Safety Apparel Glossary of Terms

You have a big job to do every day. Not only do you have to run a business, manage your employees and handle your budget, but you also are responsible for keeping your team safe on the job each and every day and during each and every season.

Luckily, we can help with that part. We do our very best to offer only a high-quality selection of safety gear so you can’t go wrong with any choice you make. We carry the top name brands at the lowest prices and we provide just enough options to get exactly what you need without getting overwhelming.

But if you want to learn more about shopping for safety apparel, we have you covered. Use this glossary of terms to simplify your shopping process and make the right decisions to keep your team safe all year long.

Safety Apparel Glossary of Terms

When looking for specific safety apparel including vests, jackets, and sweatshirts, it’s important to consider your options. There is a wide selection of choices and you need to know what you’re looking for so you can offer your team the best protection when working in hazardous conditions.

• • 50/50 – A 50% cotton and 50% polyester fabric blend. This is the most popular fabric for safety shirts that do not have reflective stripes (ANSI approved).
  • ANSI – The abbreviation stands for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is an organization that identifies standards for safety. It most often refers to safety colors and reflectivity.
  • Banded self-collar – This refers to a type of collar that is made from the same material as the actual shirt.
  • Blanks – Clothing items that are undecorated or plain.
  • Blends – Yarn, fabric or apparel that is made of more than one type of common fiber.
  • Colorfast – When a dyed fabric is able to resist fading that commonly happens due to exposure to washing, sunlight and other external elements.
  • Cotton – A soft vegetable fiber that is derived from the cotton plant. Difficult to find in safety colors due to fading of the bright dyes.
  • Double Knit – Using a double stitch on a double needle frame to provide a thicker circular knit fabric.
  • Fleece – A softer napped fabric on the inside and smooth on the outside.
  • Fused lining – This refers to a garment that is fused to the outer plies with solvent, heat, and pressure. This helps to stabilize and stiffen certain parts of the fabric.
  • Garment dyed – This is a specific type of dying process that happens after safety apparel is assembled.
  • Garment wash – Clothing that goes through an industrial washing process to soften and pre-shrink the garment.
  • Heavyweight – Any kind of fabric that is 10 ounces per linear yard. Standard weight garments are 8 ounces or lighter. Unfortunately the term has been used by manufacturers for marketing purposes that do not meet the requirements of the definition.
  • Jacquard knit – During a manufacturing process, this is an intricate pattern knit directly into the fabric typically using two or more colors.
  • Jersey knits – Popular for safety t-shirts, this fabric is a smooth face and more textured.
  • Mesh – A net-like open weave fabric that is lightweight and ideal for construction workers. Fabrics can include woven, knit, lace or crocheted.
  • Moisture-wicking – These fabrics are designed to transport moisture away from the body and create a cooler feel for the wearer.
  • Ounces per square yard – This is a standard measurement of fabric weight that makes it easier to compare top brands.
  • Pique knit – This is a specific knitting method that creates a fine texture that is similar to a waffle weave. This is a common fabric for safety polo shirts.
  • Poly-filled – This is a warm polyester lining that is typically used in the body or sleeves of a garment to provide additional layers to the wearer.
  • PVC – a specially produced polyurethane coating that is added to clothing to make them water-resistant.
  • Soft shell – Commonly used term for clothing that is partially water-resistant and partially wind-resistant.
  • UVA-Protective fabric– This term is used for fabric designed to resist ultraviolet rays from penetrating through the garment.
  • Yoke – Part of a finished garment that is fitted closely to the shoulders and is typically seen on polo shirts.

Shop NationalSafetyGear for High Quality Safety Shirts

When it comes to choosing the right clothing for your specific job, don’t settle on the first option you find. NationalSafetyGear offers a full selection of safety apparel to fit your budget and your team’s needs. We are proud to cater to a wide variety of industries and needs. Shop our full selection of safety apparel to find exactly what you need.