How will FR clothing help the wearer?
Do we really need FR clothing (we haven't had an accident in 20 years)?
What do all these standards and test methods mean?
What happens if a company does not comply with the laws?
Is 100% cotton good enough?
Isn't FR clothing too expensive?
Who's supposed to pay for FR clothing?
Will the union like it?
Which employees should actually wear FR clothing?
What about contractors and short-term employees?
How do we select a garment manufacturer?
What type of FR fabric is best?
What fabric do you recommend?
Does the FR performance wear out?
How do you know the FR protection is still there?
Is FR clothing uncomfortable?
How should FR garments fit?
What should be worn underneath FR clothing?
What about wearing jackets over FR clothing?
What effect do DEET-containing insect repellants have on FR clothing?
How is FR clothing cleaned?
How are FR garments repaired?
How often does FR clothing have to be replaced?
When should FR garments be retired?
How will FR clothing help the wearer?
Flame-resistant (FR) clothing significantly reduces burn injury, gives the wearer escape time, and increases chances of survival if caught in a flash fire or electric arc. FR clothing has saved many lives. Providing FR clothing demonstrates management's commitment to safety and employee well-being. It can improve morale as well as increase safety.
Do we really need FR clothing (we haven't had an accident in 20 years)?
Personnel working in industrial environments that have ignition hazards should wear FR clothing. Typical industries are the petroleum, chemical, electric and gas utility, aluminum, and various manufacturing industries. Even if a company has been "lucky" so far, the chances of someone getting seriously burned exist. Most companies with hazardous environments provide their employees safety equipment, and OSHA has a history of citing employers for not providing FR clothing when appropriate. Further, the cost of a single serious burn injury can pay for an entire FR clothing program.
What do all these standards and test methods mean?
Numerous performance standards and test methods exist that help define the performance of FR garments. The purpose of test methods and standards is to enable users to objectively evaluate materials, and define minimum performance criteria for fabrics or garments. Although conforming to standards is generally voluntary, using FR products that meet the performance requirements of standards is a good way to ensure your people are wearing acceptable FR garments.
What happens if a company does not comply with the laws?
OSHA has a history of citing employers for not providing appropriate protective equipment, including FR clothing. Not complying with the laws can leave your company open to fines from OSHA and litigation from other sources.
Is 100% cotton good enough?
100% cotton is flammable. It will ignite and continue to burn after being exposed to an ignition source. Most people understand the burning and melting hazard of fibers such as nylon and polyester. However, cotton burns just as readily as these fibers, and sometimes propagates flames more quickly. 100% cotton is acceptable for use in some electric utility applications when the energy of exposure is not sufficient to ignite the cotton. However, 100% cotton is flammable and should not be used in applications that require FR clothing.
Isn't FR clothing too expensive?
FR clothing is certainly higher priced than standard working clothing. However, some FR garments have significantly longer wear life than basic work clothing, decreasing replacement costs over time. In addition, the cost of one serious burn injury can often pay for an entire FR clothing program.
Who's supposed to pay for FR clothing?
The regulations and standards that apply to FR clothing do not dictate who should pay for FR clothing programs. In most instances, the employer pays for some or all of the FR clothing program. It is easier for the employer to mandate the use of FR clothing if they are providing it to their employees. Some companies use payroll deduction systems to have employees contribute to the cost.
Will the union like it?
Often, the union considers FR clothing to be an added benefit. When people understand the purpose of FR clothing and are included in the decision-making process, most unions support providing FR clothing to their members. The union should see a FR clothing program as a way to protect union members from the hazards of the workplace. Because there is a potential to view FR clothing programs as "forcing" people into uniforms, it is very important that the union be fully aware of the purpose of the program early in the decision-making process to ensure employee buy-in.
Which employees should actually wear FR clothing?
It is the responsibility of the employer to understand the hazards in the workplace, and to define those areas that require protective equipment, including FR clothing. In some industries such as electric utilities, the hazard can be calculated. In others, experts in the process or environment must assess the hazard. Some companies have "inside the gate" FR clothing policies, where anyone on the premises must wear FR clothing. Other companies provide FR clothing to certain employees or for use when performing specific tasks.
What about contractors and short-term employees?
OSHA has issued citations and fines to companies for not requiring contractors to follow the same safety rules and use the same safety equipment as full-time employees, including FR clothing. Frequently, companies require contractors to provide its employees FR clothing (the cost of which may or may not be negotiated in the contract). Host companies have refused to allow contractors to enter the site and perform work without the appropriate FR clothing.
How do we select a garment manufacturer?
