In any company, your employees are your biggest asset and the lifeblood of your business. You rely on them to get the job done and be a positive representation of your company; but ultimately your biggest responsibility is to make sure they arrive home safely from work each day. On a daily basis, employees are often faced with common workplace hazards such as Arc Flash, Flash Fire and Molten Metal Splash; and often all three of these hazards can be present on the same job site.
As you may be aware, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide their employees with the proper PPE and Flame-Resistant garments for workplace hazards, but it is also equally important to ensure that their protective apparel is comfortable, and something that they will want to wear.
As you evaluate a Protective Apparel program and provider for your employees, here are some key considerations to be mindful of:
Comfort
Your employees need to be protected, but that doesn’t mean they need to be uncomfortable. You want to provide them with retail inspired garments from the brands they know and trust. It’s also important that these garments are breathable, moisture wicking, durable and if they are going to be washed by an industrial launderer, the garments need to be designed exclusively for that type of wash process to ensure they don’t shrink, fade or prematurely wear out.
Convenience
By providing your employees with a Protective Apparel care and maintenance program, you can help save them time and money by having a weekly route service to collect garments that are ready to be laundered and/or repaired. Even if you have a nomadic crew, selecting a service provider that has many different program options and types for you to choose from, is a great way to custom tailor a program to your specific needs.
Care
In accordance with NFPA 2113, it is important for the clothing to be:
- Inspected routinely for damage and/or heavy soil
- Cleaned per the manufacturer's specifications
- Repaired with FR materials and threads
- Retired from service when appropriate
Regardless of whomever handles the care and maintenance of the FR garments (employee/employer), it is ultimately the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the guidelines from NFPA 2113 are met.
Even though Protective Apparel may be a requirement for your business, it doesn’t need to be a burden. Choosing an experienced and reputable service provider can help give you the peace of mind that the PPE you have selected is appropriately laundered, cared for and maintained.
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