Uniform Archives - Corporate Connection Ltd

Taking a look from the PPE perspective

Corporate Connection — Tue, 26 May 2015 09:32:01 +0000

Lee Taylor, Wenaas, UK, explores the importance of specially designed PPE and work wear for the increasingly extreme environments faced by the oil and gas industry.

Attitudes towards offshore health and safety have come a long way in recent years. Heightened regulatory processes along with major advances in technology have meant that offshore workers are now better equipped to deal with the increasing demands of their roles in harsher climatic environments than ever before.

Health and safety has become a huge industry in its own right, with oil and gas industry bodies funding a multitude of research and development projects to provide the latest safety resources for their workforce. Included in this is the personal protective equipment and work wear sector, which has progressed in tandem with other strands of health and safety. As the offshore workforce evolves, so does the requirement for updated PPE and work wear. This is perfectly illustrated by the recent research undertaken by a university based in Aberdeen, which has assessed the implications of a physically growing offshore workforce upon a number of health and safety measures in general – not least the efficacy of PPE and work wear. The question is – have the work force’s habits changed sufficiently to ensure the right procedures are being followed?

Wenaas is a designer and manufacturer of work wear and PPE, and understands the importance of investment in research and development to continually optimise and improve work wear and PPE. It is on the basis of this commitment to R&D – and a ‘head-to-toe safety’ ethos – that Wenaas has been involved in research projects which aim to develop superior protection work wear, fit to cope with the extreme demands that the petroleum industry supplies.

This is important, because whilst the North Sea offshore industry holds a relatively positive track record for safety, E&P activity is moving into more hazardous, remote and ultimately more dangerous areas, as the search for reserves continues. This presents increasingly challenging environments within which work wear and PPE must perform, whilst highlighting the need for the emergence of innovative solutions and education on how to use those solutions to their best advantage.

10 Tips for Keeping Roadway Workers Safer

Corporate Connection — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 16:08:12 +0000

As government transportation agencies throughout North America act to rebuild many aging highways, much of that roadwork must be performed during hours with heavy amounts of traffic. The U.S. Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are reminding roadway construction and maintenance companies of the need for heightened safety awareness to prevent needless injuries or fatalities.

UniFirst (www.unifirst.com), a provider of work uniforms and safety apparel to companies throughout the U.S. and Canada, has compiled a list of 10 important safety considerations that roadway workers should keep in mind.

Chuck Stanec, Specialty Apparel Product Manager at UniFirst, says: “A Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report shows that there were 609 fatalities in work zones in 2012. With a stronger focus on worksite safety, particularly as it applies to high visibility workwear, there’s no reason that number cannot be significantly reduced or potentially eliminated.”

Don’t trust accessories alone, such as high visibility vests, to provide worker protection. Enhanced or high visibility shirts, pants, jackets or coveralls may be needed for workers to be better identified by drivers of moving vehicles (particularly in hot climates where roadwork is generally done during nighttime hours to minimize the risk of heat exhaustion).
Follow the regulations and guidelines that affect your business as they apply to high visibility safety apparel. Adhere to the high visibility apparel compliance standards, such as ANSI/ISEA 107-2010, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), and CSA Z96.1.
Ensure your high visibility apparel works as it was designed to do. Keep it clean and well maintained.
Conduct training programs to instruct workers on how to properly use and maintain Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Incorporate the use of temporary traffic barriers at your worksite to provide workers with added physical protection from moving vehicles.

An idea to suit all

Corporate Connection — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:22:14 +0000

UNWANTED school uniforms can be swapped among struggling families in the borough as part of a new scheme.

Coun Joe Baker has set up the project to enable less-fortunate Redditch children to have uniforms and PE kits which other children no longer need.

He said: “In this time of austerity we know that the cost of living crisis is impacting upon many families within Redditch. It is good that we have a food bank system set up in place, however I also felt it was important that families with children who are struggling should also get help with school uniforms.

Something old, something blue for new Royal Marine Band uniforms

Corporate Connection — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 11:51:00 +0000

The Royal Marines Band Service has gone back to the future by unveiling its new look – a uniform the musicians last wore 50 years ago.

For the first time since the mid-1960s the musicians will wear full-length dark blue greatcoats for certain outdoor performances, replacing dark blue capes.

The Royal Marines’ Portsmouth Band will be first to parade the new look at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London on Sunday.

Lieutenant Daryl Powell, the band’s director of music, said: “The capes weren’t that easy to play in as they restricted the movement of the arms – particularly for our buglers who double up as drummers.

