Corporate Apparel and Safety

People like good looking uniforms when they are at work. If there has to be some sort of uniform in the workplace, there should at least be presentable. However, there is more to a uniform than just appearance. Whether you are working in an industry that has massive safety requirements, or just have a few rules to follow, it is important that your employees are protected by their outerwear. After all, clothes exist to protect our bodies. So, what are some of the things that you want to pay attention to clothing wise? And what is the best way to customize your corporate apparel to work with safety measures?

Temperature – Fire Protection

Are the employees in your company with exposure to any environments with extreme temperatures? For example, someone with a meat truck that makes local deliveries could be walking from freezer to freezer. Or, alternatively, someone flipping burgers can be in close proximity to an open flame. Not all clothing can help people withstand extreme environments. No human being would want thin fabric in below zero temperature. Nor do they want their shirts to catch on fire. So if your employees are in an environment that requires the presence of extreme temperatures, you want to make sure that your corporate apparel is up to national health and safety regulations.

The standard rules and regulations that dictate uniform safety nationwide are OSHA. It stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration and it is regulated by the United States Department of Labor. So, that is a good way to understand just what sort of safety standards that might be required for workers that handle environments with extreme temperatures.

Flame Resistant Corporate Apparel

First, it is important to note that flame-resistant does not mean flameproof. It is easy for most people to make an assumption that the two are the same but they are so different in their effects.

When something is flame resistant, it provides immediate protection in emergency situations where fire is involved. However, it can still burn and will not protect you if you are fully immersed in flames. So, if a situation is fast and hot, there is a good chance that you would come out of the fire with fewer burns than if you were completely exposed.

“By definition, FRC is any apparel that has the ability to self-extinguish upon the removal of an ignition source, such as dust, oil, gas, and electricity.” However, if you still are near that ignition source, you would take burn damage until the fire gets put out.

The codes for flame resistance and temperature vary depending on the types of temperature exposure. Someone working with electricity, for example, may not have the same corporate apparel needs as someone who does welding. There are two different common types of fire hazards in various workplaces, according to fire safety codes.

Arc Flash

An arc flash is a type of electrical explosion that can reach 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It happens during a fault, or short circuit condition, when:

There’s accidental contact
Circuits are under-rated for the present current
Contamination of insulated services
Deterioration of wiring
And many other situations

Important: The arc blast zone is typically 10 feet in diameter. Everyone around the potential hazard area should be covered in FRC.

There are several trades that have more exposure to Arc Flashes like Electric utility workers, maintenance workers, or anyone that works with constantly charged equipment.

Flash Fire

A flash fire is an intense flame that erupts without warning and spreads rapidly through a diffused fuel, like gas or ignitable liquid vapors, over a matter of seconds. All that is a necessity is something combustible, and a heat source.

On average, these bursts reach anywhere from 1000 to 1900 degrees Fahrenheit. It happens when:

There is exposure to combustible fuel and a spark
When there is a concentrated amount of oxygen in an area and a heat source
Improper storage of combustible materials
Improper use of flammable sources like lighters or pilot lights

The trades that are likely to become a risk for this are foundry workers, pipeline workers, chemical industry workers, custodians, chefs, and surgeons.

Conclusion

Whether your employees are working in a kitchen or a factory, it is important to understand corporate apparel and safety standards. If you don’t keep that in mind as a business owner, at best you wind up with a fine. At worst someone can hold you accountable for criminal neglect. So, make sure to take safety into account when ordering corporate apparel.