Category Archives: General

NEC, NESC, NFPA 70E, and Arc Rated PPE: A Quick Look at Electrical Industry Standards

 

Throughout the electrical industry, consensus standards provide critical information advising how to safeguard employees facing arc flash hazards. These standards—NEC, NESC, and NFPA 70E—are all meant to guide safety initiatives, but which one is relevant for you? We break down each standard and what they mean for your workplace.

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Identifying and Reducing the Impacts of Combustible Dust Hazards

Combustible dust is a significant concern across various industries and with good reason. Combustible dust incidents can lead to serious property damage and cause life-threatening injuries. Analyzing your work environment and enacting preventative measures, such as robust housekeeping and engineering control protocols, can make all the difference. Even with these safety precautions in place, incorporating FR/AR PPE as the final layer of defense can help mitigate the risk of injuries should the worst happen.

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Sob medida: a importância das vestimentas antichama específicas para o público feminino

Até recentemente, não havia uma preocupação com a modelagem feminina das vestimentas antichama, estas eram de tamanhos maiores e pensadas prioritariamente para o público masculino, em outras palavras uma única modelagem em tamanhos diferentes. Desta forma, a força de trabalho feminina utilizava vestimentas inadequadas dia após dia em diversos setores da indústria, pois a modelagem era pensada apenas para a maioria da força de trabalho que por sua vez é  masculina. Esta era uma demanda constante principalmente em setores como petróleo e gás e concessionárias de energia. Embora isso tenha sido uma prática comum durante muito tempo, hoje em muitas indústrias há um enxoval feminino destas vestimentas. Read More

The Difference Between Inherent and Treated Fabrics, and What it Means for Your Safety Program

The FR industry certainly has its share of jargon, and especially when that jargon has little scientific background, it can lead to muddled and complicated decisions. In our white paper, What’s in a Word: Inherent Fabric, Treated Fabric, and What They Mean in the World of Flame Resistant Fabrics, we discuss two major industry terms—“inherent” and “treated”—and cover how these flame resistant (FR), arc-rated (AR) fabric classifications have evolved over time.

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Elevating Performance Standards: How Westex by Milliken is Raising the Bar on Testing Protocols

Part of designing reputable protective fabrics is ensuring they provide certified, consistent results both in the lab and in the field—otherwise, end users may be at risk. Flame resistant (FR), arc-rated (AR) fabrics incorporated into personal protective equipment (PPE) act as a final layer of defense against hazards like arc flashes and flash fires, so these fabrics must perform. But how does a company like Westex by Milliken assess performance? We sat down with James Cliver, senior development engineer for Westex by Milliken, to learn more about how FR/AR fabrics are tested and why standard testing protocols are a crucial indicator of performance.

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Using Customer Insights to Inspire Meaningful Innovation

When we look to develop new flame resistant (FR) technologies, we often draw inspiration from unmet needs in the industry. Many times, our conversations in the field help us better identify areas where we can fill a gap to better protect workers in the electrical and oil and gas industries against arc flashes and flash fires. We sat down with Paul Castelli, international sales director for Westex by Milliken, to learn more about how Westex develops new technologies.

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Especificando vestimentas para respingos de metais líquidos e explosão por poeira

Vários setores da indústria apresentam riscos ocupacionais causados por respingos de metais originários de solda, fundição de metais ferrosos e alumínio. É importante que os trabalhadores conheçam e estejam protegidos durante sua jornada de trabalho. A área de segurança do trabalho deve fazer uma análise detalhada destes riscos térmicos e implementar um programa de vestimentas antichama compatível com a análise efetuada.

Vamos analisar alguns destes riscos e como proteger o trabalhador: Read More

Tailored to Women: The Case for Utilizing Women-Specific FR/AR Garments in the Workplace

Until recently, flame resistant (FR), arc-rated (AR) garments were one size fits all—meaning both men and women wore the same styles. Women in the oil and gas and electrical industries thus donned ill-fitting FR/AR garments day in and day out, because these garments were largely constructed with men in mind. Typically, women have to find FR/AR garments that mostly fit then adjust them throughout the day as they shift out of place.

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The Last Line of Defense: Four Ways Daily Wear FR/AR PPE Improves Safety Programs

For worksites where short-term thermal hazards are present, flame resistant (FR), arc-rated (AR) personal protective equipment (PPE) is a critical component in providing protection in the event of an unexpected incident, like arc flash, flash fire, or dust combustion. While key, however, it is important to note that when designing your safety program, daily wear FR/AR PPE is one of many parts of a comprehensive thermal hazard mitigation program.

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