FR Clothing. Don Mossman

Transcription

1 FR Clothing Don Mossman

2 Flame Resistant and Fire Retardant. Resistant in this context is defined as a material that is inherently resistant to catching fire (self-extinguishing) and does not melt or drip when exposed directly to extreme heat. Some textiles that meet this description include: Modacrylics, Nomex, and Indura FR materials.

3 Flame Resistant and Fire Retardant Cont. Retardant is defined as a material that has been chemically treated to self-extinguish. There are many textiles that can be treated. For example, treated cotton is sometimes used on garments since it will self-extinguish and will typically not melt or drip. However, in our industry (high visibility), polyester is a textile that is frequently used and potentially causes the greatest harm. Polyester will eventually self-extinguish, but it will also melt and drip molten polymers. It is the melting and dripping that causes the greatest safety concern

4 Why Flame Resistant Clothing? CLOTHED AREAS CAN BE BURNED MORE SEVERELY THAN EXPOSED SKIN.

5 The Importance of Thermal Protective apparel Thermal Protective Apparel Maintains a Barrier to Isolate the Wearer From the Thermal Exposure Traps Air Between the Wearer and the Barrier to Provide Insulation From the Exposure Reduces Burn Injury and Provides Escape Time Does Not Burn, Melt or Drip

6 Flash Fire A fire that spreads rapidly through a diffuse fuel -Dust -Gas -Vapors of an ignitable liquid

7 NFPA 2112 Standard New Standard Flame Resistant (FR) garments for the protection of industrial personnel against the dangers of flash fire. Specifies the minimum design, performance, certification requirements, and test methods for flame resistant garments for use in areas at risk from flash fires.

8 NFPA 2112 Standard Cont. Vertical flame test:- -unwashed Fabric -After 100 industrial washings Maximum Char Length 4 After flame 2 seconds

9 2010 OSHA Memo Directed at oil companies Service Companies Production Companies Restated OSHA Ruling

10 OSHA's Ruling States: Except as provided by paragraphs (h)(2) through (h)(6) of this section, the protective equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), used to comply with this part, shall be provided by the employer at no cost to employees.

11 OSHA The General Duty Clause, Requires Employers to: "...furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.

12 How Do You Know That The Garments Are Compliant to the OSHA Requirements? Garment meets the NFPA 2112 certification 3 rd Party Certified Clearly Marked Inside/Outside

13 Burn Injury Principles BURN DEPTH IS A MEASURE OF SEVERITY FIRST-DEGREE: SKIN BECOMES RED, NO BLISTER SECOND-DEGREE: SKIN BLISTERS, EPIDERMIS MUST REGENERATE THIRD-DEGREE: FULL THICKNESS DESTROYED, SKIN CANNOT REGENERATE, SCAR TISSUE FORMS

14 Damage Intangibles Employee s quality of life Medical Employer s reputation Litigation costs Workers comp rates

15 Flame Resistant Clothing Common Sense Guidelines Outerwear Must be Flame Resistant Flammable Outerwear Can Ignite and Continue to Burn Essentially Eliminating the Protection of Flame Resistant Clothing Worn Underneath An Ignited Flammable Outer Garment Creates a Heat Source Close to the Skin, e.g., A Nylon Wind Breaker Worn Over an Flame Resistant Coverall. Although the Flame-Resistant Coverall Will Not Burn, the Wearer Can Be Burned by the Additional Heat Transfer From the Ignition of the Flammable Outerlayer.

16 Does the Product Have a Lifetime Guarantee? If properly maintained, the flame resistant capabilities of the fabric should be expected to last the lifetime of the garment. Look for garments with this warranty. Some for a maximum # of washings

17 How Comfortable is The Garment? Because FRC is only effective if workers wear it, it s essential to select garments that are appropriate for the work environment. For example, if workers are drilling in North Dakota, you ll likely want heavyweight, reflective garments. Conversely, if workers are drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, you ll want lightweight, flexible fabrics. Being mindful of worker comfort goes a long way in establishing the effectiveness of the program.

18 Other Considerations Are: Outside Temperatures Heat & Cold Heat Stress Dehydration etc..

19 How Will Garments be Laundered? FRC garments come with very specific laundering instructions to protect the integrity of the fabric. If workers launder the garments at home, they should be washed independently of other clothing. Never washed with chlorine bleach, fabric softener, hard water or soap containing animal fats

20 Embroidery Be Careful! FR Thread usually Kevlar

21 Are Indura and Indura Ultra Soft the same? No... while both fabrics are from the same fabric converter (Westex), they are different. Both are good products, both are FR Cotton and both are FR treated for the life of the garment, but they are significantly different. Indura is chemically treated 100% cotton. Indura Ultra Soft is made of 88% FR Cotton and 12% Nylon woven together to make the garment much more durable and comfortable.

22 FLAME RESISTANT CLOTHING Flame Resistant Clothing Will Not Ignite and Continue to Burn From Exposure to Flame. Examples of Flame Resistant Clothing Products: Products With Flame Retardants»FR Rayon Blends with Nomex»Modacrylic Cotton Blend»Flame Retardant Treated Cotton

23 Common Misinterpretations FR NFPA 701 FR Disposable Coveralls Reflective vests Hardhat Winter Liner

24 Tips to Save Money FR Shirts & Blue Jean Responsibility of Employee Consider a bagged/grouped set