Why You should be Thinking About Flame-Resistant Uniforms

OSHA recommends that everyone who works with electrical components wear FR Clothing (FR). This doesn’t mean just electricians or those who work along utility lines. Proper attire and safety gear impacts workplace safety, and employee productivity, too.

Workplace safety is often thought to include training, safety requirements, physical fitness and avoiding hazards on the job. Still, employees’ clothing and work wear can also play a significant role in their safety on the job.

Who Should Wear FR Uniforms?

While many employers use FR garments for their maintenance and electrical employees, there are still many other employees who could benefit from the safety of FR uniforms.  Any employee who works in a hazardous environment, which can include:

• Electric Arc – electricians, utility lineman and workers
• Flash Fire – oil or gas refinery, pharmaceutical workers and those who work with chemicals
• Combustible Dust Explosion – paper mills, paint, and even food processors are just a few examples
• Anyone who comes in contact with functional and live electrical equipment

Help Employees Avoid Injuries with Proper Work Uniforms

Workers are admitted to burn centers for extended injury treatment more than 2,000 times a year. Although many types of injuries can result from exposure to arcing faults, one major corporation reports that up to 80 percent of all its electrical injuries are thermal burns associated with arcing faults.

When an incident is non-fatal, the lost time is often lengthy due to the healing time of severe burns. In fact, electrical incidents in the workplace result in an average of 13 days away from work and are more likely to be fatal when compared to other injuries.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that there were nearly 6,000 fatal electrical injuries to workers in the U.S. between 1992 and 2013. BLS data also indicates that there were 24,100 non-fatal electrical injuries from 2003 through 2012, the most recent 10-year period for which data is available.

FR uniforms offer more protection to employees, which also means fewer on-the-job injuries, reduced workers’ compensation claims and insurance premiums, fewer days away from work, more productive employees and a better reputation as an employer.

FR Doesn’t Mean Stiff or Uncomfortable

We want employees to be safe and comfortable on the job. This is why our FR garments are made from Bulwark, the leading FR clothing manufacturer, who uses EXCEL FR^® and Cool Touch^® 2 Fabrics. These materials provide the protection employees need, but also provide comfort even in extreme Michigan temperatures.

• EXCEL FR^®– 100% COTTON. 100% COMFORT. 100% FLAME-RESISTANT.

These cotton garments offer unbeatable protection for foundries, flame cutting and welding, as well as electrical utilities and the chemical, oil, gas and petrochemical industries. These garments are permanently treated to guarantee flame resistance for the life of the garment.

• Cool Touch^® 2 – WICKABLE. BLENDED INHERENT. HRC 2.These garments provide flame-resistant protection in a lightweight blended fabric. The result: unbeatable softness coupled with lasting durability and HRC2 protection.

Note: Our FR garment manufacturer markets TenCate TECASAFE^® PLUS fabric under the brand name “Cool Touch^® 2

Complete FR Uniforms Available Here

Whether you need FR work shirts, pants or coveralls for your employees, Gallagher Uniform has you covered. We work with industry leading FR garment manufacturers and offer:

• FR work shirts
• FR work pants
• FR coveralls
• FR jeans
• FR jackets
• FRC with reflective striping

That’s Not All

We offer FR garments that are certified by Underwriters Laboratories to meet the NFPA® 2112 Standard requirements to protect industrial personnel against flash fires, as well as NFPA 70e Standard requirements to protect workers in all industries who work on or near energized parts or equipment capable of generating arc flash.  They also meet NFPA 2113 Standard on Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Flame Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire, 2015 Edition, which requires that garments cover the upper and lower body and flammable underlayers as completely as possible.

How Can You Tell a Garment is FR Rated?

ARC Flash class information is clearly labeled on the tag of each FR garment, and in some cases, even on an emblem on the outside of the garment. Every Bulwark FR garment, however, includes an easily identifiable, external Bulwark emblem so you and your employees will avoid any confusion between non-FR  and FR garments.

Want to Learn More?

Still curious about providing FR rated garments and uniforms to your employees? Our team is here to answer your questions and help you find the right uniform program options for your business, and your employees. Contact us today to learn more.