Citation solution: Check out products and services to help you avoid OSHA’s top 10 most cited violations.
The response was Westex: A Milliken Brand, Scott Francis, Technical Sales Manager in Chicago.
This is a hot day on the construction site and you start to feel dizzy, overheated and even nauseous. Are you experiencing symptoms of heat stress, or just discomfort?
Not all discomfort is a sign of heat-related illness, and heat stress is not necessarily caused by personal protective equipment. This is why it is important for workers to understand their environment, the task at hand, and the appropriate fabrics to wear. This can help them better assess whether something is a comfort problem or a sign of heat stress. Once they know the difference, they can take appropriate measures to change the situation-whether it is to ensure that they wear personal protective equipment correctly, choose a different fabric, or monitor their health and choose to rest or rest.
Knowing is essential to protecting lives, so let us define the difference. Comfort is an inherent subjective characteristic that cannot be effectively measured through laboratory tests. On the other hand, heat stress is a specific and potentially serious disease caused by a series of increasingly dangerous physiological effects caused by overheating of the body and internal organs. This can be caused by hot and/or humid conditions, sun exposure, lack of moving air, labor intensity, and in some cases heat-absorbing PPE.
Contrary to popular belief, clothing is not an important factor in causing heat-related diseases. This applies to flame-retardant/arc resistant clothing and non-flame-retardant clothing. Normally, if you are wearing single-layer, breathable FR clothing and feel very hot, it is related to comfort. If you wear multiple layers of clothing, the risk of heat stress is greater-and wearing breathable and moisture-wicking fabrics is the key to reducing this risk.
The science behind how our bodies dissipate heat can help explain. We all have two ways to cool ourselves: radiant cooling and evaporative cooling. Radiation is the transfer of heat from a hotter area (people) to a colder area (atmosphere). Of course, as the ambient temperature approaches the human temperature, this will no longer be effective. This is when evaporative cooling (also called sweating) begins. When sweat evaporates from the skin, it takes away heat. As long as the clothes worn allow radiant heat to escape and sweat to evaporate, the body's cooling mechanism will continue to play its due role.
Science clearly shows: FR/AR clothing can actually be part of the solution, not the cause of heat stress. With the right fabrics, PPE can not only meet the standards, but also help you stay cool, comfortable and protected in hot weather. First specify light-colored fabrics designed for the environment and potential hazards. Think short sleeves are the only solution? Think again. Long sleeves are generally considered better to prevent heat stress, because the sun is a radiant heat load, and long sleeves can protect the wearer.
If the job requires multiple layers of PPE, look for textiles designed for joint protection and execution.
The innovation of FR/AR fabric goes far beyond the restrictive choices of the past, when PPE was usually not sweat-absorbent, heavy and inflexible. Today, most flame-retardant/augmented reality garments made in the United States are almost indistinguishable from non-flame-retardant garments in terms of design, style, fit, weight, and long-lasting comfort.
In addition to specifying more breathable and comfortable FR/AR fabrics and ensuring that these garments are worn outside the body, active attention to self-care is essential to prevent heat stress. Monitor your vital signs and sweat levels, rest appropriately, find a cool place as much as possible, and stay hydrated throughout the day. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's publicity campaign on heat stress prevention boldly promoted "Water. Rest. Shade."
Ultimately, if workers’ PPE is not suitable for the task or is worn improperly—to their disadvantage rather than working for them—they will be less likely to wear it. PPE can only provide protection when worn-and worn appropriately. Equipping your team with innovative FR/AR clothing that meets safety standards and is comfortable not only can change the common misunderstanding of thermal stress in clothing, but FR/AR clothing can actually provide the wearer with a preventive advantage when they need it most.
Editor's note: This article represents the independent views of the author and should not be interpreted as endorsement by the National Security Council.
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