As a plumber or heating engineer, working in a wide range of diverse environments on a daily basis can be high risk and involve potentially dangerous machinery and equipment – this means that safety must come first. One key aspect of ensuring physical safety is by wearing the correct clothing. 

Workwear choices as a plumbing or heating engineer are important. If you’re not geared up with the right clothing or footwear, you won’t be able to do your job as well as you possibly can – not to mention the fact that you could also be putting yourself at risk.

Safety 

Whether it’s boilers, water tanks, or working with hazardous chemicals or materials, plumbing and heating engineers must wear appropriate workwear that keeps them safe from workplace injury. 

There are many items of protective clothing that a plumber or engineer could potentially wear each day. These include safety goggles, knee protectors, high visibility jackets and, dependent on the nature of the job, the use of a safety mask or respirator in environments where the normal air supply is compromised – for example, when there’s a gas leak. 

Given the heavy objects involved in a typical plumbing and heating engineer’s job, work boots should be made from thicker, more protective material than standard work boots. Plumbers’ boots should feature a steel toe cap to protect from injuries from falling parts or objects. 

Boots, such as Blackrock’s Malvern Hiker Work Boots, are a popular choice among engineers, because they’re water-resistant, to keep feet dry, and have a padded collar for ankle support. The boots also include a steel toe cap and midsole protection, with a scuff cap for added durability and a kick plate on the heel for easy removal.

Comfort

After safety, comes comfort and functionality. This is especially important as you’ll be wearing your workwear day in, day out, for hours at a time. 

Key functionality aspects to consider are: what do I need from my workwear? How can it help me in my job? What kind of movement will I need to do in my work clothes? This can range from walking and climbing, to standing and kneeling. 

You must also think about how many pockets you need for easy access to regularly used tools and parts. 

Both jackets and trousers should be made of a thicker material for plumbing and heating engineering roles – they need to be resilient and keep you warm in cold and unpredictable weather. 

As working on your knees is commonplace as a plumber or heating engineer, it will be important to choose workwear trousers that have reinforced knee sections with extra protection. Flexibility is key for jackets and shirts too, so that you can move freely without risk of tears to the clothing. 

Comfort is important because if we are not comfortable, we’re never going to be at our best. You need to be able to move without restriction, given you’re often accessing difficult areas, and avoid feeling overheated or cold.

Scruffs is a well-known workwear brand that provides durability, functionality, and comfort. They offer a wide range of affordable, high quality, robust workwear options that are perfectly suited to plumbing and heating engineering jobs. 

For example, the Scruffs Trade Holster trousers are durable work trousers made from heavy duty twill fabric, with stretch panels for comfort and flexibility. They are two-layered and have long-lasting performance, with easy access holster pockets that have tool loops for tool and accessory storage. 

Affordability

Affordability will also play a significant role in your decision-making. But while budget is, of course, important, you have to consider quality. 
If you purchase workwear based on cost alone, it’s only going to prove more expensive in the long run, as you have to replace clothing more often because it doesn’t last as long. 

Good, high quality workwear also makes a positive impression on clients and employees, demonstrating a professional and trustworthy plumber or heating engineer that is well equipped and highly trained to carry out the job in hand. 

Finally, before investing in any workwear, it’s important to do your research, read reviews online about popular brands, the ranges they offer, and how the clothing will meet your needs in terms of safety, functionality, and comfort. This will enable you to make an informed choice on the workwear that’s right for you.