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Protective clothing

Explore items of clothing worn for workplace safety in a vast array of occupations, from firefighter and oil rig worker to ironmonger and Royal Navy personnel.

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Metropolitan police helmet, MkV, ABS plastic based, sectioned

Twin eyeglass deep sea diving helmet by Charles Edwin Heinke

1844-1850

Non slip safety boots

2006

Protective spectacles, c 1981.

1980-1982

Pair of disposable ear plugs (E.A.R. type)

Pair of "Comfit" moulded plastic ear plugs

1945-1982

Royal Air Force anti-glare spectacles

Anti-louse belt

Safety spectacles with pivoting side shields

1984

SeaSafe brand 'Mariner' Life Jacket 150

1990-1999

Beanie hat incorporating d3o shear-thickening polymer

2006

Pharmaceutical Worker's Suit.

1982

Protective trousers, for coke oven operative's protective suit

1981

First closed diving helmet and breastplate

1839

Microshield smock

1984

Pair of "Comfit" moulded plastic ear plugs

1945-1982

Reflective waistcoat

Pair of silk inner gloves used on the 1933 Everest expedition

1930-1933

'Contour d3o' goalkeeping gloves

2006

Diving/Smoke helmet

1820-1829

Equipment used on the 1933 Everest expedition by Sir Jack Longland

1930-1933
Miner's duffle jacket with fluorescent and reflective strips as issued by National Coal Board, United Kingdom, 1981

Miner's duffle jacket with fluorescent and reflective strips as issued by National Coal Board

1981
Glove, stencilling

Glove, stencilling

Powermask MKIII belt-mounted powered respirator, by Siebe Gorman and Company Limited, British, 1978-1981

Belt-mounted powered respirator

1978-1981
Smock type metal splash protection apron with shoulder cape and split back, fastened by press studs at the neck, by Multifabs Limited.

Smock type metal splash protection apron

1980
Aircrew equipment for high altitude flying, (size 8) combined partial pressure/anti/- G/air ventilated suit Mk2 immersion coverall Mk10, by RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, British, 1980-1984

Aircrew equipment for high altitude flying

1980-1984
Aircrew equipment for high altitude flying, pair of terryloop socks, by RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, British, 1980-1984

Aircrew equipment for high altitude flying, socks

1980-1984
Pair of asbestos gloves by Jelaco Ltd., Tamworth, Staffordshire, England, c.1980.

Pair of asbestos gloves by Jelaco Ltd.

1980
Aircrew equipment for high altitude flying, comprising: cotton pants, by RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, British, 1980-1984

Aircrew equipment for high altitude flying, pants

1980-1984
Pair of "Safety Plus" wellington boots in nitrile rubber/PVC with carbon steel toecap and steel midsole, to BS 1870, part 3

Safety Plus wellington boots

Pair of cricket bowler's boots (Bob Willis style)

Pair of cricket bowler's boots

1981
Non-woven disposable clothing for use in clean areas; shirt, headscarf, peaked cap with snood and mob cap in viscose rayon, made by Strentex Fabrics Ltd, 1984. Used in clean room or hospital.

Non-woven disposable clothing for use in clean areas

Two pairs tar sprayers goggles as used by Highways Dept., Wiltshire County Council, early 20th century

Two pairs tar sprayers goggles as used by Highways Dept

1901-1950
Quilted waistcoat, as issued to North Sea oil rig workers, Europe, 1980

Quilted waistcoat

1980
Precision integrating sound level meter (CEL-175, type 1), and microphone, made by Computer Engineering Ltd.

Precision integrating sound level meter

Rigid raiding craft Coxswain's immersion suit and pair of boots, made by Stores and Transport, from the Defence Clothing & Textiles Agency

Rigid raiding craft Coxswain's immersion suit and pair of boots

1978-1983
Two sets of ear defenders, one 'ERDE' and one 'Maxiguard' branded, developed at the Institute of Community Medicine.

Two sets of ear defenders

Suit with socks and gloves attached, made from stainless steel wire and wool used for high voltage electrical live-line working, developed by the Central Electricity Generating Board in conjunction with International Wool Secretariat and a Belgian weaver. Made of 75% natural wool fibre and 25% stainless steel fibres.

Live-line conducting suit in wool

circa 1980
Two pairs of protective gauntlet mitten gloves, one pair with an index finger housing, for shipboard firefighting 'Fleet' suit, designed for use on board ship, by Bristol Uniforms Limited, Bristol, England, 1981. Designed to follow the SOLAS Regulations of 1974 (Safety of Life at Sea) that required vessels to carry specialised safety equipment. Made of modacrylic beta-glass fibre yarn mixture cloth, lined with non-flammable twill.

Two pairs of Protective Gauntlet Mittens for shipboard firefighting

1981
Two weight belts - reinforced rubber. (One attached to dummy figure 1963-63 and one to dummy figure 1963-65)

Two weight belts for diving

1950-1966
"Barrier" non-woven disposable hospital theatre dress (large size), Johnson and Johnson Ltd.

"Barrier" non-woven disposable hospital theatre dress (large size)

New style: foundry worker's jacket, pair of aluminised heat resistant gloves, safety helmet and safety goggles

Foundry worker's jacket, pair of aluminised heat resistant gloves, safety helmet and safety goggles

1980-1984
Nomex, ceramic fibre, insulated, jacket and hood, unsigned, United Kingdom, 1976-1981

Insulated jacket and hood made of Nomex

1976-1981
Civilian helicopter survival suit in multithene, 1981

Civilian helicopter survival suit in multithene

"Burberry" aeroplane outrig suit, c1910, comprising: jacket, trousers, puttees, boots, gloves and helmet (replica)

"Burberry" aeroplane outrig suit

1910
Pair of rubber 'Marigold' surgical gloves, by LRC Products Limited, England, 1978-1981. Mounted on mannequin hands.

Pair of rubber 'Marigold' surgical gloves

1978-1981
Wet suit, comprising: jacket, long johns, hood, 'Vidi' mask, schnorkel, pair of fins and bag, and pair of wet suit socks, by Typhoon International Limited, Redcar, Cleveland, England, 1981

Wet suit: jacket, long johns, hood, mask, schnorkel, fins and bag, and socks

1981
Pair of electrically heated gloves (6 volt, for demonstration use), and wire attached to battery pack, Vacuum Reflex Ltd. type used by aircrew

Pair of Electrically Heated Gloves and Battery Pack

1980
'White Knight' air supplied helmet, and two polypropylene cord toggles, by R.F.D. Inflatables Ltd.

'White Knight' air supplied helmet

Cyclist's cape and leggings in yellow PVC coated cotton (made for Halfords shops), purchased by donor c1953

Cyclist's cape and leggings in yellow PVC coated cotton (made for Halfords shops)

circa 1953