Types of Preventive Clothing and Their Uses or Applications Part-5

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Industrial Work wear:
A type of garment that is used by the blue-collar workers during carrying out their duties on the work floor, these garments are easy to wear, provide breathing space for the body to face hot temperatures and provides protection against sharp and edgy things or equipments. Usually produced or bought by a manufacturing firm in bulk for all of the blue-collar working class.

Figure 35: “Blue colored Industrial Work Wear is a one-piece garment”

Figure 36: “Two different variations in an Industrial Work wear”

Lifejacket (Personal Flotation Device):
A Personal Flotation Device (abbreviated as PFD; also referred to as a lifejacket, life preserver, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, buoyancy aid or flotation suit) is piece of equipment designed to assist a wearer, who may be either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat.

PFDs are available in different sizes to accommodate variances in body weight. Designs differ depending on wearing convenience and level of protection. Flotation devices are also found in near water-edges and at swimming pools. They may take the form of a simple vest, a jacket, a full-body suit (one piece coverall), or their variations suited for particular purposes. They are most commonly made of a tough synthetic fiber material encapsulating a source of buoyancy, such as foam or a chamber of air, and are often brightly colored yellow or orange to maximize visibility for rescuers. Some devices consist of a combination of both buoyancy foam and an air chamber.

Retro-reflective “SOLAS” tape is often sewn to the fabric used to construct lifejackets and PFDs to facilitate a person being spotted in darkness when a search light is shone towards the wearer. In the US, federal regulations require all persons under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket (PFD) when in a watercraft under 12 meters long. State regulations may raise or lower this number and must be followed when in that state’s jurisdiction.

Figure 37: “A man wearing a life vest, with another life vest hanging on a hook at lower left”

Figure 38: “The person on the right is wearing an air chamber lifejacket”

Motorcycle Personal Protective Clothing:
To improve motorcycle safety many countries mandate the wearing of personal protective equipment such as protective clothing and helmets. Protective clothing may include certain types of jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of specialized nylon fabrics like cordura, leather, or Kevlar. These jackets typically include heavy padding on the elbow, spine, and shoulder regions. Gloves are generally made of leather or Kevlar and some include carbon fiber knuckle protection.

An alternative to leather is clothing constructed of man-made textiles. These can offer improved weather protection from heat, cold, and water, and the increased utility these garments tend to provide in terms of pockets and vents. Common materials include high density (600–1000 Denier) ballistic nylon (e.g., Cordura) and Kevlar, or blends of Kevlar, Cordura, and Lycra; and often include waterproof liners made from materials such as Gore-Tex. In both CE marked (meets European Standards) and non-protective garments, localised protection may be provided by armour and airbag systems.

Not all textile clothing is made from synthetic materials. Heavy weight waxed cotton was used for many years before the development of modern materials, typified by the jackets made by companies such as Belstaff.

Figure 39: “Racing glove (rear)”

Figure 40: “Racing glove (palm)”

Figure 41: “A motorcyclist wearing helmet, gloves, boots and leathers slides along a racetrack after crashing”

Figure 42: “A rider and passenger wearing racing leathers”

Figure 43: “Armoured textile jackets: Cordura left and fully ventilated right”

NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) Suit:
An NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) suit is a type of military personal protective equipment designed to provide protection against direct contact with and contamination by radioactive, biological or chemical substances, and provides protection from contamination with radioactive materials and some types of radiation, depending on the design. It is generally designed to be worn for extended periods to allow the wearer to fight (or generally function) while under threat of or under actual nuclear, biological, or chemical attack. The civilian equivalent is the Hazmat suit. The term NBC has been replaced by CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear), with the addition of a new threat, radiological, meaning radiological weapon. Sometimes they are called chemsuits or chem suits or chemical suits. NBC stands for nuclear, biological, and chemical. It is a term used in the armed forces and in health and safety, mostly in the context of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) clean-up in overseas conflict or protection of emergency services during the response to a terrorist attack, though there are civilian and common-use applications (such as recovery and clean up efforts after industrial accidents). In military operations, NBC suits are intended to be quickly donned over a soldier’s uniform and can continuously protect the user for up to several days. Most are made of impermeable material such as rubber, but some incorporate a filter, allowing air, sweat and condensation to slowly pass through. An example of this is the Canadian military NBC suit.

Figure 44: “Two Canadian soldiers wearing NBC suits”

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