What is missing is the point that polypropylene and polyesters (and spun bonded garments) will not only act as fuel but can melt and increase the severity of burns. Small amounts in garments are not of significance. If static charge is not an issue and there is no open flame, then the choice is more open.

I used to do a demonstration of the melting of spun bonded garments to prove the point some years ago for hazardous waste site workers whom would all be wearing those ubiquitous white suits even in areas of open flames.

Zack

S.Z. Mansdorf, Ph.D., CIH, CSP, QEP

Consultant in EHS and Sustainability

7184 Via Palomar

Boca Raton, FL 33433

Mobile: 561-212-7288

Thank you Neal. This is data I can use to piece together a compelling story.

Kim

Kim

Here are relevant data

Heat of Combustion kJ/g

Gasoline                             47

Polypropylene                   46

Polyester                            31

Cotton                                16

Here are ignition temps

Relative summary of the flammability properties of fibers:
 

Source: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) (Australia)

The conclusions are fairly obvious – Polypro and Polyester are solidified gasoline.  Mixtures dilute the energy.

When I go to refineries and other “increased risk” locations, I wear only cotton.

In my reactives workshop, I discuss garment choice, in particular bras, underpants, and tee shirts!

It is fun to watch the facial reactions…..

I consider this one of the overlooked topics in lab/ pilot plant safety – I learned this lesson at production plants.

nl

Here, scrubs are reserved for certain groups of people, but that’s a good point. It’s something I wouldn’t have thought to recommend for lab workers just because they are normally associated with these specific groups.

Why do they need to be jeans?  How about a set of cotton scrubs.  Inexpensive and serve the purpose.

Doing some back to school shopping this weekend, I had an aha moment.  My traditional go to “uniform” for doing laboratory inspections has always included jeans.  It’s becoming very difficult to find women’s jeans that don’t include some percentage of polyester and spandex (e.g. the magic ratio appears to be something like 70ish% cotton, 2% spandex and the balance being polyester).  My assumption is that these blends would not hold up well to contact with corrosives and are not something you would want on your body during a fire situation.  I’m wondering if this is something that organizations have had to factor into their training in recent years and if anyone has seen actual data about how the blends hold up against these kinds of hazards.

Kim

Kimberly Begley Jeskie, MPH-OSHM

Director, Integrated Operations Support Division

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

(865)574-4945 (work)

(865)919-4134 (cell)