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Jacket Size and Protection Guide

When purchasing a new work jacket, there are several different factors to consider. Our simple how to guide on selecting the right work jacket for the right job should help you to make the correct decision.

Sizing And Fitting

When picking a new work jacket, ensure you have the right fit. Each manufacturers’ sizing guides vary, so always make a note of your measurements. Even if you regularly wear a medium, that doesn’t mean every medium will fit.

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In order to get the perfect size for you, measure horizontally across the widest part of your chest; as illustrated by the image on the right. When doing this, ensure that you keep the tape measure totally straight across your back.

Doing this not only gives you a great fit, but will ensure that you don’t have a jacket which is either restrictive to your movement, or too loose that it could get caught on machinery.

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If you’re still unsure about your ideal size, view our sizing guide blog post.

Safety Specifications

Although most jackets provide basic protection, you’ll find there are more in depth products designed to protect against not only the elements, but also against occupational hazards.

For example – if you work on a building site, roadside or at the side of tracks then ideally products which conform to EN ISO 20471, the standard for work clothing for low light conditions. Welders and engineers would greatly benefit from EN ISO 11611 jackets, designed to protect them against molten splash, arc flash and radiant heat amongst other hazards.

For more information on EN ISO specifications, you can find out more at our EN SPEC page.

Assess your environment and weather conditions

Picking a work jacket on function alone isn’t enough to offer complete protection, especially when it comes down to the unpredictability of the elements. So it is always worth taking a look at the kind of environment you will be working in.

Looking at things such as the fabric weight of a product, the lining and the presence of padding are a good initial indicator as to what kind of environment each jacket will be perfect for.

It’s also worth looking at the particular fabric of a jacket, as products which are waterproof for example, can come in lightweight styles, although thermally they can be ineffective – so even though they’re lightweight in appearance you may end up sweating in them.

Selecting the right jacket for the right environment

So how do you know what sort of jacket is perfect for your job role? As previously mentioned there are many factors to this. Below you will find the best types of jacket for each season.

Spring

We’ve not quite hit summer yet, and on the tail end of the winter you might find the weather swings from one extreme to the next. Something to wear which will offer you warmth and protection from the wind, but keep you cool when conditions are optimal is the preferred choice.

Our picks:

Cofra
Sweden
Softshell

Cofra
Malaga
Hi-Vis Softshell

Fristads
4500 SSM
Softshell

Helly Hansen
Chelsea
Softshell

*Click the images to view the products

Summer

For the warmer months, a jacket may not even be necessary in the daytime, but later in the afternoons and the evenings you may want something which offers some limited protection from the weather – lightweight and breathable.

Our picks:

Fristads
A CODE
Reflective Jacket

Blaklader
3160
Waistcoat

Dassy
Avila
Summer Body Warmer

Castle
Wroxham
Bodywarmer

*Click the images to view the products

Autumn

Autumn can be a wet, dreary time of the year, so the focus here should be on buying something which gives you adequate cover against rain.

Our picks:

Regatta
Repeller
Softshell Jacket

Snickers
Softshell
Hooded Jacket

Portwest
Classic
Rain Jacket

Snickers
Xtr
Gore-Tex Jacket

*Click the images to view the products

Winter

Winter styles lend themselves to keeping you warm when the temperature plummets, whether this is outdoors braving the elements themselves or inside braving the cold store – you’re going to want a jacket which offers excellent thermal properties.

Our picks:

Snickers
Quilted
FR Jacket

Portwest
Aviemore
3in-1 Jacket

Blaklader
Multinorm
Winter Jacket

Fristads
4916 GTT Airtech
Winter Jacket

*Click the images to view the products

These are just a few of our personal favourites, for more excellent styles for all year round, visit our online store.

11 May 2017
Fristads Kansas CODE 1460 Windproof Reflective Jacket

Here at the Workwear Blog, we wrote a piece on the evolution of workwear: what the future holds. One of the technology advances in the article was the use EL lighting to create work clothes which illuminate in all conditions. Today we are taking a closer look at one of the products helping to bring work and leisure wear into the 21st century. From Fristads, comes this exciting new product to the A Code range – the Code 1460 Windproof Reflective Jacket.

