The main priorities of mechanic apparel should be to keep a mechanic safe and help make their work easier. It should also be durable and reasonably priced. Pricier apparel can be of higher quality, but that isn’t always the case.
It often makes the most sense to use a uniform rental service like Alsco Uniforms for your mechanic apparel needs. We ensure your employees always have clean and functional uniforms available. When any of the mechanic apparel becomes torn or worn, we replace it with a new piece.
Your Mechanic Apparel Checklist
When choosing mechanic apparel for the modern garage, some common traits to look for include the following:
Safety
A garage can be a hazardous place. Hot surfaces, flying sparks and debris, chemical spills, rust, and sharp edges are all possibilities a mechanic needs to be prepared for. A mechanic’s apparel should be chosen with these hazards in mind, so they are as well protected as they can be.
The safety gear a mechanic needs will depend on the nature of their job. Long sleeves and long pants are usually preferable, protecting a mechanic’s vulnerable skin.
Many garages also benefit from equipping staff with high-visibility clothing, such as vests. High-vis gear helps make workers visible to those around them and can prevent serious accidents. This can be important since garages and other areas may be dark or crowded.
Utility
While a mechanic doesn’t have to look unfashionable, aesthetics aren’t typically the priority of workwear used in a garage setting. Instead, there needs to be a focus on utility. A team should consider what the role of a worker usually will be and which type of apparel will best fit that niche.
Mechanics do skilled blue-collar labor. They benefit from shoes that help them stay gripped to surfaces. Their apparel should also contain many pockets to hold any tools they might need for their regular tasks.
A mechanic’s apparel is generally going to get dirty. The nature of mechanic work is often needing to lay or kneel on the floor and deal with elements of a vehicle that may be greasy or covered in other fluids. This means a team usually wants to choose apparel that can clean easily and won’t stain on first encounter with grease and oil.
Durability & Overall Protection
Durability is a major benefit when choosing mechanic apparel, as it can both keep a mechanic safe from cuts and impact while also making sure clothes last longer. Steel-toed boots, thick overalls (ideally flame-resistant), and sturdy goggles can all better survive the day-to-day activities of a garage while also helping to prevent some of the worst injuries a mechanic is likely to risk on the job.
Depending on the specifics of what they’re doing, a mechanic may also benefit from protective gear like a hard hat, welding mask, and thick gloves. Some of this gear can have drawbacks. Thick gloves may reduce dexterity, but the protection provided can be very necessary in some situations.
The use of this protective gear should be strongly encouraged when appropriate. Some teams get in the dangerous habit of avoiding protective gear to save a few minutes of time or to stay a bit more comfortable at the expense of their own safety.
Cost
Cost is almost always a factor when making decisions like choosing which apparel works best for workers in a company. Cost must be weighed against the benefits of a given choice. Higher cost items may be better quality, but this is only true to a point. If a reputable company is offering a good deal on apparel, a more expensive option isn’t necessarily better.
Due to employee turnover, maintenance, and laundry costs, renting is often more affordable than the alternative while simultaneously helping businesses become more sustainable in their practices.
Customize as Needed
These suggestions are simply the traits most companies will want to think about when choosing mechanic apparel. An individual business will understand its needs best, and the traits of apparel can be customized to suit those needs.
For example, flame-resistant gear may be more important in some garages than others, with some tasks potentially requiring officially rated gear suited for particularly high temperatures. If the type of work being done presents unique hazards or challenges, an employee should be dressed for the task.
Quick Suggestions on Mechanic Apparel
Some quick suggestions for what a mechanic is typically going to need (or at least benefit from) include the following:
Safety goggles
Heavy-duty jumpsuit
Light gloves
Heavy gloves (for especially hot tasks)
Work boots (ideally steel-toed)
Other apparel items that should at least be made available as necessary include the following:
Hard hats
High-visibility clothing
Welding masks
Welding apron
How Alsco Uniforms Can Help
In summary, a mechanic's apparel should be safe, useful, durable, and relatively affordable. Those traits should also likely be prioritized in roughly that order. Safety comes first, followed by how well apparel benefits the person’s work, and then durability and cost come after. The last two traits are still important, but not if prioritizing them significantly impacts a person’s safety or the quality of their work.
At Alsco Uniforms, we’d love to talk with you about the needs of your garage and how to get your staff apparel that helps keep them safe and their work at its best. Read about the uniform rental services we offer or just contact our team directly with any questions you may have. You can also explore our site to learn about what else we offer.