Why Is Flame Resistant Clothing Important?

by Liza smith Passionate Writer

People work with electrical companies, fire brigade department, or any other domain where the fire risk is usually high provided flame-resistant clothing by the company. It is for the employee’s best support.

The clothing provided for the employee’s safety is termed as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Mainly the workers associated with the fire department provide these PPE wear, and it is the complete responsibility of the employer. Also, if such clothing is provided to the employees, then they feel more welcoming at the workplace and give their complete efforts to complete the assigned task.

Situations that Require Flame Resistant Clothing:

Employers must ensure that the outer layer of clothing worn by an employee. Some people of other departments are excluded from wearing head to toe flame-resistance clothing.

The worker is exposed to contact with energized circuit parts operating at more than 600 volts.
An electric arc could ignite flammable material in the work area that in turn could ignite the employee’s clothing.
Molten metal or electric arcs from faulted conductors in the work area could ignite the worker’s clothing.
If the uses of heat energy estimate exceed 2.0 Cal/cm2

Flame resistance clothing as Personal Protective Equipment:

Usually, the PPE is head to toe wear where the person gets fully covered, and there is a helmet provided for the extra safety of the head. Also, the texture of the clothing is resistant to temperature. The worker doesn’t feel extra hot after wearing such clothing and spending hours in the workplace.

Characteristics defined Appropriate Flame Resistant Clothing:

Not every clothing could be appropriate for a workplace that too high risk of fire. There are some features defined that help an organization to get adequate clothing.

Clothing made up of 100% cotton or wool may be acceptable if its weight is appropriate for the flame and electric arc situation to which a worker could be exposed. Also, as per the increase in temperature due to heat, such clothing doesn’t melt.

The amount of heat required to ignite flame-resistance clothing varies as per the number of factors that include weight, texture, weave, the color of the material.

A worker must be aware enough of the importance of flame resistance clothing, and why they must be given an appropriate work-wear. An employee’s safety is the company’s responsibility. As an employer, if you want to avoid any negligence, the best work-wear needs to be provided.