Temperatures are dropping as we head into the winter months. If your employees work with or near potential fire and arc flash hazards, you’ll need to protect your team and keep them warm at the same time. This usually means layering flame resistant (FR) clothing. FR clothing comes in all shapes and styles, but one garment may not be enough when it comes to staying warm in the field. For the purpose of this article, we are lumping Fire and Arc Flash hazards together as 'fire hazards'.
If your team needs to face the cold and potential fire hazards this season, learn about layering FR clothing to meet requirements, so your team can stay safe and warm all year long.
Layering FR Clothing
You have a lot of options when it comes to finding FR clothing for you and your team. When you come to PK Safety, you can choose from the following FR garments:
- Coveralls
- Work shirts
- Rainwear and high-visibility jackets
- T-shirts
- Jeans, pants, and dungarees
- Sweatshirts and hoodies
- Bibs and overalls
- Vests
- Liners, facemasks and hats
PK Safety even has its own UL Classified FR clothing line called GRIT. From henleys and hoodies to overalls and carpenter pants, GRIT workwear is manufactured in the Americas and backed by an industry leading 2 year quality guarantee.
As you can see, there are no shortage of options. When layering FR garments on top of one another, it is essential to use all FR rated clothing, instead of mixing FR and non-FR clothing together. If one of your employees is exposed to a potential fire hazard, the fire can easily crawl down the outer garment, catching any non-FR clothing along the way.
For example, if the employee is wearing a non-FR undershirt, it could easily catch on fire even if the outer layer is flame resistant. That’s why you should supply your team with a full line of FR clothing when battling the cold. Use FR jackets, undershirts, liners, pants, and hoodies to keep your team warm in the field.
Using additional FR clothing is about more than just protecting your team from potential fire hazards. It keeps them comfortable on the job, so they can stay safe and focus on the task at hand.
Important Safety Reminder
According to OSHA’s Hazard Identification and Assessment, you and your team should regularly collect and review information related to any hazards that may be present in the workplace, including those that occur in emergency or non-routine situations. You should also investigate all employee injuries, illnesses, near misses, and close calls that take place on the job, so you can learn more about these potential hazards and take steps to prevent them in the future.
Knowing when or how much FR clothing your team needs in the field isn’t always easy. In order to keep your employees safe on the job and in compliance with OSHA’s regulations, it’s best to consult with an outside safety consultant that can help you assess your company’s hazards and the required protection. This person will assess your workplace with a fresh set of eyes, helping you identify hazards that you and your team may otherwise miss. The consultant will also help you come up with safety plan, so your team can work with more peace of mind.
Contact PK Safety
Keeping your employees warm can be a challenge when you have other safety hazards to worry about. Start layering your team’s FR clothing to keep them safe and comfortable all winter long. For more information on layering FR clothing to meet requirements, contact the professionals at PK Safety today.