QUESTION: What should a ame-resistant garment pro- gram for women include? Responding is Sherryl Stoner, customer service manager for inside sales and quality assurance, TECGEN FR Garments, Greenville, SC. ANSWER: Flame-resistant garments are traditionally designed in two ways: for a mans proportions or for uni- sex proportions. Today, though, women are entering this mans world and taking on jobs that require constant FR wear and they are not unisex-sized. Te time is now to ensure women are outftted safely and comfortably in the workplace. Here is a guide of key considerations to include in your FR garment program for women: 1. Safety frst. Rolling up your sleeves in a workplace where FR apparel is required is not an option. When women wear unisex or mens FR garments, personal modifcations like this are often made for a better ft. Tis can increase the likelihood of an injury. Oversized clothing can get caught in machinery, while coveralls with long bodies may cause a woman to trip and fall, and ultimately create issues for per- forming everyday tasks. How can this be avoided? Start by selecting womens FR garments that are designed in a range of sizes to accommo- date diferent body types. Extra-small to plus-size options should be available. Ten, ensure the ft of the shirts, pants and coveralls on your employees. Shirtsleeves should be short enough that they do not need to be rolled or cufed. Shirttails should be long enough that they can be tucked into pants, but short enough to eliminate bunching. Coveralls should be ftted for womans hip and waist sizes so excess fabric does not get caught on equipment handles or afect mobility. Te body, not just the sleeve and pant-length of the cover- all, should ft the wearer. Select a shirt that has adjustable cufs. Womens wrist sizes can vary, so an adjustable cuf can help keep shirtsleeves from riding up. 2. Comfort means productivity. An uncomfortable worker may have discomfort on their mind rather than the job at hand. A misft uniform could preclude workers from bend- ing, lifting or moving fuidly. Women need the right tools for the job and that means FR garments that are ftted appropriately. Tese attributes for safety are also attributes of comfort. But in addition to size and cut, take into consideration a gar- ment that is suitable for temperature to ensure comfort. In fact, a recent study 1 found FR garment wearers consider light weight and breathability two of the most impor- tant aspects of comfort in FR garments. Examine the fabric quality and traits of the FR garment to ensure it is engineered for moisture- wicking and breathability. Tis is important for all seasons. Consider a garment in which the FR technology is inher- ent (woven into the fab- ric). Tis eliminates any heavy FR coatings that could make the garment uncomfortable or stif. Provide specifc instructions on what is acceptable onsite for extreme temperatures. Hot condi- tions should not permit rolled-up sleeves. Cold temperatures should not introduce non-FR hoodies or other fammable street wear.
3. Uniformity: Source the same FR garments for both men and women. Todays FR garment programs must include options for women. Tese options should align with the garments selected for men. When sourcing FR gar- ments, ensure the manufacturer ofers the same fabric and features in garments for both women and men. Womens garments may difer from mens in the sizing, cut and details such as smaller buttons, but to ensure work- force consistency, ensure logo, color and style remain con- sistent with other garments in the workplace. A womens FR program is not about getting more pink in the workplace. It is about equipping women with the right tool to help improve performance, comfort and safety. Women should feel comfortable, functional and safe from head to toe. 1 FR Market Research Study Bainbridge Strategy Consulting. June 2014. Workplace Solutions Experts from safety equipment manufacturers and service providers answer from the eld questions P h o t o :
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G a r m e n t s Reprinted from Safety+Health, Vol. 190, No. 3 2014 National Safety Council