The long-sleeved shirts have a UV protection factor of 80 in exposed areas such as the shoulders and the back and sleeves are made from a knitted, stretch fabric that makes them easy to pull on and off. They are also comfortable to wear thanks to the combination of the fabric used and the cut.
Project leader Boris Bauer says that doctors now believe that the right clothing gives better protection than sun cream but many outdoor workers are reluctant to wear special UV protective clothing because it has to be washed very frequently has therefore been made of thick material, which quickly becomes uncomfortable to work in.
He says that the aim of his protect is to develop garments which physically and functionally are more like normal working or leisure clothing but have additional functions such as good UV protection and are comfortable to wear. He adds that workers will only wear special UV protective clothing when it combines all these features.
Dr Bauer says that making this improved workwear easy to care for is particularly challenging as the clothes must be able to stand up to the mechanical and thermal stresses of commercial laundries as well to domestic washing.
The team is now carrying out intensive research on this aspect.
