FR CLOTHING SAVES LIVES

FR CLOTHING SAVES LIVES.

The best reason to invest in an FR program: it saves lives. For those working in industries that put them at risk of their clothes igniting, FR is a critical component in protection.

THE KEY TO FR CLOTHING IS THAT IT SELF-EXTINGUISHES.

The most serious burns in an industrial setting aren’t caused by the actual fire or explosion itself, but by regular workwear (e.g., non-FR cotton, nylon or polyester) igniting and continuing to burn even after the heat source has been removed. The key to FR clothing is that it self-extinguishes. This dramatically reduces the severity of burn injuries and provides the worker valuable escape time to increase the chances of survival.

ONE ELECTRIC COMPANY REPORTED THE TOTAL COST OF A SINGLE BURN INJURY BEFORE FR CLOTHING AT MORE THAN $2 MILLION, AND THE EMPLOYEE NEVER RETURNED TO WORK; SINCE USING FR CLOTHING, A COMPARABLE ARC EXPOSURE COST LESS THAN $50,000, AND THE EMPLOYEE LOST MINIMAL WORK TIME.

FR THAT COMPLIES WITH OSHA LAWS AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

FR clothing’s primary function is to protect the worker in the event of an accidental exposure, but it can also protect the company as a whole. State and federal OSHA organizations require employers to protect employees from hazards in the workplace. In fact, OSHA has cited and fined numerous companies for not providing FR clothing under section 1910.132, “Occupational Safety and Health Standards: Personal Protective Equipment,” and is likely to add more stringent requirements for FR clothing in future OSHA regulations, including revisions of existing laws.

In addition to these existing laws, numerous industry consensus standards address the need for FR clothing in a variety of industries and environments. Such standards are published by well-respected national organizations, ASTM International and National Fire Protection Associations (NFPA). OSHA bases future laws in part based on published standards, so what is voluntary today may become law tomorrow.