Canadian Occupational Safety

F E A T U R E 18 www.thesafetymag.com/ca to keep in mind that certain materials fare better than others. Levin points out that so many people wear cotton, but cotton is one of the most absorbent fibres that you can get. It can hold twice its weight in moisture, which can get uncomfortable for the wearer. Furthermore, if a garment is impacted by a source of fire or arc or flash, if it is soaked in moisture (like a cotton garment would potentially be), that moisture is next to skin and hasn't been moved away from the skin by a more technical garment. As a consequence, if a worker is in an arc or a flash, this moisture could potentially boil and give the user steam burns. "Dragonwear is all about base layer," says Levin. This includes wicking and moisture transfer. "My whole goal and intention in the world is for safety people to understand how important it is what you wear next to your skin." What to look for There are a number of industries that are concerned by FR protective clothing, such as utility workers, pipeline workers, welders, miners, people in manufacturing facilities that deal with electrical, workers in chemical plants making fertilizers, etc. "Anywhere where there is even the slightest danger of combustibility, you should be wearing safety clothing, and most of them are mandated by standards," says Levin. "What renders a garment that you can trust is the amount of testing and the stipulations of the standards that it's met," says Levin. "You should always be looking at the label inside of a garment; the label will tell you whether it's met certain standards and has been tested to meet those standards. "I would always look for a garment that is inherent as opposed to a garment that's chemically treated. There are numerous documented cases talking about the percentage of the workforce that has experienced skin rashes and allergic reactions to the chemical that's next to your skin," says Levin. From a cost perspective also, an inherent garment may cost considerably more initially, but in the long run will be more financially sane. Generally, says Nutt, if you are looking for liquid proof performance that is also flame resistant, two common materials are polyurethane FR and PVC. "They both have pros and cons," says Nutt. "In Canada, the polyurethane is a little bit lighter weight and generally holds up better in the extreme cold. And the PVC is generally a little bit more cost effective. But it also has more chemical resistance or a wider range of chemical resistance." "[Smart PPE] is definitely a trend that is growing and a lot of it is because safety is now encompassing sensors and technology in a way it never did before." Heidi Lehmann, Kenzen of chemical post-treatment of the fabric used to make the garment. What does inherent mean? It means that the flame resistance of the garment is a permanent part of the garment as it is designed in at the fibre and yarn level, so it will never wash out and will be FR for the life of the garment," says Levin. Inherent garments would only really have to be replaced if they get a hole in them or if a seam rips, for example. "It is incumbent upon the wearer to assess the condition of the product. And as soon as the product starts to look worn, they are going to have to assume that it is decreasing the level of protection that the product is providing," says Nutt. Arc and flash fire Flame resistant is a very overarching term that is used for a number of different levels of protection, says Nutt. And because this is such a broad term, users may encounter protective clothing and equipment that is "flame resistant" but which has dramatically different levels of performance. "It has the potential to really hurt or injure the wearer," says Nutt. The way that the market is starting to move, he says, is that people are slowly moving toward using the terms "arc resistant" and "flash fire resistant" for flash fire hazards, which are more common in the petrochemical market or in gas utilities (see boxout). Base layers Wearing over garments like fire- retardant coveralls is essential, but what the worker is wearing against their skin is also very important. Aside from whether a garment is inherent or chemically treated, there is also much to be made about how a garment performs, such as how it moves and wicks moisture and how fast it dries. As with heat protection, moisture- wicking garments are a big part of flame protection. However, users need HEAT STRESS PREVENTION TIPS Acclimate. Do not expect to tolerate the heat right away. It can take up to two weeks to build up a tolerance (acclimate) to working in hot conditions. Take breaks. A simple but potentially life-saving practice, taking a break to cool off in the shade or in an air-conditioned building or vehicle helps prevent your body from overheating. Keep cool and stay hydrated. Stay out of the sun as much as possible and drink one cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes, whether you are thirsty or not. Avoid alcohol and drugs. They can worsen the effects of heat illness. Recognize the symptoms of heat stress in yourself and your co-workers. These symptoms include rash, cramping, fainting, excessive sweating, headache and dizziness. Source: CCOHS

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