Page 36 - Occupational Health & Safety, March 2017

PROTECTIVE APPAREL
cifically to stand up against steel, but it’s a safety manager’s constant dilemma to con- front workers swapping out one set of PPE designed for one hazard in a particular area for another set when facing a different risk across the facility. The new reality in many industrial workplaces—foundries and steel mills included—is a trend toward staffing “cross-functional” employees. As more processes have become automated, many workers are now performing multiple tasks across functions in their facilities. With this crossover in their day-to-day responsibili- ties, workers may come in contact with sev- eral hazards and risks in one shift.
Molten metal also emits electromag- netic radiation in the furnace and pouring areas. Foundry workers are endangered be- cause of infrared and UV radiation. Work- ers sometimes do not recognize or under- stand that, even when they may not be in impending danger of being hurt, some PPE protocols are designed to prevent problems linked to long-term exposure.
Professionals routinely working with dangerous molten metal substances need a protective solution that can defend them against molten metal splash and radiant heat/electromagnetic radiation while also standing up to direct flame. To meet the needs of workers confronting these ther- mal hazards with varying risk levels, differ- ent fibers and fabrics have been developed that offer multifunctional protection.
Multiuse protective fabrics are designed to protect against numerous types of haz- ards in one single garment. Performance features of these fabrics in molten metal environments include: molten metal shed- ding capabilities; flame resistance; radiant heat and radiation protection; comfort and functionality; and durability. Protective fabric and clothing manufacturers for the steel industry are challenged with devel- oping solutions that can satisfy all of these performance requirements.
Protecting Against Molten Metal
Some new fiber blends include propri- etary compounds that enable fabrics to better shed molten metal. Sparks and splatter simply roll off the material, mak- ing it ideal for use in outerwear applica- tions such as jackets, sleeves, coveralls, aprons, bibs, and spats.
The ASTM F955 Pour Test demon- strates and quantifies a protective fabric’s resistance to contact with molten met-
al and its ability to prevent a theoretical second-degree burn. There are multiuse protective fabrics as light as 8.5 oz/yd2 able to pass the pour test for molten iron and aluminum.
Protecting Against Direct Flame
Truly non-flammable protective fabrics (as opposed to purely flame-resistant fabrics) offer the highest level of protection. They will not burn, melt, or ignite when exposed to direct flame. Even after intense exposure, they maintain their strength and integrity and continue to protect.
A good test for flame resistance is the Vertical Flame test for After Flame. There are protective fabrics on the market that have 0 seconds After Flame, which far sur- passes industry standards requiring 2 sec- onds or less.
Protecting Against Radiant Heat and Radiation
Multiuse protective fabrics may be alumi- nized to enhance protection against radiant heat and infrared and UV radiation. These fabrics protect against radiant hazards and convective heat in the form of molten metal splash at a fraction of the weight of other alternatives in use, and they offer signifi- cantly improved flexibility.
Comfort and Functionality
The weight of a fabric plays a significant role in wearer comfort, and lighter-weight solutions are constantly being developed to minimize the physiological load on the wearer. New multiuse protective fabrics can be up to 60 percent lighter than traditional protective options. This lighter weight in- creases a wearer’s comfort and productivity as it decreases the amount of muscle exer- tion and heat stress that builds up over the course of a work shift.
Lightweight protective apparel allows workers to wear multiple layers when un- dertaking hazardous tasks. Layering is an optimal and flexible solution to increase protection while maintaining comfort. With a layered clothing system, two plus two often equals five when it comes to ther- mal protection. Thanks to the additional insulation provided by the air trapped be- tween layers, two lighter-weight or low- er-rated garments often can provide the same or even better protection when worn together than a single, heavier primary pro- tection layer. Also, with a layered approach,
employees can wear heavier, higher-rated outer gear in extreme-risk situations and then remove this clothing when the threat of injury is not as great and still be protect- ed by a lighter-weight protective base layer.
Durability
High-quality multiuse protective fabrics are inherently flame resistant, meaning that their thermal protective properties will not wash out or wear away. Protective cloth- ing made from these fabrics can be worn again and again, even under conditions of daily exposure, and can withstand multiple laundry/dry cycles. This long service life provides significant value to users.
While not directly applicable to steel- workers, multiuse protective fabrics may also provide these benefits:
Protecting against arc flash
There are lightweight multiuse protec- tive fabrics available that are rated NFPA 70E Hazard Risk Category 2 or higher (lighter-weight fabrics typically fall into category 1). These fabrics can also have arc ratings over 9 cals.
Protecting from the elements
A recent advancement in multiuse pro- tective fabrics is including an encapsulated barrier of silicone that can help shield a worker against harsh weather conditions, reduce wind penetration, and repel water.
Wearing PPE tagged as being FR doesn’t make a steelworker invincible to the diverse hazards found in a typical steel mill or foundry, especially when exposure to molten metals is involved. It is impor- tant to understand the entire spectrum of risks steelworkers are exposed to in these industrial environments and consider mul- tifunctional PPE alternatives to protect against each hazard. Steelworkers require flame resistance, heat and radiation protec- tion, and a shield against steel.
Tim Cashell is director of protective mar- kets at TexTech Industries, one of the world’s leading producers of high-performance tex- tiles. With more than two decades of textile development and manufacturing experience, Cashell leads a team in constructing a wide range of flame-resistant fabrics for numer- ous industrial, military, and tactical appli- cations. TexTech is committed to building a better protective market. Contact Cashell at tcashell@textechindustries.com or (207) 756-8606, and visit www.textechindustries. com for more information.
32 Occupational Health & Safety | MARCH 2017
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