Rank: Forum user 
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Where an employer provides protective clothing such as hi viz trousers and jackets do they also have to provide laundry facilities or can this responsibility be passed on to the employee to wash the clothing at home?
If it can be passed on what about the risk of taking home clothing covered in harmful chemicals ?
Thanks in advance
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Rank: Super forum user 
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and mesatholemia was identified in the wives of asbestos workers because...
If the job requires PPE particularly for contaminants then yes some form of laundry arrangement is required either on site or via an exchange service.
Don't forget that in contaminated environments each worker should have a clean and dirty locker not switch clothes in the same locker
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Rank: Super forum user
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and mesatholemia was identified in the wives of asbestos workers because...
If the job requires PPE particularly for contaminants then yes some form of laundry arrangement is required either on site or via an exchange service.
Don't forget that in contaminated environments each worker should have a clean and dirty locker not switch clothes in the same locker
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Rank: Super forum user
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My recommendation would be to use a professional industrial laundering service. They have the expertise and equipment to properly, and safely. launder the clothing. If you are going to do this in house then you will need to invest in such equipment. The normal domestic washing maching may not remove sufficient chemical contamination for safety. Another reason why letting workers take contaminated clothing home should not be considered.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user
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The employee can actually claim back tax if they wash their uniforms so if they are not contaminated it is something to bear in mind to support them as so many items of PPE will be worn to and from a job thinking about the construction workers I see on the trains
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Rank: Super forum user
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Yes what considerate employers construction workers have allowing the general public to share the dust and detritous of a construction site on public transport.
off site = out of mind
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Rank: Super forum user
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Yes what considerate employers construction workers have allowing the general public to share the dust and detritous of a construction site on public transport.
off site = out of mind
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Rank: Super forum user
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Also the way it is washed might have an effect on the Hi-Viz nature of the clothing. You really need to be in control of the whole process.
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Rank: Forum user
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I've noticed that the Hi Viz jackets I buy (for my personal use) include a maximum number of wash cycles, 20 in this case, I'm guessing thats more of a manufacturers recommendation but might be worth considering.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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There is no requirement to provide laundery facilites, in the case of working with hazardous substances (asbestos is a fine example) preferencce should always be given to disposible coveralls.
The risk assessment will identify.......
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Rank: Super forum user
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For many workplaces providing single use PPE when handling hazardous chemicals would require coveralls that can provide the correct degree of protection. Using these as single-use would entail considerable cost. For many chemicals, such as when spraying pesticides, working with metal-working fluids, etc. it is possible to launder and reuse without a problem providing the laundering is done correctly.
Chris
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Washing degrades the reflective stripes and you end up with just a grey strip. Regarding the OP’s question in the title you use the word uniform and then in the post the term protective clothing. They are not one and the same thing. If it is just a uniform that can be washed at home, if protective clothing that will be contaminated then as the others have said.
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 2 users thanked chris42 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Fabric waterproof clothing will loose its waterproofing if washed with detergents.They need washing with pure soap or proprietary waterproof fabric cleaners. There is a legal requirement to maintain PPE and this does include the cleaning of it. Any reasonable employer would make suitable arrangements.
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1 user thanked John D C for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel  Also the way it is washed might have an effect on the Hi-Viz nature of the clothing. You really need to be in control of the whole process.
Washing can also affect things like fire retardance and any other surface finishes essential for the safety of the user. I would always recommend a specialist laundry company for everything other than work wear clothing provided for corporate identity rather than safety.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Originally Posted by: chris42 Washing degrades the reflective stripes and you end up with just a grey strip. Regarding the OP’s question in the title you use the word uniform and then in the post the term protective clothing. They are not one and the same thing. If it is just a uniform that can be washed at home, if protective clothing that will be contaminated then as the others have said. I understand that the offending aspect here is using biological detergents, which affect the reflective strips.
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Rank: Forum user
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Agree with Hsquared14 on this. Get a specialist contract cleaning company to provide the overalls and washing, together with clean and dirty lockers in one package. It's relatively cheap. I've just had a quote for fire-retardent (welding) with hi-viz, for 8 maintenance people, 5 sets of one-piece overalls, 2 changes per week, all laundered. For the princely sum of £51 per week on a 3 year contract. Absolute bargain. Let them do the washing; needs to be at low temperature to keep the hi-viz.
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Rank: Forum user
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This is a topic I have been looking at recently. We have around 50 employees on site who wear protective PPE which includes jackets, trousers etc. According to my understanding we need to provide a cleaning service for their PPE which we currently don't. They are expected to clean their own PPE at home.
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