Canadian Occupational Safety

February/March 2016 19 With a rental or managed program, the manufacturer or distributor pro- vides such services as inspection, repair and replacement of worn or damaged garments. They make sure there are no rips or tears and that features such as zippers and snaps or Velcro on cuffs are functioning properly. "It's very important that the garment is closed up properly — that there is no exposure to layers underneath — because a lot of workers won't be wearing FR clothing underneath. They'll be wearing non-melting but fl ammable clothing. So it's impor- tant that the cover on top is sealed, so that there's no way in if there is some exposure to a fl ammable incident," says Black. Last April, Cintas conducted a survey of 100 health and safety pro- fessionals at the Partners in Prevention 2015 Health and Safety Conference and Trade Show in Mississauga, Ont. Nearly three-quarters (71 per cent) of respondents said their employers regu- larly inspect the clothing for damage or defects. One-half (49 per cent) said their employers require employees to return worn-out garments to them. LAUNDERING Rental programs help employers ensure workers are wearing clean FR clothing, says Black. Contaminants, including dirt, not only reduce the effectiveness of FR garments but also create an addi- tional hazard for the wearer. "It's critical that this clothing is cleaned on a regular basis and, if any- thing is spilled onto the garment, that clean garments be put on as soon as possible. So not having to rely on indi- viduals to clean their own clothing, having ready access to clean garments, can add to the safety of that individ- ual," she says. Less than one-half (46 per cent) of the respondents to the Cintas survey said their protective apparel is laundered weekly and more than one-quarter (27 per cent) said their protective apparel is laundered "as needed." Companies that own their FR garments and send them out to an industrial cleaner must factor in the cost of laundering. This could add thousands of dollars per year to the cost of owning FR personal protective equipment, Rehm says. Improper laundering can dramati- cally affect the wear life of FR clothing through shrinkage, reducing soft- ness and comfort and reducing fl ame resistance. Manufacturers' instructions will set out proper procedures on, for example, temperature for washing and drying and what cleaners can be used. If companies choose to use an out- side cleaner, Black says, they should fi nd a reputable industrial launderer and make sure the cleaner has the manufacturer's specified cleaning instructions and follows them. Rehm says having either employees or industrial launderers clean the FR clothing will likely reduce the FR effec- tiveness over time and thus shorten wear life. Both are unlikely to be aware of and follow proper procedures, such as not washing FR items with non-FR items and not using fabric soft- eners, peroxides, oxidizers and bleach. Employees are also unlikely to have FR thread to repair clothing and, he adds, "not understanding wear life, the wearer has no way of know- ing when to take the garment back to the employer and request a replacement." Another option is for a company to do the laun- dering at its own facilities. At Epcor, for example, staff are supplied with multi- ple garments and when they believe a garment requires clean- ing, they launder and dry it themselves on-site, Cislo says. Having quick access to clean cloth- ing is particularly diffi cult for people working in remote areas. Therefore, a company with workers in north- ern Alberta might choose to go with a rental company because the laun- derer will send trucks out and ensure that dirty garments are removed and washed and that clean ones are put in. On the other hand, Black says, a company may choose to buy when — as in the case of an oil rig — the clothing gets very dirty every day and the site is so remote that regular clean- ing is almost impossible. "There's a lot of incentive to buy the cheapest garments they can fi nd, and the garments become almost dis- posable. After a week or two, they're thrown away because they're ruined and there's no convenient way to clean them," she says. "So, if a program can be set up so the launderer can regu- larly get out there, the clothing picked up and regularly switched out, cleaned and fi xed, then it may be worth the investment. But it may be too expen- sive to justify a truck driving out there every day." OPTIONS Another reason to buy directly from the garment manufacturer is that end users may have an increased ability to personalize their FR. "They can have more fl exibility in specifi cation, in designing garments that are more specifi c to their needs," says Black. "The rental companies may say, 'We've got these garments and these garments,' whereas if you're buying directly from the manufac- turer, there might be more fl exibility regarding what you can buy and what the design looks like. That's important to some companies; maybe, there's a branding option there that they like." While many rental programs involve coveralls only, others can provide a range of FR personal pro- tective equipment. The program could include hats, balaclavas, neckwear, gloves, wristlets, parkas, vests, fl eece garments, pants, shirts and T-shirts. "There are so many options out there. It depends on the company and what they can afford," says Black. HYBRID APPROACH A company may determine that it's more economical to rent the clothing that workers wear every day and then purchase the clothing and items that are worn less often and are not subject to the same wear and tear — and do not require regular inspection, clean- ing and repair. This would include seasonal outerwear and PPE such as gloves, hearing protection, safety glasses, footwear and hard-hat/face shield assemblies. MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS Under federal and provincial health and safety regulations, you have a duty to keep your employees safe, and to make sure any personal protective equipment (PPE) is maintained properly. The many standards associated with the selection, use, care and maintenance of fl ame resistant clothing — including CSA Z462, NFPA 2113 and ASTM 1449 — collectively place several responsibilities on the company. They require FR garments to be: • inspected before each use • properly fi tted to the wearer • laundered to manufacturer's specifi cations • repaired with FR materials • systematically removed from use. items and not using fabric soft- items and not using fabric soft- eners, peroxides, oxidizers and eners, peroxides, oxidizers and bleach. Employees are also unlikely bleach. Employees are also unlikely to have FR thread to repair clothing to have FR thread to repair clothing and, he adds, "not understanding wear and, he adds, "not understanding wear life, the wearer has no way of know- life, the wearer has no way of know- ing when to take the garment back to ing when to take the garment back to the employer and request a keep your employees safe, and to make sure any personal protective equipment (PPE) is maintained properly. The many standards associated with the selection, use, care and maintenance of fl ame resistant clothing — including CSA Z462, NFPA 2113 and ASTM 1449 — collectively place several responsibilities on the company. They require FR garments to be: Safety Is No Accident. Ensure your protection with FireZero innovative technology and superior comfort garments. www.tosaveandtoprotect.com Whether they decide to rent or buy, companies will want their FR garments to last as long as possible. Cislo says they encourage Epcor workers to try to avoid the heavy greases, oils and sol- vents that contaminate clothing and reduce its ability to provide the kind of protection it should. "(But) it's the nature of our work. Our people get dirty," he says. "So, at some point, we simply have to retire the pieces and they're issued new clothing. They have to have the highest level of protection provided to them." Linda Johnson is a freelance writer based in Toronto. She can be reached at lindajohnson@sympatico.ca.

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