The jacket features two zip pockets at the sides, and underarm ventilation to keep you cool whilst you work, with a collar that sports a comfy microfibre lining. The main fabric is a lightweight 75gsm polyester which will protect against both wind and rain.

So how does this reflective jacket tie into the Future of workwear?

The standout feature of this jacket is the striped details. These grey stripes are more than just style, they’re reflective 3M, weaved into the fabric. This illuminates the jacket when dark, which gives you improved visual presence on site. This is a great product for hikers and those who work in darkened, low visibility environments.

As you can see in the photo, the effect is quite dazzling!

So be safe on site – The Fristads Code 1460 Windproof Reflective Jacket is available alongside our other excellent Fristads products in our online store – pick up yours today!

9 May 2017
EN ISO 20345 Safety Footwear Buying Guide

Choosing the right pair of EN ISO 20345 safety boots or shoes can be a challenge for the first time buyer, especially with so much choice on the market – here at Mammoth we have a selection of over 400 pairs of safety footwear available!

When selecting your footwear, there are a number of factors to take into consideration. It is never wise to gamble on the level of protection you need, or what additional benefits will work – The wrong choice could prove to be a disaster; and a pair of boots is far easier to replace than a foot!

So with that in mind, we have put a number of practical tips together in the form of a comprehensive guide, to help you make an informed decision.

Safety Specifications and symbols

When looking at boots you will often see a number of cryptic abbreviations and symbols, but what do they all mean? All safety footwear is governed by an EN ISO 20345 rating, which is often broken into several classes to indicate the level of protection they provide. These will often come with a series of other characters, all of which actually tell you what benefits the particular safety footwear has.

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SYMBOLS

HRO – Contact heat resistant up to 300c.

WRU – Water resistant uppers.

HI – insulated protection from heat.

CI – insulated protection from cold.

E – energy absorbing heels.

A – Antistatic protection.

P – Penetration protection.

CR – Cut resistant uppers.

M – Metatarsal protection

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SAFETY RATINGS

SB – Basic protection with toecap.

S1 – SB + Closed heel area, energy absorbing seat, anti-static properties, resistance to fuel and oil.

S1P – S1 + Penetration resistance.

S2 – S1 + Water penetration and absorption.

S3 – S2 + Penetration resistance, cleated outsoles.

S4 – S1 + Moulded polymer/rubber uppers (wellingtons etc)

S5 – S4 + Midsole penetration resistance.

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SLIP RESISTANCE

SRA – Tested on ceramic tiles, saturated with a diluted soap solution.

SRB – Tested on steel, covered in glycerol.

SRC – Tested under SRA and SRB conditions.

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This is just a snapshot of some of the benefits that EN ISO 20345 footwear can provide, always check the symbols on each product to make sure it provides the correct safety benefits for you.

Size and Fitment

Making sure you’ve got the correct sizing is important for a comfortable fit, and the same applies more so with safety footwear, as an ill-fitted pair of boots or shoes could do more damage than good. If your chosen footwear is too small, your toes will be raised into an un-natural position, which in terms of a drop or crush hazard could still end up damaging your toes, negating the point of having toecaps in the first place.

On the other hand (or foot), if boots and shoes are too large then you may find that your toes won’t be totally covered by the toecaps, in addition to a poor fit around the ankles which could lead to injury. Some manufacturers, especially those in Europe; tend to use a different size guide for their footwear from the US and the UK.

European and US approximate sizing guide
(UK) – (EU) – (US)
(3) – (36) – (4)
(4) – (37) – (5)
(5) – (38) – (6)
(6) – (40) – (7)
(7) – (41) – (8)
(8) – (42) – (9)
(9) – (43) – (10)
(10) – (44) – (11)
(11) – (45) – (12)
(12) – (46) – (13)
(13) – (47) – (14)
(14) – (48) – (15)

Safety Hardware – Steel, Aluminium or Composite?

While browsing for new EN ISO 20345 footwear, you will often here the terms “Composite” or “non-metallic”. The term composite usually refers to the safety hardware inside the boots, being made from an alternative other than steel – usually a material such as Kevlar. All toecaps regardless of what they’re made of are put through the same rigours during the testing process, conforming them all to EN 12568 standard. All of them will provide the same 200kj impact protection, however there are subtle differences between the three:

Steel Toecaps – Heaviest of the three, also due to the conductive nature of the steel, toes can become hot/cold depending on the environment around them.

