As flame resistant protective fabrics advance, we’ve noticed some shifts in how various industries are incorporating FR into their protective workwear programs. For example, for many jobs that require high-visibility workwear, the way that companies are achieving their protective requirements has gotten simpler thanks to the availability of high-visibility fabrics that are also flame resistant. Read on to learn more about the changes we’ve seen in high-visibility workwear across industries.
Safe and Seen
High-visibility workwear is seen (literally) in jobs that require workers to work in low light conditions and/or on roadways. From manufacturing to oil and gas construction companies to roadside volunteers and utility linemen, high-visibility garments are a critical piece of protective equipment that ensures workers are safe and seen.
Just as it would be a bad idea to wear dark clothing while walking your dog at dusk, workers on roads or in dark job environments are at much greater risk of being struck by vehicles or equipment if they can’t be seen. In recent years, we’ve seen an expansion of both mandated use of hi-vis, as well as voluntary adoption as companies have seen the value of this added layer of protection.
Traditional Hi-Vis
When most people think of high-visibility workwear, they usually think of those mesh vests in fluorescent yellows or oranges with reflective panels. While these vests have long been a standby for meeting hi-vis safety requirements, they are not particularly comfortable. Despite being mesh, they are not great at dissipating heat and can increase the risk of heat stress when layered over other clothing.
In addition to their inferior heat management capabilities, these mesh vests have traditionally not been made with FR fabric. For workers who need to be in FR clothing in addition to hi-vis, layering a non-FR hi-vis vest over an FR shirt defeats the purpose of and severely compromises the protective factor of the FR garment.
Single-Layer Double-Duty Protection
With the continued development of FR fabrics that serve multiple purposes, there has been an increase in the availability of shirts that are both FR and hi-vis. Fabrics that can be dyed in hi-vis colors and hold those colors well through repeated washing have made it possible for workers to shed the dreaded mesh vests and wear one layer of protection, not only meeting safety requirements but enhancing comfort.
Having just one layer of hi-vis and FR protection instead of asking workers to put hot mesh vests over their shirts not only decreases the risk of heat stress, but it also decreases the risk of non-compliance with safety requirements. Unfortunately, it has been too common for workers to decide to forgo a mesh hi-vis vest when it’s too uncomfortable, cumbersome, or hot to keep it on.
More Bang for Your Buck
Beyond the comfort argument for using combined hi-vis and FR clothing, there’s a clear budgetary benefit as well. Why not buy one layer that serves two purposes for perhaps three-quarters of the cost instead of purchasing two separate one-purpose layers? Plus, that one-layer offers increased safety by being more comfortable and more likely to be worn compliantly.
What’s Available in Hi-Vis FR Right Now?
Curious about what products are available on the market now that offer one-layer of double-duty protection? Get in touch with one of our protective fabrics specialists to learn about the hi-vis FR fabrics that you could be using in your protective workwear program:
