30 October 2020
Protective coveralls are intended to protect against contamination from hazards in your working environment, ranging from liquid and solid chemicals, oils, non-toxic liquids, airborne substances, dusts and fibres. In some working environments, such as laboratories and crime scenes, protective clothing is required to stop human contamination (i.e. hairs, shedding skin and clothing fibres) of the area. However, just wearing the garment is no guarantee of protection and several factors need to be taken into consideration to ensure that the suit you choose will be providing the necessary level of protection. Selecting the garment When you select protective garments, the key issues to be taken into account are: • Barrier protection (penetration and permeation) • Resistance (garment robustness) • Quality (of the garment material, zipper, seams, comfort, size and fit) • Convenience (garments should be user friendly) • Environmental compatibility (disposal should be safe and cost-effective) • Cost (although it is not recommended to make a decision based solely on price) • Tests and utilisation (once a garment has been analysed and it meets the necessary requirements, an in-use test under real working conditions should be performed) It is important that you choose a coverall that not only offers the correct protection but also fits the person properly. Choosing the correct size is a prerequisite not just for greater safety but also for greater comfort.