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Protective Clothing for Farm Work

What you wear can reduce contact with dirt, animal waste, chemicals, sun, and rough material. Protective clothing works best when it suits the task, fits, and is cared for properly.

What can clothing protect against?

Farm clothing can reduce skin contact with dust, manure, plant sap, bites, sunburn, and minor abrasions. For chemicals and other serious hazards it is part of a larger set of protections that includes gloves, eye protection, and sometimes respirators, all matched to the label.

Clothing cannot protect against everything. Read the product label or the safety data sheet for the specific protection a job requires.

Where biting insects, ticks, or poison ivy are present, long clothing also helps, though you should still check for ticks after outdoor work and follow public health advice.

What should I wear for everyday work?

Long sleeves and long pants made of sturdy, breathable fabric suit many jobs. Fit matters: loose or dangling items can catch on rotating parts, so pull back long hair, tuck in drawstrings, and avoid loose cuffs or jewelry near machinery.

Choose by season. Light, breathable layers help in heat; layered, dry clothing helps in cold. Wet clothing drains body heat quickly in cold weather.

Footwear, gloves, and head coverings round out an outfit. Think about the whole body from head to toe when you plan a job, and notice gaps such as bare wrists between sleeves and gloves.

• Long sleeves and pants for most jobs.
• Nothing loose near moving parts.
• Layers for changing weather.

What about chemical work?

Pesticide labels in the United States state what clothing and equipment must be worn. Follow the label for the specific product, and do not rely on normal work clothes where the label calls for more.

If you are unsure about a term on the label, ask your state extension pesticide safety educator or the manufacturer. The EPA pesticides pages explain the role of the label.

Keep chemical-use clothing apart from everyday items, and do not wear it to the store or into the kitchen. Residue can travel on fabric to places where children play.

How do I launder work clothes?

Wash work clothes separately from family laundry, particularly after chemical work. Follow the label and the clothing maker's instructions, and do not take contaminated clothing into the house.

Items that are heavily soaked with a concentrated product may need to be discarded; the label will say. Ask your extension office when in doubt.

Follow the clothing maker's care label and the product label for chemical work. If you are unsure how to handle heavily soiled items, ask your extension office for current guidance.

How do I choose and replace clothing?

Look for durable stitching, comfortable fit across the shoulders and knees, and fabric suited to the work. Replace garments that are torn, thin, or too contaminated to clean.

Keep a spare set for dirty jobs so you are not tempted to continue in clothing that should be changed.

Choose garments you can move in. Stiff or tight clothing restricts reach and can lead to awkward postures that cause strains.

What about youth and new workers?

Children and teens often wear whatever is handy, but they need clothing that fits and suits the task. Explain why loose sleeves and long strings are risky around machinery.

Confirm youth work rules with the U.S. Department of Labor and your state before assigning tasks.

Make clothing rules clear to seasonal staff and family members at the start of the season, with a simple handout or a short walk-through at the equipment shed.

How do I plan clothing for hot and cold work?

In heat, lightweight, loose-fitting, breathable fabrics and a wide-brimmed hat help, but keep sleeves and cuffs from hanging near machinery. Take water breaks and know the signs of heat illness; the CDC and National Weather Service have official guidance.

In cold, layers trap warmth and can be added or removed as work changes. Keep a dry change of clothes handy, since wet clothing speeds heat loss. Take breaks in a warm place and watch coworkers for signs of trouble such as confusion or heavy shivering; call 911 in an emergency.

Check clothing before the season starts. Repair seams, replace worn items, and make sure that anyone who joins the work has enough clean sets to change when a job gets dirty or wet. Ask the extension office or a local farm safety educator for a checklist.

• Heat: light, breathable, no loose parts.
• Cold: layers and a dry spare set.
• Take breaks and check on each other.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.