1) Identify your Hazard
Know what kinds of exposures wearers face to ensure they’re properly protected.
2) Perform Hazard Assessment
This involves identifying the industry standards created for the unique hazards your workers face every day.
3) Specify the Fabric
This step remains crucial to the success of any FR program. It involves several key actions:
Do Your Homework
- Find fabrics that meet your performance needs
- Review independent test reports
- Ask: Does the fabric perform to all of your hazards?
Evaluate viable options
- Don’t settle for minimum performance
- Because data does not exist to evaluate comfort, conduct wear trials to assess it
- Look for market-proven performance
Specify by brand name
- Know what you are getting
- Not all “FR” or “88/12” fabrics are the same
- There are large differences in how “similar” fabrics perform
Remember: When safety is involved, the fabric brand matters.
4) Evaluate Garment Suppliers
Assess the services that prospective suppliers can provide for your program, such as:
Industrial Laundry Program
Managed Care Program
Direct Purchase
5) Educate and Rollout
Teach your team the importance of wearing protective clothing. Be sure they understand:
- The need for protective clothing
- How to wear FR garments correctly
- How to properly care for and maintain FR garments