Safety boots, gloves, helmets, ear muffs, safety glasses—these are common things people think of when it comes to PPE. Sometimes overlooked, however, is the humble kneepad. Knee injuries are one of the most common types of afflictions suffered by tradespeople, and the hassle of installing or changing them is nothing compared to that of a patellar fracture.

Why are Kneepads considered PPE?

Knee pads function as PPE in a number of ways. For one thing, they serve to protect the wearer from sharp debris, nails, screws, etc, that they may inadvertantly kneel on during the course of their work. Apart from protecting your knees from direct impact, they also protect their wearers from the gradual strain and pressure exerted on their knees in professions that require regular kneeling on hard or cold surfaces. An example of this would be mechanics in a workshop or tilers. This can lead to osteoarthritis (a type of arthritis).

You should Test Fit Kneepads as well as Work Trousers

When trying on workwear, many of us simply make sure the garments are a nice fit standing up, and if satisfied, put no more thought into it. However, those involved in manual labour should make sure that the knee pads are a good fit too. When trying on a pair of work trousers for size, test them while kneeling as well as standing straight—this will highlight any potential problems with the fit of the kneepad itself. For example, does it move out of place? Is it chaffing or uncomfortable?

Don’t Mix and Match Kneepads

Kneepads are not necessarily interchangeable, so when buying new knee pads it’s important that you ensure that they’re suitable for the work trousers in question. Don’t be tempted to mix and match, not only can it result in a bad fit, it can compromise the protection offered to the point you may as well not be wearing kneepads at all. Even within the same workwear brand, you should check that the kneepad model is suitable for the work trousers you intend to wear them with. At M.A. Healy’s, we carry a range of suitable kneepads from all the main workwear brands, including Snickers Workwear, MASCOT Workwear, Portwest Workwear, Bjornklader Workwear, Apache Workwear and Blaklader Workwear.

Regularly Check Your Kneepads for Wear and Replace Them as Necessary

You wouldn’t keep wearing broken safety glasses, and the same should go for kneepads. Regularly check your kneepads for wear, and, if necessary, replace them should they become worn or damaged. It only takes a minute to swap them out and it will save your knees in the long term.

To conclude, kneepads should be considered an essential part of your workwear outfit in just the same way you wouldn’t neglect to wear gloves or safety shoes. We carry an extensive range of kneepads in our workwear stores in Arklow and Cork, and can also deliver anywhere in Ireland. For more information, call our team on 0402 32116 and they’ll be happy to advise on the most suitable kneepad for your work trousers.