Page 56 - Occupational Health & Safety, July/August 2019

PROTECTIVE APPAREL
AR/FR Garment Considerations Often Overlooked in Summer
Especially in the summer months, employee comfort is a critical factor as wearer comfort directly impacts a user’s want-to-wear experience. BY SCOTT FRANCIS
While arc-rated (AR)/flame-resistant (FR) garments are a key component of thermal exposure safety programs throughout the year, certain summer conditions pose specific, if challenging, dilemmas for safety managers. The basic premise of AR/FR garment care, regulated by industry standards, is the same throughout the year, yet the environmental and sea- sonal impacts of the summertime invite us to review some commonly held beliefs and examine whether they are in line with the best practices of our industry.
Misconception #1: Changes to proper wear, like rolling up long-sleeve shirts, will not impact a garment’s AR/FR protection.
In Reality: Any improper alterations or wear measures can seriously impact a garment’s protective charac- teristics. From rolling sleeves to replacing buttons or trims with non-FR grade options, any deviation from the manufacturer’s usage guidelines or from consen- sus standards compromises the garment’s effective- ness and ultimately an employee’s safety.
Consider: Especially in the summer months, em- ployee comfort is a critical factor as wearer comfort directly impacts a user’s want-to-wear experience. Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing helps meet the
comfort and breathability needs of those in extreme heat or high-temperature environments. In addi- tion, specifying AR/FR garments with cotton blends, given its inherent characteristics, or performance fabrics with moisture-wicking technology help miti- gate those issues. Color choice can also play a role in increasing comfort. Dark-colored AR/FR garments attract and trap heat, which increases fabric surface temperature. By contrast, light-color garments draw less heat overall.
Misconception #2: AR/FR garments cannot help with, and if anything increase, heat stress risk factors.
In Reality: Advances in AR/FR fabrics can help to mitigate heat stress-causing factors. These fabrics— lightweight blends and engineered cotton blends— allow safety managers to balance hazard protection and breathability in order to keep workers cooler and more comfortable on the job.
Consider: Although it cannot replace primary heat stress prevention factors like hydration, sched- uled rest, and provided shade, the moisture-wicking properties of breathable, trusted AR/FR fabric blends ensure that sweat is wicked away, promoting evapora- tion and radiation dissipation to enhance the body’s built-in cooling mechanism. These technologically advanced fabrics still provide NFPA 2112 certification and offer NFPA 70E Category 2 protection, meaning overall FR protection is not sacrificed.
Misconception #3: Bug spray can be used in conjunction with AR/FR garments.
In Reality: Insect repellents, especially those using DEET, are highly flammable and can compromise the AR/FR protection of a garment. Bug spray should be used with caution around AR/FR garments. Vari- ous sprays, especially when applied directly onto the garment, can ignite and even propagate a flame when exposed to a thermal source, meaning the self- extinguishing property of AR/FR fabrics is directly compromised.
Consider: Much like fabric softener or bleach, bug spray is another everyday, seemingly innocent care item that may jeopardize an AR/FR garment’s ability to perform within specifications. Certain types of bug spray can exacerbate an already dangerous situation, so a best practice is to apply bug spray only to your skin if it is necessary to use.
There are some insect repellents compatible
50 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2019
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