“So we are all pleased with the change – the greatcoats are more comfortable when playing and they look very smart too.”

The 45-strong band will wear the greatcoats every year at the London Remembrance Sunday parade and other outdoor winter performances when deemed appropriate.

The uniform will be rolled out to the other four bands in the RM Band Service over the coming months.

London Underground staff get new designer uniform

Corporate Connection — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:59:08 +0000

A new designer uniform has been unveiled for Tube staff working on London’s Underground (LU).

It is the first time in ten years the uniform has been updated and includes pieces tailored for female staff.

Red or Dead co-founder Wayne Hemingway, designed the uniforms incorporating the LU logo on pockets, jacket cuffs and zip pulls.

The uniform will be trialled at six stations and two train depots before being distributed across the service.

Mr Hemingway said: “The London Underground community have been a vocal lot during the design and development process and rightly so when it comes to something that they have to wear for longer than anything else in their wardrobes.”

Phil Hufton, London Underground’s Chief Operating Officer, added it was a “modern uniform” which “reflects both our heritage and our diversity”

Troubled Wolverhampton school provides cash to buy uniforms

Corporate Connection — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 13:04:16 +0000

A troubled school has shelled out thousands of pounds on new shoes and uniforms for every pupil using government cash set aside for raising the achievement of disadvantaged youngsters.

New Park School in Wolverhampton gave the parents of all 107 pupils money to pay for Clarks shoes and a new uniform at the start of term.

The money has been taken from the pupil premium, a government grant which gives schools an annual fund for every child who is eligible for free school meals or looked after by the authority.

Eighty five per cent of pupils at the school in Cromer Gardens, Whitmore Reans, are eligible for the funding.

Schools get £1,300 for each primary aged pupil and £935 for every secondary aged pupil, with the money earmarked to help close the educational gap between disadvantaged children and their peers.

Ofsted guidance suggests the money is best invested in IT equipment or extra staff, but senior leaders at New Park say the new uniform will help ‘improve discipline and engender pride’ among pupils.

Nicola Davis, who took over as interim headteacher when her predecessor quit after a damning Ofsted report in February, said: “We are working hard to improve educational attainment at New Park School, and one way in which this is being achieved is through the introduction of a new school uniform for our pupils.

“Wearing a uniform has been shown to prepare pupils for learning and to raise standards.

“We recognise that pupils at New Park are from some of the most disadvantaged families in the city, and previously the majority did not wear a uniform. Therefore the school has taken the decision to supply uniforms to parents using funding from the Pupil Premium.”

The move has been criticised by Wolverhampton City Council’s conservative leader Councillor Wendy Thompson.

She said: “The funding is not meant to be used in this way. Improving educational achievement is vital in Wolverhampton, but this is nothing more than an abuse of the money.”

Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew complain new uniform is too tight, the shoes give them blisters and the collars make them BLEED

Corporate Connection — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 10:03:24 +0000

Striking Vivienne Westwood uniforms were launched on September 1
Cabin crew say outfits are too tight and shoes give them blisters
Skirts are ‘high-waisted’ and collars so tight they make them bleed
Virgin Atlantic said the new outfits were ‘comfortable and practical’
Claimed uniforms had undergone a trial and staff had provided feedback

It may be one of the most stylish uniforms in the skies, but Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew have been getting a bit hot under the collar about their new look.

The striking red outfits were designed by Vivienne Westwood and launched to much fanfare on September 1.

But the airline’s crew members have since complained that the uniforms are too tight and that the shoes give them blisters.

Staff also complained that the skirts are too high-waisted and don’t fit properly, while the collars are so tight they make them bleed, according to union Unite.

A Unite spokesperson told The Sun: ‘We’ve had members complaining of poor comfort and injury caused by the new uniform and mainly as a result of blistering from shoes and garment fit.’

But Virgin Atlantic said the initial feedback from staff had been ‘fantastic’ and that the uniform could be tailored to fit all shapes and sizes.

A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Virgin Atlantic is extremely excited to launch its new uniform collection and initial feedback from staff has been fantastic

‘To ensure the uniform was fit for purpose across our network, we conducted wearer trials globally for six months with over 150 staff volunteers who provided daily feedback on the fabric, fit, practicality and wearability of the uniform.

‘Adjustments were then made accordingly before the designs and fabrics were finalised.

