Groundworks is hard on people and on kit. A well-equipped crew is safer, more comfortable and looks like a professional outfit, and getting the basics right saves you scrambling when a new starter turns up on Monday. Use this as a starting checklist, then tailor it to what your own risk assessment says.

First, the important distinction

There are two things going on when you dress a crew. PPE (personal protective equipment) is there to protect against a specific hazard and is certified to standards. Workwear is the practical, branded clothing that makes up the rest of the outfit. Both matter, but the PPE choices are driven by your risk assessment, not by preference.

The site kit checklist

• High-visibility clothing — vests, polos or jackets so the crew is seen around plant and traffic. Certified to EN ISO 20471, with the class set by your risk assessment.
• Head protection — a safety helmet where there is a risk of falling objects or impact, replaced in line with the manufacturer's guidance.
• Safety footwear — boots with the toe and midsole protection your site needs, chosen to match the hazards in your risk assessment.
• Hand protection — gloves suited to the task, from general handling to cut resistance for specific jobs.
• Waterproofs — jackets and trousers for wet and exposed sites, ideally high-visibility where visibility is needed.
• Work trousers — tough knee-pad or holster trousers for kneeling in trenches and carrying tools.
• Warm layers — fleeces, softshells and thermal base layers for cold starts and winter groundworks.
• Branded polos and t-shirts — the everyday layer that carries your logo and keeps the crew looking consistent.

Make it branded, make it consistent

Once the protective basics are covered, branding the workwear layer turns your crew into a walking advert and signals a well-run contractor to clients and principal contractors. Embroidered logos hold up well on fleeces and softshells, while print can suit hi-vis vests. Our embroidery vs print guide covers the trade-offs.

Plan for new starters

Groundworks crews grow and change through the season. Keeping your logo on file and ordering from a supplier with no minimum order means you can add a full kit for a new starter in one go, without waiting for a bulk run. That keeps everyone in the same branded kit from day one.

Ready to sort your crew? See our groundworkers' and civil engineering workwear page.