Cotton Drill Safety Shirts: Stay Cool & Safe in the Summer Heat

Worksites in Australia during the summer can be brutal. They come with their own set of challenges, one of them being the extreme heat. Being safe in summer while working outdoors doesn’t just mean staying visible, it also means staying cool and comfortable. Workers exposed to the beating sunshine and scorching temperatures face significant risks, from dehydration to sunburn.

This makes appropriate summer safety clothing, like high-vis work shirts a necessity. Safety-aside, these shirts offer other benefits, beyond just keeping you visible. Some of the most important ones are comfort, breathability, flexibility, and UPF protection. Depending on the weather conditions, the type of safety garment you choose can make a big difference in your comfort.

Breathe Easy

When looking for a summer high-vis work shirt, it’s advisable to opt for breathable materials that allow air to circulate and moisture to evaporate quickly. Cotton drill is an excellent choice, striking a balance between comfort and ruggedness on tough worksites.

This type of heavy-duty cotton fabric is known for its strong, durable properties and distinctive diagonal weave. This weave gives it strength and a bit of natural stretch, making it resistant to tears and abrasions.

Despite its toughness, cotton drill is considered a comfortable choice for safety workwear including reflective work shirts because it’s naturally breathable. It allows air circulation and absorbs moisture, helping to keep workers cool and dry. Plus, it’s naturally soft and reduces skin irritation, making it comfortable for long hours in hot environments.

Cotton drill safety shirts come in different thicknesses. The fabric’s thickness is usually measured by its GSM (grams per square meter) rating. A lighter-weight cotton drill fabric (around 150–190 GSM) will be more appropriate for beating the summer heat.

Move in Comfort

Apart from breathability, it is important to consider the lightness and flexibility of summer safety shirts. Lightweight and stretchy garments ensure greater freedom of movement and reduce the feeling of weightiness while working.

For this purpose, some cotton drill shirts feature elasticated panels in specific areas (like the waistband or cuffs) or stretch inserts in the fabric. These additions allow for better movement, especially when bending, squatting, or performing other physical tasks on the job site.

If maximum stretch is a top priority for you, look for hi-vis shirts made from cotton drill and elastane blend. This combination offers the best of both worlds, the flexibility of elastine and the comfort and breathability of cotton drill.

Prioritise Airflow

Aside from the material, other features can enhance your comfort at the worksite and help you stay cool. Cotton drill high-vis shirts with strategically placed mesh vents in areas that sweat the most like in the back, sides, and underarms can also improve airflow. They allow heat to escape and cool air to circulate. This significantly enhances breathability and comfort in the summer heat.

Also, choosing shirts with perforated reflective tape can help keep you cool and breathable without sacrificing visibility.

Shield Up with UPF

It’s a no-brainer – if you work under the hot Australian sun, you need hi-vis shirts with UPF protection. Australia experiences some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world because it’s close to the equator. Prolonged exposure to UPF, especially during long shifts, can significantly increase the risk of sunburn, heat stress, and long-term skin damage. A regular cotton drill hi-vis shirt might cover your skin, but it’s not enough to block UV rays effectively.

Highly rated UPF (50+) work shirts are specifically designed to block harmful UV rays and keep you shielded from the sun’s intensity. A UPF rating of 50 indicates the fabric of a garment will allow 1/50th (roughly 2 per cent) of available UV radiation to pass through it. Any material that allows less than 2 per cent UV transmission is labelled UPF 50+.

Other Essential Garments

Aside from the cotton drill hi-vis shirts, there are other must-have garments for working under the harsh Australian sun. The purpose and benefits of choosing them are the same as the ones coming from wearing a hi-vis shirt. Lightweight work pants with UPF protection are, without question, your best bet in battling the harsh Australian sun while maintaining comfort and safety on the job.

Safety cooling vests can also protect against sun damage while providing relief in extreme heat. Some of these vests can be simply activated with water. All you have to do is wet the vest, and it’ll activate the cooling properties that help reduce body heat throughout your shift.

Sun-protective work gloves allow you to safely handle equipment while shielding your hands from harmful UV rays. These gloves are usually designed from lightweight, breathable materials that provide cooling relief, ensuring your hands stay dry and comfortable during long shifts under the sun.