A Guide to Winter Work Jackets

Every winter, tens of thousands of workers brave the bitter cold to perform necessary jobs and services. Often, the only thing protecting them is their personal protective equipment (PPE).   

Winter work outfits, such as winter jackets, are an absolute must on any jobsite! Can you spot the worker in the above image?

Wearing the proper protective garments to guard against freezing temperatures, wind, and precipitation is vital to your health and safety when your job takes you into the tundra of wintertime. Whether it’s a Hippora- lined heated winter glove or a nice bomber jacket, wearing appropriate PPE is the only way a worker makes it from one season to the next.  

MCR Safety recognizes the risks that winter weather poses to workers. For this reason, we offer a wide variety of cold weather PPE garments so you can avoid the effects of cold stress and do your job safely and comfortably.  Don’t put yourself in unnecessary danger. Learn about the different kinds of winter PPE and how the styles MCR Safety carries will protect you from winter’s many hazards.

 

---

What is a Bomber Jacket?

 

Have you ever heard the saying, “Bomber jackets are to jackets what henleys are to t-shirts”? Yea, it’s true. You will instantly look sharper when you’ve got a sporty black bomber jacket on! 

Bomber jackets are the zippered leather jackets with a fitted waist and cuffs made famous by bomber pilots in World War II. While they have become a popular casual fashion statement in recent decades, the bomber jacket has also been adopted for on-the-job use due to its close-fitting style. The BRCL3L, shown above, has become a fan-favorite, as it reverses from Class-3 visibility while at work to a sporty black when hi-visibility is not required. 

 
BRCL3L reverses from Hi-Vis back to a black color.

The reversible feature makes the BRCL3L a popular selling style every winter! Today, many bomber jackets come with features like extra insulation and high-visibility reflective colors that make them suitable to wear on the jobsite or away from work.   

---

Hi-Vis Bomber Jackets

 

When working outside, high-visibility clothing is necessary to keep you detectable to drivers, especially in inclement weather and at night. When it’s snowing outside, you have no choice but to be working in a hi-vis garment, as you become harder to distinguish in the snow. A high-visibility bomber jacket can do double-duty by keeping you warm and visible.

MCR Safety has designed a broad line of reflective PPE that will allow you to find the right product for your application, including our Hi-Visibility and Luminator Series bomber jackets. These jackets come with a variety of features to make your cold environment job easier and safer to perform. Peruse our styles and find the right combination of these features to select the bomber jacket that best suits your needs.

Here are some features you’ll find: 

• Reversible, with a reflective side and black side
• Treated with Teflon 
• Waterproof
• Zip-out fleece liner
• Reflective stripes
• Detachable hood
• Bright fluorescent colors
• Zippered closure and pockets

MCR Safety’s hi-vis bomber jackets should be a vital part of your cold-weather uniform. They provide an outer layer that guards against the elements and for the best warmth, you can choose a style with an inner lining for extra insulation. Removable linings are ideal for temperature control. 

 
MCR Safety’s Winter Catalog covers all the winter bomber jackets we offer.

 

---

Vortex - Our Warmest Work Jacket

   

VT38JH

 

When winter is coming, you need to make adjustments to your winter work wardrobe, especially if you’re anticipating sub-zero temperatures. Don’t put yourself at risk by forgoing proper winter PPE, like one of MCR Safety’s warm work jackets. 

 

 

 

Vortex is the best winter jacket for working outside in hash winter temperatures.

VT31JH

 

MCR Safety’s Vortex jackets are our warmest option. Its double-insulated construction is made of a permanent polyester quilted liner covered by a zip-out fleece liner that will keep you warm in temperatures as low as -27°F.

.  
Double-Insulated Construction

Our Vortex jackets also feature ten outer pockets for storage, high-quality ripstop polyester/polyurethane material for ruggedness and long wear life, and exceed ANSI Class 3 and CSA Z96 Class 2, Level 2 requirements to ensure you are seen in low light conditions and complex backgrounds. 

Lastly, the roomy detachable zippered hood will hide away into the collar when not needed and features adjustable drawstring closures and hook and loop chin straps to keep it in place. A standup storm collar protects the neck and chin. 

 
X marks the spot in a Vortex jacket, providing even greater worker recognition!

MCR Safety keeps you safe and warm in all winter weather with our exceptional Vortex jackets. 

---

MCR Safety’s FR Options

 

B4T

An outerwear staple for almost any work environment is a jacket. MCR Safety’s bomber jackets are designed to be comfortable, rugged, warm, and water-repellant. When you’re facing cold temperatures, an insulated jacket is worth every penny. This is especially true when it’s double-stitched and tacked for reinforcement, ensuring the shell stays intact and you retain body heat.

Spend your work shift warm and toasty in our durable bomber jacket. Here are two of MCR Safety’s FR Bomber Jackets:

B3N

 

---

What Is a Chore Coat?

 

 

A chore coat is a loose-fitting work coat with large breast- and hip-pockets, a pointed collar, and a front closure often of buttons or velcro. Chore coats are usually made of durable twill or canvas that can stand up to a lot of wear and tear on the job. 

 

 
Pointed Collar

Historically, chore coats have been worn by laborers across many different industries where work tends to take place outside. The pockets are ideal for holding tools, the cuffs can be rolled up, and the loose fit makes moving around easy. Today, the style has caught on among fashionistas as well, combining utility with fashion.

 

---

MCR Safety’s FR Jackets

  

 

Are you looking for a sporty FR winter jacket? When the weather forecast shows cooler weather on the horizon, wearing a warm jacket becomes an absolute necessity, but there is no reason you have to sacrifice a stylish appearance for warmth and safety. You also don’t want to sacrifice safety if you need FR protection. In MCR Safety’s Chore coat, you don’t have to as it’s tested to a CAT Rating 3!

