Tag: FR Clothing
Tips for Protecting Workers in the Oil & Gas Industry
Growth & expansion in the oil & gas industry has led business organizations to increase operations & take on more projects; this has led to increased demand for skilled workers. Workers working in the oil & gas industry are often at higher risk of on-the-job injuries. But oil & gas companies that take steps to protect employees helps to prevent accidents, increase retention rates & lower worker’s compensation costs.
Oil & gas work, by nature, is dangerous, and while efforts are constantly being made to reduce the risks of fires & explosions, it still presents a significant hazard. In this article, we will see how you can protect workers in the oil & gas industry.
Why FR Clothing matters in the Oil & Gas industry?
Burn injuries do occur in the Oil & Gas industry & the consequences can be severe. Along with this tragedy of serious injury or death, burn injuries can cost a company millions of dollars in OSHA fines, legal costs, hospital fees, increased insurance premiums, reputation damage & lost productivity.
Preventing fires & explosions from occurring is always better than trying to mitigate the damage afterwards. And the first step toward avoiding workplace injuries should always be following safe work practices. However, even if you’ve taken proper precautions, it is important to be prepared for an accident. This implies that wearing proper flame-resistant (FR) clothing on the job is essential!
Read on to see things you must take into consideration while selecting FR clothing to protect workers in the Oil & Gas industry.
Safety
The first thing that you must consider while selecting FR clothing should always be safety. OSHA requires employers to identify risks & protect employees from hazards in the workplace. This includes ensuring each worker has proper personal protective equipment (PPE). On various occasions, OSHA has used this regulation as the basis for citations when workers have suffered burn injuries & the employer did not require FR protective clothing. To comply with OSHA regulations & to keep employees safe from harm, it is important to identify the types of hazards your workers might encounter on the job & ensure that the flame-resistant apparel you choose must be designed to address those hazards.
Comfort
Along with protection, comfort is another important aspect that you must take into consideration while selecting FR workwear clothing. If your workers are uncomfortable in their FR clothing, they may not wear it consistently or appropriately; this can detract from the safety benefits.
For the maximum possible comfort, it is important to provide your workers with correctly sized garments. This implies that you must consider ordering non-stock sizes or seeking garments that are designed specifically for women. Additionally, you would want to choose garments that enable the greatest possible ease of movement to enhance comfort & support job performance. It is also helpful to choose products that are appropriate according to the temperature & weather conditions. Thus, choose fabric types that balance proper protection along with comfort considerations such as breathability, weight, warmth, and moisture-wicking.
Durability
Finally, beyond protection & comfort, you must also consider the durability & long-term value of your FR clothing. While you may find certain lower-quality options less expensive initially, but they may need replacement more frequently due to excess shrinkage or poor durability; this results in higher overall costs in the long run. Also, keep in mind that FR workwear clothing that has holes, rips, or worn-out areas may not provide adequate protection, thus compromising the wearer’s safety. Therefore, to maximize protection while achieving the best possible value, choose FR clothing that is made with high-quality fabrics & manufactured with durability in mind. Choose workwear clothing that is made by trusted manufacturers, and look for features that add to its durability.
Ending Note
In the Oil & Gas industry, burn injuries can have devastating consequences. But with safe work practices & implementing an effective FR workwear clothing program, you can significantly reduce the likelihood that a serious injury will occur.
What does “FR” in the FR Clothing really mean?
There are a lot of nuances & requirements when it comes to FR clothing. Do you what “FR” really means? Maybe you’ve just been told that you need to wear FR clothing at your new job. Whatever the case is, it is important for you to understand the meaning of FR clothing. In this article, we will talk about what is flame resistant clothing and what does “FR” here really means.
What is Flame Resistant Clothing?
Flame-resistant clothing — commonly abbreviated as FR clothing — refers to any clothing items that are designed & specifically manufactured to protect wearers from potential intermittent flames & thermal exposure. These clothing items are engineered to protect the wearer from injury due to flames as they do not easily catch fire, and even when they do, they are designed to self-extinguish. If the wearer gets exposed to a brief, intermittent flame while wearing FR clothing and the clothing catches fire, it will self extinguish itself. FR clothing’s ability causes the wearer’s risk of burn injury to plummet & can often provide the wearer with enough time to escape the unsafe environment.
All these attributes work together to provide the wearer with a far greater chance of escape & survival if they find themselves suddenly in the middle of a flash fire, an electric arc, or any other unexpected thermal problem that can cause injury. In situations like these, FR clothing can be the difference between being severely injured or escaping unscathed.
Moreover, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), delineates specific guidelines. Any FR clothing required by a workplace will need to fall within their guidelines. OSHA stipulates any worker working in conditions where they may be exposed to flames, electric arcs or any similar hazards must not wear clothing that “could potentially increase the extent of the injury.” In addition to this, OSHA’s clothing requirements then go on to prohibit clothing made of nylon, rayon, polyester or acetate, unless the employer can prove they’ve been appropriately treated to withstand the conditions the workers may encounter during their work.
“FR”- Flame-Resistant or Fire-Resistant or Fire-Retardant
People often confuse FR for Flame-Resistant or Fire-Resistant or Fire-Retardant as they usually assume these three terms are synonyms. However, the confusion is understandable, given the similarities of these terms. But actually, two of the terms are interchangeable, but another one of them is quite a bit different. So, here are the major differences between these terms.
Flame-Resistant: Flame-resistant clothing is typically made from inherently non-flammable fabrics & materials. The materials used for making this clothing have a chemical structure which is naturally resistant to flames. This fabric type may catch fire, but it will either self-extinguish or burn very slowly, which gives wearer enough time to escape. The most important function of these fabrics is to prevent any further spread of fire.
Fire-Resistant: This term can be taken as a synonym for flame-resistant. If you find this term as a replacement of flame-resistant, don’t be confused. Both these terms mean exactly the same thing, and it is correct to use them interchangeably.
Fire-Retardant: Fire-retardant fabrics are quite different from the other two. These fabrics are those that have undergone chemical treatment to acquire some of the similar properties that flame-resistant fabrics inherently have. As a result of these chemical procedures, flame/fire-retardant fabrics become self-extinguishing & slow-burning. Any type of fabric can be used, but it must undergo this chemical treatment before it can be considered as flame/fire retardant.
These definitions clearly state the meaning & significance of these terms. So make sure you understand the requirements & guidelines of your industry & work type and choose your “FR” clothing accordingly.