While it’s not super common, some positions in the industrial field can lead to workers getting their clothes soaking wet, whether by accident or just a part of the job. While this is more of an inconvenience than a problem, certain scenarios can turn it into one. That’s what we’re here to cover today in our list of injuries that can result from wet work clothes.
Hypothermia
Let’s start with the most common one: hypothermia. Usually, this illness only occurs in freezing cold temperatures, but it could happen at any time. The process of hypothermia is simply when your body is losing heat more than it’s producing it. That’s why people who are soaking wet are more likely to get it. Their drenched clothes drop their internal body heat to a lower point than usual, so even if there’s only a slight nip in the air, that could be enough to catch it.
If you do ever get soaking wet and it’s not hot out, then you’ll want to find a way to dry off or switch clothes before the hypothermia has a chance to set in.
Dermatitis
This next entry is more likely for workers who are constantly wet at work. Human skin is not meant to be wet for long periods of time. If it is, the water can eventually seep into the deeper levels and slowly destroy its protective layers. This is what ultimately leads to dermatitis.
Since this isn’t an instant process, it’s easy enough to avoid. Simply don’t take jobs that have you getting wet for more than two hours a day, and don’t wash your hands more than 20 times per shift.
Slip-and-Falls
Injuries that involve someone slipping and falling over are one of the most common types in the workplace. However, we do want to note that they rarely come from soaking wet clothes, but it’s still a possibility to be aware of. Wet clothes will eventually start dripping, and if you stand in the same place for long enough, a puddle will form. If you’re not careful, you or somebody else could walk into it and slip, causing all kinds of possible injuries.
Like with hypothermia, you’ll want to make sure you get dry as soon as possible, but you should check places that you’ve been to ensure that you didn’t leave any messes behind.
Getting Burned
While our final injury that can result from wet work clothes isn’t caused directly by them, people who have gotten wet are more likely to get burned than you would think. Even though wet garments are less likely to catch on fire than dry ones, they still can. However, the decreased chance of risk gives people a false sense of security, leading to them being less careful around fire sources.
Other than being more vigilant when soaking wet, one thing you can do if you’re constantly getting soaked while working around fire is to invest in some fire-resistant rain gear. The jackets and overalls we have in stock will keep you dry while also protecting you from getting burned by intense flames.