At a glance
| Customer | Minato City in Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Municipal public works, waste collection |
| Work | Household trash collection, including assisted pickup |
| Heat challenge | Long sleeves required all year, dusty sites, outdoor work between stops |
| Product | Kuchofuku fan-cooled jackets in the city's uniform color (the Japanese line from the same group as ZIPPKOOL) |
| In use since | 2023 |
About the organization
The office collects household trash in a dense central Tokyo ward. Its routes cover business districts, high-rise apartments, and older neighborhoods, and each area changes how a collection works.
The problem
Collection crews have to wear long sleeves all year. Some sites are dusty enough that workers wear masks. In summer, that adds up to a high risk of heat illness.
The work is on foot, outside, with several stops a day. One crew member said his truck covers about six stops between the processing plant and the collection sites. Another, on assisted pickup for elderly and disabled residents, said his work clothes used to get so soaked that he had to wring them out in a park.
Why they chose fan-cooled jackets
The idea started when a staff member saw crews in another ward wearing fan-equipped clothing and asked the office to try it.
The office set conditions before choosing. The garment had to puff up as little as possible when the fans ran, match the color and feel of the regular uniform, and not feel out of place. It also had to take the city's name print and reflective tape, and the supplier could do that.
What the crews say
On breaks:
"Working in it is cooler, of course, but the biggest difference is on breaks. The coolness when I rest in the shade is nothing like before. And in the truck, which has air conditioning, the sweat on my back dries quickly and I'm comfortable."
On continuous work:
"I used to wring out my soaked work clothes in a park. Now I can work continuously. Even in areas lined with concrete buildings, where wind and humidity don't move, I feel cool as I go around."
Translated from Japanese. Crew members, city sanitation office.
What this means for a US public works crew
- Look at breaks, not just the work. The first crew member's biggest change was how fast sweat dried while resting.
- Check what your uniform rules allow. This crew had to keep long sleeves and a uniform look, and it shaped the whole choice.
- Plan for dust and masks. Heat protection has to work with the rest of the PPE.
- Conditions matter. Fan-cooled gear works best in hot, dry, or moderately humid air, and less well in sustained very high humidity.
Safety note
Fans inflate the garment. Near truck compactors, hoppers, lifts, or other moving equipment, switch the fans off and keep the garment zipped. Follow your agency's rules for loose clothing near equipment.
For US crews
The garments in this story were long-sleeve Kuchofuku jackets in the city's uniform color. ZIPPKOOL's garments are hi-vis yellow-green: the HVN-510U short-sleeve jacket (ANSI/ISEA 107 Type R, Class 3) and the HVN-400U vest (Type R, Class 2).
Talk to us about your crew
Volume pricing, Net 30 terms available for qualified business accounts, and complete compliance documentation for your approval process.
