For our teams at OnSite, working in water is part of the job. From erecting PortaDams in canals and rivers to carrying out maintenance in ponds and streams, they spend lengthy periods working in challenging, wet environments. 

When you are spending eight or more hours a day wading through water, the right Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not only about keeping you dry. It needs to protect you from the elements, keep you comfortable throughout the working day and allow you to carry out the work safely and effectively.  

Our solution? We have taken a people-led approach to developing the drysuits our team uses. 

Since 2019, we have worked closely with our supplier, Hammond Drysuits, to develop a bespoke solution based on the real experiences of the people wearing them. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, we have listened to our teams, understood the demands of their work and used their feedback to continuously improve their PPE. 

This test-and-learn approach has resulted in a drysuit designed around the reality of a job working in water, with features introduced and refined to address the real-life challenges our team experience out in the field.  

For example, where split seams were identified as an issue, double stitching was introduced in targeted areas to build strength and durability. Other features include: 

  • High-quality watertight fabric – helping to keep our team dry during prolonged periods in water 
  • Heavy duty zips – providing durable fastening designed to withstand challenging conditions 
  • High-visibility options – introduced in 2022 to improve safety and visibility working in the field 
  • Made-to-measure suits – helping to provide a tailored, comfortable fit for each individual team member 

Our PPE has evolved around the people who rely on it every day to do their job safely and successfully. 

Leading this piece of work, David Wedgbury, PortaDam Operations Manager, commented: “When people are working in challenging wet environments, PPE shouldn’t just meet a specification. It should be completely tailored to the people wearing it and the demands of their job. I’m pleased that we have settled on a hard-working drysuit that meets the needs of our hard-working team and supports the wider South Staffordshire Group‘s Staying Safe Together approach.”