Our FR chore coat provides the comfort, fit, warmth, and style workers seek. With their longer cut, chore coats are an excellent option for FR outerwear clothing, as they provide coverage and protection below the waist. Anyone who demands quality FR garments will choose to wear MCR Safety’s chore coat! 

CHC1G

CHC1N

 

---

Extra.. Winter Work Gloves

We’ve got another blog that specifically highlights MCR Safety winter gloves.  We discuss clo ratings, cut-resistant winter gloves and whole lot more.  Here are some of the following topics we highlight:

• Waterproof Winter Work Gloves
• Warm Work Gloves
• Best Winter Work Gloves

You can read up on it here.   

 

---

OSHA Winter Preparedness: Are You Ready?

 

We've only covered some of our best sold winter jackets above.  Keep in mind, there a multitude of different types of PPE people need to stay warm during winter months.  In addition, if your job requires you to work outside in winter weather, you have to be prepared. Cold stress conditions can be very dangerous. Working in below-freezing temperatures, especially in wet or windy conditions, can lead to trench foot, frostbite, and hypothermia. 

While OSHA does not issue specific standards for working in cold environments, it does state that employers have the responsibility to provide employees with a workplace that is free from winter weather hazards. This means employers should train employees on safe work practices and provide engineering controls to protect them from the cold. 

These measures may include:

• Training to recognize and prevent cold stress
• Training to recognize and react to slippery surfaces, downed power lines, and other winter weather hazards
• Providing equipment like radiant heaters
• Providing employees with proper tools and equipment to do their jobs
• Providing employees with proper protective clothing
• Training employees to dress properly for cold weather

 

 
Being prepared for winter is critical!  Winter products shown in the image: FR bomber jacket, an FR balaclava, winter lined leather work gloves and polarized safety glasses.

Here is some helpful information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

• OSHA’s winter weather preparedness link - https://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/winter_weather/beprepared.html 
• OSHA’s winter weather windchill link -https://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/winter_weather/windchill.html 

 

---

What Do You Need for Winter PPE?

OSHA may not set requirements for winter workwear, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t standards for what is appropriate and recommended for wearing when work takes you out into winter weather. It’s just common sense for workers to suit up for extreme conditions and for employers to provide their workers with high-quality winter PPE. 

So what kind of winter PPE do you need? This might depend on your specific job and location, but here are the standard recommendations: 

• Anti-exposure work suits that are waterproof to protect against hypothermia in cold and wet conditions
• Insulated work gloves that allow for dexterity while preventing frostbite
• Heavy-duty work boots to prevent frostbite, preferably felt-lined, rubber-bottomed, leather-topped, and waterproof
• Winter liners for hard hats made of flannel or knit to protect ears, neck, and head
• Polarized, foam-sealed safety glasses with anti-fog and UV protection features to prevent snow blindness and sun glare
•  Layers of clothing, preferably with zipper openings, to trap body heat when cold and vent excess heat when warm
• Mouth or face covering to protect against cold and windburn (balaclava masks are covered in the next section)

Having these items on hand and replacing them when they become damaged or worn is vital for staying safe on the job in winter conditions. Let’s explore some specific options available for winter PPE.

 

---

Winter Catalog and Winter Insulation Page

We've only scratched the surface above with regards to our winter work jackets and outfits.  And, we recognize getting prepared for winter should not be a daunting task.  So, we’ve got even more resources for those looking to explore more winter work outfits. Both our winter catalog and insulation page will guide you on all of MCR Safety’s winter PPE.

 

Winter Catalog

 

 

 

---

Common Questions

Do winter jackets work in heavy winter?

• It depends on the inner insulation found on the coat. Our Vortex jacket mentioned above is double insulated, which allows wearers to withstand low temperatures. 

 

Where do I buy hi vis jackets?

• We've included our request a quote link throughout the article and below. Please leave us some general information about where you live and have a local distributor provide a quote. 

 

What are class 3 hi vis jackets?  

• Class 3 visibility jackets are for workers in dangerous, high traffic areas, working in poor light conditions. An example would include those working in snowy conditions on a busy road. Workers operating where vehicles travel more than 50 mph should be wearing a Class 3 rated vest. Most heavy traffic areas mentioned in Class 2 should consider wearing a Class 3 vest, as additional reflective materials only help identify other workers better. 

 

How many winter jackets do you need?

• It all depends on the applications one engages in at work and the weather conditions faced. Some individuals may need to carry two sets, one for colder winter months and the other for transitioning seasons. We also sell a 3 in 1 hi vis jacket, which allows users to remove the inner liner.

 

---

Stay Safe This Winter with MCR Safety

 
Don’t let Old Man Winter get the best of you. Prevent cold stress and stay comfortable this winter season with quality cold-weather PPE from MCR Safety.  Our products are designed to provide maximum protection from extreme winter conditions so you can do your job correctly and safely.  

 

We welcome any comments, feedback or suggestions for how we can best protect people at work.

 

We are committed to protecting people and can provide all the safety equipment you need. No matter your industry or profession, for over 45 years, MCR Safety has proven to be a world leader in gloves, glasses, and garments.  Whether it’s on the shop floor, an oil rig, or a construction site, we are there providing solutions to workplace hazards. It’s all part of our commitment to protect people. 

 

 
Learn more about MCR Safety by checking out our most recent video. For more information, browse our website, request a catalog, find a distributor, or give us a call at 800-955-6887.