A number of criteria should be evaluated when selecting a flame-resistant garment manufacturer. These include selection of multiple fabrics and styles, garment quality, price, delivery capabilities, customer service, quality control process, guarantees, focus on FR and ability to provide technical expertise to help a company to develop the optimal FR program to meet their unique needs and application. It is important to use a reputable manufacturer with a track record in the FR clothing market when purchasing these important safety items.
What type of FR fabric is best?
Many FR fabrics are available on the market today that provide good FR protection in a number of environments. All FR products have a balance of properties, including protection, cost, comfort, appearance, color selection and wear life. Each company should select the product that best meets its overall needs, assuming that the product provides the required FR protection.
What fabric do you recommend?
Each FR fabric has a balance of properties that should be considered when selecting FR clothing. Selecting an FR fabric is an individual choice, and must be made by the end-user company. Workrite garments are made only from trusted FR fabrics that have significant field experience and a solid track record. All of the products offered by Workrite offer proven protection in a variety of applications. Because we focus only on FR, Workrite has the technical expertise to help educate purchasers on the relative merits of each product. There are often trade-offs between criteria such as price, comfort and appearance. It is up to the end user to make the final choice.
Does the FR performance wear out?
The FR performance of the products offered by Workrite is guaranteed for the life of the garment. For some products, the FR performance is inherent in the chemical composition of the fiber, and therefore the FR performance cannot be removed. For other products, the flame-retardant treatment is guaranteed for the life of the garment, provided that proper laundering procedures are followed.
How do you know the FR protection is still there?
Unfortunately, there is no way of testing the FR performance of a garment in the field without destroying the garment in the process. Further, test results from one garment are not necessarily indicative of the performance of other garments in the program. Therefore, we recommend only using FR products for which the manufacturer guarantees the protection lasts for the life of the garment.
Is FR clothing uncomfortable?
FR clothing is a safety item for personnel working in environments with a hazard of clothing igniting. There are many climates where long pants and long sleeve shirts are hot, no matter what the fabric is made of. A variety of FR fabrics are available today, some of which are perceived as being more comfortable than others. FR clothing does not necessarily need to be more uncomfortable than standard clothing.
How should FR garments fit?
The looser fitting the FR garments, the more thermal protection the clothing system will provide. Air is a very effective insulator; therefore, maintaining an air gap between the clothing and skin will improve thermal protection. However, a loose fit must be balanced against the hazard of clothing being caught in moving equipment. Most FR products will shrink either the same or less than standard work clothing, and should be sized accordingly.
What should be worn underneath FR clothing?
FR garments should be worn over non-melting fabrics or other FR materials. For example, one recommended combination is wearing a Nomex IIIA coverall over a 100% cotton tee shirt and underwear. Layering garments in this manner dramatically increases the thermal protection of the clothing system by adding "air gaps" that provide excellent thermal insulation.
What about wearing jackets over FR clothing?
The outermost layer of clothing should be flame resistant. Wearing flammable garments (such as nylon parkas) over FR clothing will compromise the protection of the FR clothing system. Even though the FR garment will not ignite, the flammable jacket can become a burning fuel source close to the skin that can burn the wearer by heat transfer through the FR fabric.
What effect do DEET-containing insect repellants have on FR clothing?
Since DEET-containing insect repellants contain flammable chemicals, applying them topically to FR garments may have a negative impact on a garment’s flammability. Testing has shown that applying insect repellant containing DEET to the garment itself increases the duration of the surface flame when exposed to a fire hazard. For this reason Workrite recommends applying insect repellant directly to the skin and not on the garment itself.
How is FR clothing cleaned?
Most flame resistant garments can be laundered at home using "normal" detergents and procedures. Most FR products prohibit the use of chlorine bleach for a variety of reasons. FR garments should be laundered separately. Fabric softeners used in the dryer (such as "BOUNCE" sheets) are safe for use with FR clothing. Many FR products can be industrial laundered. Each Workrite garment contains a label with home laundering instructions, and Workrite can provide industrial laundering instructions upon request. Laundering instructions vary by FR fabric, so please check labels carefully before laundering.
How are FR garments repaired?
FR garments should be repaired with FR materials and components consistent with the original materials in the garment. Repairing FR garments with non-FR thread or fabric can compromise the thermal performance of the garment. Workrite can do repairs or provide the appropriate materials.
How often does FR clothing have to be replaced?
The wear life of FR clothing is very dependent on the type of fabric used and the quality of the garment construction. Some types of garments can last more than 5 years, while other types may last 9 to 18 months. Garments should be replaced when they are beyond repair, contaminated, or aesthetically unacceptable.
When should FR garments be retired?
Garments should be removed from service when they have holes or tears that cannot be repaired, or when the fabric has thinned and become "thread bare." Garments contaminated with flammable substances should be removed from service if the garment cannot be adequately decontaminated.
