The boiler suit, also known as a coverall in the US, is a loose-fitting one-piece garment used in the workplace to protect against occupational hazards. It has pockets, wide leg openings, and is made from various materials. It originated in coal-fired boiler rooms in the 1890s and is different from overalls. It has been used in various professions and settings, including the military and music videos.
The boiler suit, more commonly known as a coverall in the United States (US), is a one-piece, jumpsuit-like garment that covers the torso, arms, and legs. Instead of offering the perfect fit of the jumpsuit, the boiler suit is much looser, so it can easily be worn over other clothing. It is typically used in the workplace to protect the wearer and their clothing from spills, stains, cuts, burns, and other occupational hazards.
Designs vary, but boiler suits generally open along the front of the torso for easy entry by the wearer. Suits are usually secured by button, snap, or zipper. The leg openings are generally wide enough to slip on while wearing shoes. Often the boiler suit has pockets of different sizes to store tools and equipment as needed. Straps are often attached to the leg to hold long-handled tools such as hammers.
The materials used to make a boiler suit also vary, depending largely on its intended use. Some are designed to protect the wearer from anything more severe than a paint splatter or spilled motor oil; others must deal with open flames, welding sparks, or corrosives. Fabrics range from lightweight cotton blends and synthetics to waterproof or flame retardant reinforced fabrics, and even disposable polyethylene.
The boiler suit gets its name from coal-fired boiler rooms, where it was first used in the 1890s. In an environment where embers, hot ash and soot could fall into a waistband and get trapped underneath of a belt, the one-piece construction of the boiler suit offered fewer gaps and better protection. The full body cover also protected the worker from the intense heat of the boiler, and the worker’s clothing was protected from burns and coal dust.
Boiler suits have often been confused with overalls, and while there are similarities, these terms are not synonymous. Both are heavy-duty garments used to protect the wearer on the job site, often with large pockets and long tool straps. Coveralls differ in that they are pants with a bib and suspenders, offering no protection for the arms or back.
The boiler suit has been used in a variety of professions and settings, including factories, cleaning crews, miners, military forces, and paintball enthusiasts. High visibility suits offer additional protection for road crews. Kettle suits have even found their way into popular music as well, worn by Devo in a music video during the 1980s.
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