‘We recognise that the fit is different to the previous uniform and to ensure correct sizing, all staff tried on the uniform and were fitted by our expert team upon collection. We have uniforms available in sizes from 6 to 30 and garments can be tailored to fit all shapes and sizes.’

Parents forced to ‘pay twice’ for expensive school uniforms

Corporate Connection — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:18:06 +0000

The Local Government Association warns that many schools are forcing parents to shell out hundreds of pounds for new uniforms after gaining academies status.

Hundreds of thousands of parents are being forced to pay twice for school uniforms because of the government’s academies programme, according to council leaders.

Mothers and fathers face spending up to £161 per pupil – rising to more than £200 in some cases – as schools seek to “rebrand” when they win academy status, it was claimed.

The Local Government Association warned that large numbers of new academies are asking parents to buy blazers, jumpers, ties and PE kit to cement a new identity.

This term alone, at least 275 schools will convert to academy status while more than 100 others are in the process of applying.

Many use the move to make a clean break from the past, including a new name, logo, motto and revamped uniform.

But the LGA said it left many parents having to pay “hundreds of pounds all at once, to replace clothes which there is nothing wrong with”.

It is now calling on schools to adopt a “common sense approach” to uniform policies, by keeping to a similar colour scheme or giving parents the chance to simply sew or iron new badges onto existing clothes.

The conclusions follow claims last year from David Laws, the Schools Minister, that the cost of clothing was often “unnecessarily high” at a time when household budgets were being squeezed.

Research shows that the average family with two children currently spends £450 on uniforms, coats and bags, with prices increasing by more than 40 per cent in a two-year period.

Guidance issued to schools says exclusive, single supplier contracts should be banned and compulsory items of uniform should be available relatively cheaply on the high street.

But the LGA claim that many schools with academy status are placing unnecessary demands on parents. Academies are state schools that are run independently of local council control, with more freedom to alter the curriculum, admissions, staff pay and the shape of the academic year.

A recent report by the charity Family Action found parents were paying an average of £161 for boys and £156 for girls in secondary schools, while primary uniforms cost £113. But it found evidence of schools asking more when they make the transition to academy status.

Parents turn to charities and swap shops for uniforms

Corporate Connection — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:18:51 +0000

A charity says some families in Northern Ireland are spending so much money on school uniforms they have problems paying for food or fuel.

St Vincent De Paul says it plans to set up a uniform recycling scheme across Northern Ireland.

The price of one uniform can be £200, but the maximum uniform grant for secondary school is £56 and £22 for sports kit.

The charity plans to send recycling bins to schools for a week.

Recycling bins

Uniforms which are still in good condition but which children have grown out of can be donated.

Mary Wade from St Vincent De Paul explained the parents’ dilemma.

“They haven’t the money to buy the uniforms at full price in the uniform shops in the town. If you have three children and you’re spending roughly £200 on uniforms, that’s £600. People don’t have that money,” she said.

The charity says that once parents have paid for uniforms they need help to buy necessities, such as groceries and electricity.

In Bangor, County Down, an artist, Marianne Kennerley, is encouraging recycling by holding “Unicycle” pop-up shops.

She said the quality of the used clothes was impressive.

“They’re actually pretty good. I get more good uniforms than I get bad ones, which is not what you’d expect. There’s very few that I have to reject,” she said.

“I am trying to bring in the process of repairs as well, so that if there is a torn knee or a hem that can be repaired and go back into the Unicycle to be set out again.”

Swap shop

One of her customers, Áine McGreeghan, approves of the swap shop philosophy.

“I’m a big believer in recycling, and as well as that, the cost of school uniforms can be quite high whenever you add it all up,” she said.

“And now I’ve got two going to school this year so it probably could have cost me in the region of £200 to kit them both out, so any help is very much appreciated.”

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Local talent shines as Scottish designer creates uniform for Edinburgh hotel

Corporate Connection — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 09:30:55 +0000

Guests at the G&V Royal Mile Hotel Edinburgh hotel are to be greeted by staff in a striking new uniform. which has been created by leading Scottish design talent Judy R Clark.

The designs include the hotel’s very own, unique G&V Edinburgh Hotel tweed, giving the uniforms bright bursts of colour that marry perfectly with the hotel’s luxury interior.

The new collection includes suits, waistcoats, cardigans, t-shirts, shirts, aprons, skirts and dresses, and even the new t-shirts and cardigans worn by staff give a proud nod to the city, with a colourful Edinburgh skyline sketch designed by Judy R Clark.

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