Top 5 Mistakes When Wearing Flame Resistant Clothing
When worn correctly, flame resistant (FR) clothing can provide life-saving protection against a variety of workplace hazards but, if worn improperly, the clothing is not only out of compliance with industry standards, it also becomes less effective.
To help clarify some of the common mistakes workers make in the way they wear FR clothing, Workrite Uniforms offers its “Top 5 Ways FR Clothing is Improperly Worn.”
Top 5 ways FR clothing is improperly worn
1. WEARING IT WITH A NON-FR OUTER LAYER
In bad weather, it may be tempting to wear a non-FR jacket over your regular FR clothing. Even if you are wearing flame-resistant clothing, a non-FR outer layer can still ignite and burn, putting you in danger. When faced with cold weather conditions, it is important to invest in the proper FR outerwear.
2. WEARING IT WITH A NON-FR SYNTHETIC UNDER LAYER
Performance t-shirts made from polyester or other synthetic materials are often worn to help with moisture management, but they are not flame resistant and can actually melt to the skin.
3. ROLLING UP SLEEVES
Rolling up your sleeves may seem like the perfect way to beat the heat, however, this leaves the arms exposed and should be avoided. Instead, look for FR clothing made with lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics that provide a greater level of comfort without sacrificing safety.
4. UNZIPPING COVERALLS OR UNBUTTONING SHIRTS
Just like rolling up your sleeves, unzipping or unbuttoning FR clothing can expose the skin or (as noted above) a non-FR under layer that could ignite and burn.
5. NOT TUCKING IN SHIRTTAIL
If the tail of your shirt is not properly tucked in, heat and flames can travel under the bottom of it and cause greater injury. Invest in FR clothing that’s purposely constructed with long shirttails to prevent this from happening!
So, to make sure FR clothing is in compliance and ready to keep you safe, remember: wear FR outerwear, avoid synthetic under layers, and roll it down, zip it up and tuck it in.
For more information of FR clothing, visit the Workrite Uniforms website.
Tags: Clothing, OSHA, Workplace Safety, Workrite Uniforms
