Potential Issues When Wearing Non-Fire Resistant Base Layers with Outerwear Fire-Resistant Garments

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Details: Parent Category: Safety Info Posts; Category: Chemical Process Safety (PSM/RMP); Published: 19 February 2013

Fire-resistant garments are provided to the select few who voluntarily risk life and limb and go into harm’s way. They do it to ensure the safety and security of the rest of us. In this group are members of the all-volunteer military and first responders, from firefighters to the riot control units and SWAT team in any local police force.

A government agency sets requirements for the use of fire-resistant clothing (FRC) in most established industries. For instance, workers in the oil and gas industry are governed by standards for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Its policy (29 CFR 1910.132(a)) criminalizes the failure of employers to provide and use flame-resistant clothing for personnel in production-related operations.

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Comments

#2 Bryan 2013-03-01 16:32

I am not concerned with the layering to achieve the necessary level of protection. It is something to consider and to watch out for, but having worked in the South for most of my professional career as a safety manager I had very few days in 15 years where we had weather conditions so extreme that we prevented exposures during those conditions unless it was an emergency. I have heard all about the sweat/salt being an issue and a person that has sweat that much has MORE ISSUES than electrical!!! They should not even be working! And in the chemical industry it is very common for operators to layer to achieve the necessary level of protection. Yes FRC is hot, but this is no reason/excuse to allow the other "hazard" (not risk) which is FAR GREATER than getting too hot. Not trying to make heat related illnesses a non-concern, as they MUST be managed and can result in fatalities; however, we have to keep things into perspective.

#1 Christy Caputo 2013-02-28 21:33

In the majority of power utilities it is common practice for 100% cotton to be worn under AR clothing. Yes, we know cotton can burn, however, it will not melt to the skin like a blended fabric would. Now, ideally if the AR clothing is worn correctly; buttoned up, sleeves down buttoned around the wrists and tails tucked in to the waist, there leaves minimal chance of the cotton catching fire. My concern with layering AR clothing is the amount of heat that the human body can generate from working outside which can lead to heat fatigue, stress and stroke. What are your view points on the negative impact of layering AR clothing?

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