Flame resistant clothing or apparel is not completely fireproof, but it is designed to not resist flames or combustion. The clothing is common in many industries but you might be surprised by which ones. A few common industries may come to mind, but here are some you might not have considered.
Electrical Workers
Working high above the ground on a utility pole is dangerous work. Add to that the power going through the lines you are working with, and the danger level increases exponentially. The electrical workers up on those poles have enough issues to work with, catching fire from contact with electricity is not something they want to worry about. Flame resistant clothing is a good choice for these workers.
If the worker were to make contact with high voltage lines, the clothing would not burst into flames and melt.
Welders and Metal Workers
Welders and metal shop fabricators are another type of employee that may need to have flame resistant clothing as part of their safety gear. Welders are in constant contact with sparks and hot metal, so protecting them from it is important. Sometimes a small piece of slag is all it takes to cause the cloth to ignite. If the welder is wearing it when this occurs, the situation could turn bad very quickly.
Flame resistant clothing is good insurance against workers getting burned while welding, cutting, and grinding metal. The clothing often holds up better in these environments than other types of clothing. Some materials are made to not absorb things like oil and fuel as well, making it harder for them to burn and adding additional protection for those employees that constantly exposed to heat, flame, and sparks with performing their jobs.
Grain Elevator Workers
Workers in the grain industry often benefit from the additional safety flame resistant clothing offers. You might not think of this industry right away when you consider this apparel, but with the grain dust and potential for explosions and fires as a result of the fire dust, protecting the people working in these facilities is critical. If a fire breaks out in the facility, flame resistant clothing can buy employees a little time to get out of the building, and hopefully, the clothing will also provide some level of protection from the flames while they are making their way out of the facility.
The clothing is not designed to protect someone in a firefighting operation, but it can be a good barrier between the employee and the hazard as they make their way to safety. Contact a company, like Oil & Gas Safety Supply, to learn more.
