As the need for blue collar workers in this country increases, so does the need for more companies that manufacture high visibility clothing. From basic work shirts with reflective stripes to reflective safety hoodies, a growing number of safety clothing suppliers are offering their services. In the area of road construction alone, for example, there are projects across the nation that are either in process or in the planning stages. Every one of these projects, in turn, relies on an entire crew of workers. All who must be wearing work shirts with reflective stripes, as well as other items that keep them safe.
As these projects kick into high gear during the summer and fall months, the reality is that many of the workers are actually very new to their jobs. These new workers, statistics show, are often less safe because of their inexperience, facilitating an even greater need for the proper safety attire to increase their visibility. For example, new employees in their first month at work has more than three times the risk for a lost-time injury than others, according to the Institute for Work and Health in Canada.
Consider some of these other facts and figures about the safety industry and the many ways that it can help workers do they job that is required of them and remain safe at the same time:
- Although the average person may walk 10,000 steps a day, a laborer or a construction worker may walk more than 30,000, facilitating the need for sturdy work shoes.
- An average of $70 is spent per employee on foot protection per year.
- 4,836 workers were killed on the job in 2015. This number amounts to 13 deaths every day.
- 33% of nonfatal work injuries in the year that 2013 that required time away were suffered by employees who had less than one year of service.
- 16 to 19 year olds missed four days of work on average after a work injury in the year 2014.
- Workers 65 and older experienced 94.2 injuries per 10,000 full-time employees, less than any age group in 2014, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Staying safe at work is a challenge for many blue collar workers. As the nation requires more workers to complete the infrastructure tasks that are needed, it should come as no surprise that there will also be a growing need for more safety apparel.