The Future of Oil & Gas Industry Workwear Is Stretchy

With more stretch fabrics entering the protective workwear market each year, an increasing number of industries are discovering the benefits to worker comfort and safety that these fabrics afford. Even in the oil and gas industry, which can be slower to change, we are seeing a gradual interest in and adoption of these new stretch products. 

We’ve previously discussed  the critical role flame resistant workwear plays in all stages of oil and gas production, so as stretch becomes even more broadly available in FR, we expect to see this industry follow suit with suiting up their employees in the advanced protection of stretch FR.

Untapped Potential for a Safety Boom

Traditionally, oil and gas companies stick to what they know when it comes to protective workwear. With the advent of stretch, however, some have dipped a toe into the new workwear tech by investing in it for the electrical utilities side of their business.

But considering the amount of movement and heavy-duty labor that workers in other sectors of the industry carry out, such as deckhands on oil rigs, it’s clear that a little stretch could go a long way toward enhancing the ability of these workers to do their jobs more comfortably, and ultimately, more safely. 

Being a deckhand is one of the hardest physical jobs out there, with lots of squatting, bending over, reaching, and lifting. Stretch fabrics along with innovative garment construction can allow for much more mobility than what’s typically available in non-stretch FR garments. Gussets, for example, can nearly double the amount of mobility a worker has in their protective workwear. 

Stretch allows garments to move with the wearer, whereas non-stretch fabrics can restrict range of motion and, at best, be a distraction, or at worst, become a liability. Workwear discomfort can cause workers to make their own “alterations” in order to cope, which unfortunately can lead to diminished protection. Rolling sleeves, untucking shirts, unbuttoning collars, or forgoing a garment altogether can all increase the risk of injury or even death in the case of an emergency. 

As the oil and gas industry incorporates more stretch in employee workwear in the future, the risk of noncompliant wear could decrease, helping to usher in a new era of worker comfort, productivity, and safety with workwear that they will actually want to wear.

Everyone Wants Stretch

In the past year of conversations with clients across industries, we’ve heard the same line over and over: “Don’t bring me anything that doesn’t have stretch in it.” It’s clear that employers everywhere are recognizing the value that stretch fabrics add in making jobs easier and lives safer, even though stretch products come with a higher upfront cost.

Thanks to additional innovations alongside stretch, in durability especially, many of these products not only offer stretch, but can outlast their traditional counterparts with increased ability to retain color and withstand the intensity of repeated industrial laundry cycles. Greater durability means less need for replacement, which can help offset the front-end cost of these newer products.

You Wouldn’t Buy a Car Without a Test Drive

The best way to know how these new products compare to your existing workwear solution is to take them for a test drive: a wear trial, that is. Wear trials are a key stage in choosing protective workwear, allowing you to get a clear picture of how your workers feel in their current garments and how a more advanced solution could increase their comfort, safety, productivity, and happiness. 

Your employees’ feedback is the best tool you have in making an informed purchasing decision. A wear trial is a great way to gather that feedback and put it into action, helping them not only be more comfortable on the job, but also feel heard and cared for in the process.

Wear trials can take time to organize and carry out, with many taking place over three to six months. That’s why it’s important to think ahead when you’re considering changing your protective workwear program. It’s never too early to start planning for how you will review your existing program and evaluate alternatives, and your contacts in the supply chain, from garment manufacturers to distributors to fabric suppliers, like TenCate Protective Fabrics, are here to be your resource throughout the process.

Get in touch

Reach out to speak to one of our FR fabric specialists to discuss where you are with your protective workwear program. We’re here to ask the questions you may not have known you needed to ask so you can build the most effective safety program for your people.