As a tradie, you’ve probably seen your fair share of things on-site, as well as dealt with a few curveballs that have been thrown your way. Sometimes, these curveballs leave you thinking, ‘I should definitely do this next time,’ or making a mental note to bring something with you that you – of course – forget the next time.

If you’re looking for some clever tradie hacks, look no further. We’ve put together a list of how you can upgrade your site to get the most out of your workday.

Pump the tunes

We’re sure we don’t have to tell you twice but having music playing throughout your workday is a great mood booster. Not only does it help pass the time, but it keeps the good vibes flowing all around. Here are some other benefits of listening to music on-site.

Increases morale

One of the significant benefits of listening to music on site is the increase in employee morale. Music is a creature of comfort for many and presents a non-invasive way to make a worksite more comfortable for all present. It’s an excellent way for employees to engage in their work and stave off boredom.

Sets pace

As well as engaging employees, the type of music you listen to on-site can set the pace for activities. It can unite the workplace into the same working rhythm, stimulating productivity as a result. Up-tempo music with a solid beat can set the pace for activities, having workers adjust their working speed to the ‘speed’ of the music.

Make sure you invest in a good, high-quality speaker for your site – one that can brave the elements and provide clear, loud sound. Check out these speakers for a great upgrade to your site.

Have a backup plan

There’s almost nothing worse than going to the toilet and realising that there’s no toilet paper. This horror story is common around worksites – especially ones where portable toilets are involved. A good item to stock in your work kit is an extra roll of toilet paper. Although it sounds laughable to carry this around with you, it’s better than the alternative… Plus, your mates won’t be laughing when it’s them stuck without it!

We found this fun little loo-roll holder to protect your ‘backup plan’ from the elements.

Nothing but layers

When working on-site – outdoors or indoors – you’ll likely face a range of elements, all varying in force and severity. Wearing or bringing to work items of clothing that can be layered means you’ll be prepared for whatever the day brings. Some of our top layering pieces are:

Streetworx heritage pullover

Streetworx sleeveless tee

Streetworx stretch mid-layer

Streetworx stretch waterproof jacket

Antarctic softshell jacket

¼ Zip brushed fleece

As you can probably tell, our Streetworx range is fantastic for layering up on site. However, most of our garments can be mixed and matched to create both warm and comfortable uniforms.

Keep it cool

Let’s face it – some days on-site can be just plain HOT. While you’re sweltering away under the hot summer sun and undertaking physical labour, it might feel difficult to cool your body down. Here are some ways tradies can keep cool when the weather turns up the heat.

Sun safety over everything

Sunscreen and a hat – just like your mum taught you when you were young! Although your sock tan/burn is a fun talking point at parties, it’s not good for your body. Before you start your day, make sure you apply sunscreen and reapply throughout the day. Adding a hat and sunglasses will also help lower your body temperature and ensure you don’t get any heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke or severe dehydration.

Drink plenty of water

There’s no better feeling than cracking a cold one after a long day and feeling relief from the nice, cool liquid. While nothing will take away from that feeling, drinking water throughout the day (every day – not just on warm ones!) is essential. It keeps your body hydrated and replaces the fluids you lose throughout the day through sweat. If water isn’t your thing, drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade help to replace some of the electrolytes you’ve gone through.

Find some shade

While you’re having a drink break, find a shady spot to sit for a minute and take a break. Sometimes your body needs to slow down and catch up. Some other ways you can cool yourself down might include:

• Heading to the nearest air-conditioned café for a short break.
• Hosing yourself down (literally!) if allowed.
• Investing in a good quality esky to keep your food and drinks cool.
• Purchasing a portable fan with water misting features for quick cooling breaks.
• Wear quality workwear with moisture-wicking properties to draw sweat away from the body. Check out more details on our engineered cooling range.

Bring spares of everything

One on-site hack to add to your repertoire is to bring spares of everything. You never know when you’ll be hit by a burst water pipe, a large amount of mud or who knows what else. Especially if this happens at the beginning of your day, you’ll feel disgusting for the rest of the day. If you’re working in situations where you’re getting drenched in sweat, it might be nice to have an after-lunch change of clothes to leave you feeling more refreshed.

Pack a gym bag to leave in your work vehicle that has a few of the essentials, such as spare socks and underwear. You may even want to include a complete change of clothes such as pants, shorts, jackets and shirts – you never know what might happen to your uniform on-site!

Whether investing in a new speaker to blast some tunes, bringing a roll of spare toilet paper or layering up in the cooler months, there are plenty of ways to upgrade your site. If you’ve got a tradie hack that you use on your worksite, we’d love to see it! Send us a photo or tag us on Instagram - @syzmikworkwear.