| If your work environment has even the slightest | | | | The newest fabric innovation available for industrial |
| possibility of exposing you to an open flame or | | | | uniforms is called Tecasafe® PLUS. This new |
| electrical charge, it is important for you to take | | | | fabric technology gives all benefits of FR cotton, |
| advantage of new FRC technology in order to | | | | but with higher ATPV ratings as well as softer |
| ensure your health and safety. FRC stands for | | | | and more comfortable fabric. It is a combination |
| "Flame Resistant Clothing," and is its efficiency if | | | | of three inherently flame resistant fibers, |
| measured by its ATPV, or "Arc Thermal | | | | combining the best attributes of all three (flame |
| Protective Value." These Arc Ratings can be | | | | resistance, strength, and comfort). Other popular |
| found on many garment labels or can be found | | | | fabrics include Indura® and Indura® Ultra |
| by contacting your work clothing supplier. | | | | Soft(TM), which are made from a chemically |
| Typically, a work uniform arc value is chosen | | | | treated blend of nylon and cotton. |
| based off the relative risk associated with the | | | | Some people wonder if it is "the law" for workers |
| workers environment. A hazard analysis may be | | | | in certain work environment to wear this |
| conducted in order to determine the potential | | | | specialized workwear. The OSHA General Duty |
| incident energy of the work environment. | | | | Clause states: "the clothing cannot contribute to |
| Depending on the determined risk association, a | | | | an employee's injury." In the case of certain work |
| work environment is place in a Hazard Risk | | | | environment, polyester blended clothing (which will |
| Category (HRC) from 0-4. | | | | melt and drip at lower temperatures) can certainly |
| An HRC of 0 will allow 100% untreated cotton, | | | | contribute to the injury of the worker. Employers |
| while and HRC of 4 requires FR shirts and pants | | | | often require FR clothing for their workers |
| plus a double layer switching coat and pants. | | | | because it is the right thing to do and it reduced |
| Roughly 90% of all electrical trade workers will fall | | | | their liability in these situations. |
| into a category of 1-2, which means they are | | | | It is very important to properly maintain your FR |
| required to wear garment with an ATPV of 8 or | | | | clothing. Certain detergents can deteriorate the |
| higher. Other work environments that require FRC | | | | chemically treated fabric and lessen its |
| include: Electric Arc (electricians, electric utility | | | | effectiveness. It is strongly advised that you allow |
| lineman, etc.), Flash Fire (refinery, chemical and | | | | a professional or industrial laundry service |
| pharmaceutical workers, etc.) Combustible Dust | | | | specializing in FR clothing to maintain your |
| Explosion (workers in the paper and pulp industry, | | | | uniforms. If you must wash your garment at |
| food processing, and paint). Plus ANY workers | | | | home, avoid any detergent containing chlorine, |
| who come in contact with energized electrical | | | | bleach, or hydrogen peroxides. |
| equipment must be considered as well. | | | | |