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What's Wrong with Task-based FR?
Jun 29, 2021
What's Wrong with Task-based FR?
Key takeaways from this article:
• Task-based FR clothing creates risk periods, leaving workers unprotected when not worn.
• FR/AR clothing should be worn without fail, ensuring a constant baseline of thermal protection.
• Human factors often deter workers from donning PPE as needed, leading to accidents.
• Wearing FR/AR clothing full-time prevents accidents due to unexpected thermal incidents.
• An everyday FR/AR use approach is recommended: properly buttoned, zipped, tucked in, and rolled down.
• A constant baseline of protection reduces risks from clothing ignition in short-duration thermal events.
In short, you should wear your FR/AR all day, every day. That way, as a Safety Manager, you can rest assured that your people have a baseline of thermal protection, regardless of the other potential risks they face throughout the day. If you allow your team to don and doff their FR/AR only when they think they need it, there are big gaps of time where your guys are left unprotected. While your team may be well trained to know when and where they are most at risk, the likelihood of them being caught in a thermal incident without protection is much greater when they only wear their FR/AR on a task-related basis.
When it comes down to it, we always say, the greatest FR/AR program in the world can’t protect you if you’re not wearing it properly. That’s why we recommend an all-day, everyday approach to your FR/AR. Buttoned up, zipped up, tucked in and rolled down. No exceptions.