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Maintaining compliance with the variety of ever-changing standards governing occupational health and safety is crucial. But those requirements are, of course, not the only intricacies EHS officers must navigate on a daily basis.
Because everyone understands the role comfort plays in whether or not PPE is worn compliantly, there are a range of factors one must consider on top of any legal regulations.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2023 was the warmest year on record for the ninth year in a row. Prolonged exposure to temperatures above 85˚F can lead to cramps, exhaustion, stroke and even death. So, when teams are working hard for hours at a time in hot conditions, whether on the line or on the derrick, preventing heat stress should be a top priority. This summer, prepare to face yet another brutal summer.
Specifying FR PPE: Crucial updates before the summer heat
The symptoms of heat exhaustion might tempt workers to neglect or abandon PPE compliance, which could have equally drastic consequences. If workers are forced to roll up their sleeves to fight the heat because their PPE is burdensome, they’re putting themselves and your entire safety program at risk. But workers shouldn’t have to make the choice between personal comfort and safety — preventing heat-related illness while remaining compliant is possible when thoughtful and proactive measures are taken ahead of time. Here are some helpful tips and resources to encourage compliance while reducing the risk of heat stress:
Hydrate and rehydrate
Providing adequate hydration is critical to maintaining the body's natural temperature and facilitating perspiration. Make sure teams always have access to plenty of cool drinking water whenever they're out on the job.
Find shade
A shaded area, whether under a tree or a portable cooling tent, can offer respite from the sun and rejuvenate workers. If possible, scheduling shifts that allow workers to be on the job during the coolest hours of the day can go a long way towards preventing heat stress.
Choose the right PPE
Perhaps one of the most challenging factors in the fight against heat stress is PPE. As we all know, PPE is built to protect and not for lounging. But there is a middle ground — specify PPE garments that are made from lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking fabric. Knowing exactly the right level of protection — down to the weight of the fabric — is also critical in this process. If a team is only required to wear CAT 1 FR workwear, they don’t need the extra weight a higher than necessary Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) rating brings with it. Even just a few ounces can create a world of difference to a worker’s comfort when they’re out battling the elements.
Along with the perennial concern of heat stress are the frequent updates to standards and regulations to keep track of. For example, the updated National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2112-23 flash fire safety standard was recently released. This standard is crucial to ensuring your workers’ PPE garments are made to stand up to flash fires and protect them from the horrendous damage they can induce. More specifically, NFPA 2112 involves testing for heat transfer performance, vertical flame testing, industrial wash durability testing and heat and thermal shrinkage testing — all of which go towards determining whether or not the fabric the garment is made from is truly flame resistant.
Becoming knowledgeable of the NFPA 2112 changes now and any applicable standards going forward, grants peace of mind and helps ensure compliance. These standards are updated with worker safety in mind, but it’s up to safety specifiers to make sure they’re upheld on the job. Between updated regulations, ensuring worker compliance and the whims of Mother Nature, there’s a lot to keep track of when specifying PPE.
GlenGuard stays current on standard updates and changes so that are protected. The company is constantly innovating to offer lighter, more comfortable fabrics that combat hot summer temperatures which are increasingly becoming more of a threat and concern.
For more information, visit glenguard.com.
