Workwear for Fish Farms: Five things to consider

INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM

By Kari Rabben

AKVA GROUP BLOG - Nov. 29, 2019 - What workwear is suitable for the various tasks of operating a fish farm? Here is some advice on how to select clothes and safety equipment to meet the varied workday on the pen.

Your workday clothes often have to cater to several practical requirements during the day. Take into account the actual needs they must satisfy. Focus on functionality, protection, and comfort.

Work clothing requirements

If you are out on the site, it's evident that you need garments that can withstand wet conditions while also keeping you warm.

If you work both indoors and outdoors, you may have to change footwear – you might not feel comfortable in rubber boots in the control room for an entire shift.

1. A glove isn't merely a glove

There's a jungle of work gloves out there. The features you're looking for are, of course, dependent on where you work:

    Waterproof gloves
    Lined gloves
    Handling gloves
    Bleeding gloves

If you frequently operate a crane, for example, you should choose a warm glove that doesn't limit sensitivity in the fingers. In other words, a lined model of the correct size, that isn't too thick.

    Glove sizes range from 8 to 12. An average man's hand is size 9 or 10.

2. Proper footwear

There are a lot of good shoes on the market. The type of footwear you should choose depends on where you will be working during the day. For example, not all models handle moisture very well.

Gore-Tex footwear is popular and can withstand moisture quite well. But if you're working on the pen, they won't be able to keep your feet dry as long as you'd prefer.

There are currently many types of footwear with both flat and contoured soles that are comfortable to wear for the entire shift. The boot must support a foot walking on steel decks and concrete all day.

3. One or two-piece clothing?

Do you prefer a jacket and trousers, or overall? Several jackets, pants, and overalls currently on the market are both waterproof and windproof – to a certain point. They will never be waterproof to the extent of rainwear. If you want high flexibility, I would recommend an overall with net lining.  These are light and modern with a neat cut. You may use wool as the innermost layer on the coldest days.

The two-part models, where the jackets have a removable lining, are always attractive. The trousers often have a net lining to allow them to breathe. You'd also need to supplement this garment with wool when it's cold.

4. Size is important

You're looking for movability, but oversize outerwear often feels uncomfortable. On the other hand, if it's too tight, it's tricky to stay warm.
 
5. Flotation vest or flotation suit?

When mobility is essential, and you do a lot of physical work, the inflatable floatation vests are the most popular in our industry. The short models are most common as they are less prone to snag, causing an unintentional inflating of the vest.

Flotation suits are available in two versions:

    Suits with elements in the entire garment
    Suits with an airbag that inflates if you fall into the sea

Can I have both? Some models combine flotation elements with an inflatable airbag. These have greater buoyancy.

If you work at a large facility or often carry heavy equipment, these vests should be your choice. Let's say you are working out at the pen, and your most nearby colleagues are in the barge - it can take them a long time to come to your assistance if an accident should happen. Then, extra buoyancy in the flotation device comes in handy.

P.S.: Suits and vests with inflatable airbags require maintenance. The flotation vest includes a salt tablet and a gas cartridge. The salt tablet needs replacement once a year. You also need to check the inflatable airbag and the cartridge regularly.
 
6. Safety equipment should be comfortable

Helmets are a prerequisite when working outdoors. You may be wearing a helmet all day, so make sure you choose one that's easy to wear. I recommend industrial helmets with chin straps. They are both well-padded and a good fit. You can wear them for an entire workday and hardly notice them. If you don't work outdoors much, a hard hat is sufficient.

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF AKVA GROUP

PHOTO CREDIT: AKVA GROUP BLOG