Aluminium – Lighter than steel by nearly five times, although much like steel they will conduct heat and electricity.

Composite – Lighter still than Aluminium, non-conductive material so thermal bio-climate inside the footwear remains the same, won’t set off equipment such as metal detectors and scanners – ideal for security roles and airport workers.

13 April 2017
Spring and Summer Work Clothing Guide

Spring / Summer Style guide

With winter leaving us, you can finally start to enjoy the warmer summer months, and with it you can change your work clothes style accordingly. To help you, we’ve compiled ten of the latest and greatest summer work clothing products, all available in our online store.

Lee Cooper LCTS012 Graphic T-Shirt

A classic cotton T-shirt from Lee Cooper, this comfy and stylish work tee is finished with a Lee Cooper motif, complete with Union Jack graphic.

Buy Now

Helly Hansen Aker T-Shirt

A regular fit t-shirt constructed from a 100% cotton fabric. The Aker work top comes in two colours – a regular black, and a cobalt blue with contrasting evening blue sleeves and collar.

Buy Now

Portwest Texo Contrast T-Shirt

If you’re looking for a summer work top with some functionality, the Portwest Texo T-Shirt offers a handy phone pocket on the left chest. Available in three colours, with contrasting trim features.

Buy Now

Helly Hansen Aker Work Shorts

A new addition for this year, the Helly Hansen Aker Work Shorts are a poly-cotton construction, and are loaded with plenty of practical features. In addition to the regular pockets you would expect, the Aker Work Shorts also come with compartments for rulers, and your mobile phone. The addition of an ID loop also allows you to keep your site ID on you at all times on site.

Buy Now

Lee Cooper 3/4 Length Kneepad Pirate Shorts

If your job requires a lot of kneeling, then knee pouch trousers are usually the norm. Thankfully these three quarter length pants from Lee Cooper sit nicely between kneepad trouser and work shorts, with their extended length they offer the air circulation of shorts, but can also accommodate for knee pads – a fantastic choice for the carpenters, painters and labourers out there who need the knee protection.

Buy Now

Carhartt Ripstop shorts

Carhartt have been at the heart of the work clothing trade since the early 1900’s, and it shows with the attention to detail of their excellent range of clothing. These relaxed fit ripstop shorts offer large cargo pockets, a phone pocket and a rule pocket, and are built to last – with triple stitched seams and high tenacity nylon lined front and back pockets.

Buy Now

GoodYear GYBT1533 Safety Boot

A new brand we’ve recently added to our stable of brands, GoodYear have a great range of safety footwear available. This particular model, the GYBT1533 Boot features composite safety hardware and a 100% metal-free construction. The soles have also been designed to repel oil and stop the buildup of static, with SRA slip resistance meaning you will always keep your footing.

Buy Now

Lee Cooper LCSHOE088 Safety Trainer

This lightweight work trainer from Lee Cooper has a sporty and unassuming style, but features steel toecaps and a puncture resistant midsole for maximum protection whilst you work. S1P rated, they also offer an antislip rubber outsole and feature antistatic properties.

Buy Now

Portwest FT15 Trainer

Made with a KPU and mesh upper for breathability, the Portwest FT15 Safety Trainer has protective steel toecaps and midsoles to ensure dropped tools and wayward nails won’t ruin your day. The soles are fuel and oil resistant, with antistatic and antislip properties.

Buy Now

Carhartt Buffalo Cap

Designed to keep the sun out of your eyes, this lightweight and mid-profile cap has a pre-curved visor, and mesh panels around the back for additional ventilation.

Buy Now

There are our top picks for summer work clothing – don’t forget to check out our online store for a whole range of work clothes, no matter what your profession.

Don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook for all the latest news!

17 March 2017
EN 471 and EN ISO 20471 – Know the Differences

Workwear can often be confusing, with many different standards and levels of protection – how do you know which one is right for you? Your safety is important, so keeping protected is something which should be taken as a priority above all else. One of the most commonly purchased types of product is High Visibility Clothing. There are several classes to high vis work clothing, from non-professional use, to specialist track and roadside classifications all with different levels of effectiveness. On 28th June 2013, a new standard was introduced – ENISO 20471:2013. This updated version of the EN471 standard offers quite a few differences – so let us run down some of them for you.

