Work uniforms do not exist solely for the purpose of fostering a feeling of solidarity, they can also be functional. Uniforms for certain professions offer protection as well. We will look at some of the professions that have both a symbolic and functional or protective purpose for wearing uniforms. Here, we consider the professions of a chemist or someone who works in a chemistry lab, a firefighter and a football player.
People who work in laboratories often handle chemicals. Some of these chemicals can be dangerous and can cause a lot of harm if they come into contact with skin. Additionally, doctors also wear lab coats to minimize the risk of being exposed to any infectious material. Lastly, lab coats can be used to protect against fire. Some lab coats are made of a flame retardant material, but the main advantage that a lab coat wearer has is the fact that the coat itself can quickly be removed and isolated from the rest of the body.
All the professionals who work in this environment will wear lab coats, both to provide them with the protection that they need and also to make the distinction that they are members of staff of that particular organization. Some lab coats may have branding or insignias of the specific organization that they work for, but in cases like this, the symbolic or branding aspect of the lab coat is only secondary.
Another set of professionals that deal with fire and are also required to wear work uniforms are fire fighters. Fighting fire is a very dangerous profession and requires individuals who are courageous and giving. While courage and bravery play an important role, these individuals aren't superhuman. They cannot withstand high temperatures without some sort of protective clothing.
This is where the fire fighters' work uniforms play a significant part. The uniforms not only have the fire department branding and the name of the fire fighter, but it also has the capability of protecting the fire fighter during his most dangerous part of working running into burning buildings to save civilians. We were all able to instantly recognize the heroic New York City fire fighters during the September 11th attacks by the distinctive "FDNY" branding on their uniforms.
Individuals engaged in sports will also wear uniforms and some of them also offer protective features. Football and Ice Hockey players not only have team colors, but also have a lot of protective gear that goes on as part of their uniform. It is easy to pick out the distinctive uniform of an American Football player because of its unique design. The same can be said for the Ice Hockey uniforms as well.
The marrying of the symbolic and functional nature of uniforms is not new; it has been around for a long time and is a clever way of both projecting a team or organizations solidarity without having to sacrifice the protective aspects as well.
Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Can-Your-Work-Uniform-Save-Your-Life-/39159
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