when handling rough materials all day long anyway, but at height they also help provide a good grip.

5 – Appropriate Footwear

Depending on the task being performed, footwear needs to be tailored to suit. You might need spikes on your shoes to climb, crampons or the likes to hold on to what you are working on. You might need non-slip footwear, or even steel toe-capped boots. These will have the double benefit of protecting your feet should something fall from above, too.

6 – Maintenance

As well as all of this, you need to think about how you are maintaining this personal protective work gear. If you are only replacing it once every ten years, you better be testing it once every so often to ensure it is still safe. As an employer you will be held responsible if something fails… so test it often and don’t get caught out.

7 – Think Flexible

If you are not able to stretch or reach, you are more likely to fall off when working from height. This means that your clothing or work wear needs to be as flexible as you are.

8 – Durability of Work Wear

As well as flexibility, think about how durable the work wear is. Is it truly thick enough or hard wearing enough to protect you from fragile materials and falling objects? If the answer is no you need to think again.

9 – Weight Watching

If it is too heavy, your protective equipment is going to wear you down no matter where you are working. Nobody wants to carry an extra twenty or thirty pounds up and down a ladder – but even on the ground that weight will eventually wear you down. Think about the weight and its distribution for safe workers.

10 – Legality

Does your work wear of choice match government regulations on the matter? If it doesn’t you should start again. Protective gear needs to be compliant as much as it needs to be safe. Both are equally as important for a successful set of protective clothing.