Sleeves

Under the EN471 standard, sleeves were allowed to be non fluorescent, this is true for many styles which have zip-off sleeve features. Under the revised EN ISO 20471 standard, all sleeves must be finished in a fluorescent fabric, with two bands of reflective tape.

Body coverage, meeting class 3

Under EN ISO 20471, Class 3 high visibility clothing must cover the body, and have full length sleeves and/or trouser legs complete with reflective striping detail. Under the old standard, bib and brace overalls could meet the class 3 standard. Under the updated EN ISO 20471 standard this is no longer the case due to their lack of sleeves.

Class 2 Bib and brace

On a bib and brace garment, the reflective tape around the waistline no longer contributes to the calculations which grant a product class 2 status for high visibility work clothing. To combat this, the reflective tape around the legs is widened from 50mm to 60mm in order for a Bib and brace to keep its class 2 standard.

Retroreflective material requirements

EN 471 Level 1 separate performance material requirements have been removed.

The minimum performance requirements for separate performance material is essentially the same as the former EN 471 requirement for level 2 reflective materials. In the assessment of the retroreflective performance of materials, the method requires the tape to be tested on the poorest performing segment.

The retroreflective tape is tested once it has been subjected to the stated maximum number of washing and drying cycles, as stated by the manufacturer. This differs from the final dry on EN 471 testing. Now the manufacturers can specify the washing process and temperature for testing – but this information must be reflected on the label of the product.

Marking

Initially under the EN 471 standard, garments were marked with a value of X and Y where X would be risk assessment and Y would be the quality of the reflective tape. This has been done away with on the newer EN ISO 20471 products, instead showing a single number on the pictogram, which details the level of protection only.

Labels must also have an indication of the products maximum number of cleaning cycles before the safety features are impacted, but only in the event that this information is disclosed in the product information itself. This maximum number relates specifically to the high visibility material under the lowest level of cleaning performance as per the testing carried out on fluorescent and reflective materials.

The EN 471 standards are updated every 5 years if needed, with the first standard being written in 1994.

27 May 2016
Nine Piece PPE Kits now available!
CLICK IMAGE TO PURCHASE

Keeping you and your workforce safe is something which you should take seriously, and without the correct equipment at hand – when an accident does happen, you may not be prepared to deal with it. We always think about the safety of our workforce, and all our customers. We’ve just launched an excellent new nine piece PPE Kit which is bundled inside a high visibility rucksack – packed with the essential protection and injury care equipment you need when on site.

So whats in the bag?

Shugon High Visibility Rucksack

Designed to stow away your valuables, and offer you a heightened visual presence – this compact yet spacious work bag is finished in either orange or yellow fluorescent colours with reflective striping details, and will house all your essentials whilst you’re on the move. The bag features adjustable shoulder straps and a comfy handle at the top for great portability. The main compartment offers plenty of room, but can easily be expanded on if need be with the handy exterior panel zip, which spreads the back out for even more room. There are two additional zipped compartments for housing smaller items, in addition to a handy interior pouch, which will accommodate a media player or mobile phone, with an audio port in the roof of the bag allowing you to listen to your favourite music on the move, whilst keeping your precious electronics safe.

The bag comes unbranded, but on request can be adorned with your own company logo.

ProForce PPE Safety Glasses

Your eyes are pretty important. So making sure they stay protected from hazards is a given. This great pair of Safety Glasses from ProForce are made with a lightweight frame, with adjustable arms to ensure a secure and comfortable fit. The lenses are crafted from a durable polycarbonate, with scratch resistant coating. They conform to EN116-1F for PPE personal eye protection standards.

ProForce EP01 Ear Defenders

The sound of machinery and ambient site noise can be distracting, and actually rather dangerous for your ears if you are exposed to prolonged high levels of noise. Keep your ears protected from damage with this pair of ProForce EP01 Ear Defenders. CE Approved to EN352-1, their lightweight and robust design is perfect for the active site or roadside worker. The contoured headband hold them in place, with the large domed cuffs effectively drowning out sounds, with soft, foam filled cups for maximum comfort.

Portwest P209 FFP2 Valved Mask (Triple Pack)

Suitable for protection against fumes and water based mists, in addition to fine toxic dust and contaminants up to 10 times the WEL, the Portwest P209 FFP2 Valved Blister Pack is a triple pack of handy dust masks. Their comfort cup shape creates a comfortable seal around the face, with an exhalation valve and adjustable nose clip. Elasticated straps secure the masks in place, and they are fully CE certified and adhere to EN 149:2001 plus A1:2009.

Warrior Nylon Coated Hyflex Gloves

These Hurricane Nylon Coated Hyflex Gloves are an ideal glove for fine handling of material and assembly, used for general light duty precision applications such as electrical, plumbing, inspection and assembly. Providing dexterity and comfort, these Warrior Hyflex Gloves are perfect for precise operations that require maximum levels of dexterity. They have a breathable and seamless liner, which is like a second skin. The polyurethane coating offers excellent hand protection in lightweight applications. With an EN388 level 4 abrasion resistance score, the glove provides superb performance, and in trials this product has received positive feedback from wearers; who prefer this glove to other styles of traditional gloves.

Steroplast Vehicle First Aid Kit

This is the lifesaver of your PPE Kit. This portable HSE compliant and NHS approved product comes in a portable zip bag, and can be kept either in the rucksack or stored in a vehicle close by. Inside the kit you will find the following:
- 1 x Pair of Scissors
- 1 x Med Sterile Dressing
- 1 x Eye-pad Sterile Dressing
- 1 x Non-woven Triangular Bandage
- 2 x Pairs Med Gloves
- 1 x Bag of Safety Pins
- 4 x Alcohol Free Wipes
- 20 x assorted hypo-alergenic plasters
- 1 x HSE first aid guide
Steroplast Eye Wash Pods

The eyes are susceptible to a number of work related hazards and injuries, and sometimes even a pair of glasses or goggles can let contaminants through to the surface of the eye. In the event of this, its imperative to flush out any foreign bodies before they cause any more damage. These eye was pods are a sterile topical solution, containing sodium chloride in purified water. The slim neck design makes them easy to apply, with greater accuracy.

Disposable Overshoes (100 pack)

When visiting some sites, it may be mandatory to have your feet covered with overshoes – stretched over footwear, they will keep surfaces from becoming contaminated from dirty shoes. This is especially important in places where hygiene is important – so any food processing factory would likely have site visitors wear something similar to this to protect their floors from foreign contaminants.

Class 2 Hi Vis Vest

Possibly one of the most essential pieces in any workers arsenal. A simple high vis vest, which conforms to en471 class 2. Lightweight and velcro fastened, this vest will ensure that you’re seen in low light and poor visibility.

The Nine Piece PPE Kit is priced at £36.58 inc VAT Buy Here

check out our work wear products by clicking on our logo below

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18 May 2016
Pacaya Lyviz Safety Glasses
New Product!

The DeltaPlus Pacaya Lyviz Safety Glasses are a fantastic advancement in lens technology for those who work within job roles in the oil and gas industry, automotive and decorating.

The lightweight and sturdy polycarbonate frame and nose piece features adjustable nylon arms, with a removable foam frame to protect the wearer from dust and offer shock protection in the event of impacts.

The main selling point of the DeltaPlus Pacaya Lyviz Safety Glasses are their excellent lenses. Infused with Lyviz technology, this gives the lenses a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating – meaning dirt, paint and water are repelled from the surface of the lens, to make them very easy to maintain and keep crystal clear. The lenses of the Pacaya Lyviz Safety Glasses also have a much higher abrasion resistance, and resist fogging.
- Wipe or wash clean lenses.
- Hydrophobic coating ensuring longer clean lenses.
- Ideal for Oil, Gas, Painting & Automotive industries.
- Polycarbonate single lens glasses.
- Integrated polycarbonate nose piece.
- Adjustable nylon arms.
- Side protection.
- Suitable for all faces with the tilting arms.
- Removable foam frame for dust & shock protection.
- UV400.
- Anti-mist.
- Anti-scratch.
- EN166 Personal eye-protection 1 FT: Oculars marking.
- EN166 Personal eye-protection FT: Frame marking.
- EN170:2002 Ultraviolet filters UV 2C-1.2: echelon.
- American: ANSI Z87.1-2003 Z87+: Impact resistance.
check out our work wear products by clicking on our logo below

You can also visit our sister site by clicking the logo below
13 May 2016