Risk assessment and minimization of heat load

Risk assessment at the workplace is an important component of labor protection, protection of life and health of employees. The assessment procedure consists of a systematic approach to identifying and preventing hazards. The main purpose of risk assessment is to increase the level of labor safety.

Risk assessment in production

In order to optimally identify extreme points in the production process, a systematic analysis and risk assessment is required.

Risk assessment includes:

• identifying potential hazards and harms
• determining the magnitude, consequences and evidence of risks
• deciding on the significance of risks
• choosing and implementing measures to eliminate or reduce the negative consequences of risks
• implementing special control measures

In short: you need to think about what could harm workers and determine reasonable measures to prevent and eliminate risks.

Risk factors for thermal stress

Under certain operating conditions, regulations require special control measures. For example, the use of flame retardant clothing to eliminate the potential hazard of exposure to high temperatures.

Occupational safety managers understand that most injuries and deaths happened not due to fires, but due to overheating of the body – burns, dehydration, fainting.

Even the slightest chance of fire makes the use of overalls made of fire-resistant fabric an indispensable solution. Choosing the right PPE is important with this aspect in mind.

Heat stress occurs when the body's ability to control its core temperature begins to fail. External factors that cannot be controlled can lead to overheating:

• Air temperature
• Exposure to direct sunlight
• Humidity
• Heated workplace environment

This is also important to consider.

The body reacts to heat, increases blood flow to the surface of the skin, and perspiration occurs. When sweat evaporates from the surface of the body, cooling occurs.

Workers wearing overalls are at risk of overheating when performing heavy work in hot and humid conditions. Evaporation of sweat depends on the type of clothing, fabric composition, breathability and hygroscopicity of materials.

At a high pace of work, body temperature rises, increasing the amount of sweat, which can lead to dehydration.

When the body receives more heat than it can lose, the internal temperature rises and reaches the point where the body's control mechanism fails. This can lead to heat stroke.

Heat stroke occurs when the body temperature is above 40.5 ° C.

In this mode, the internal systems of the body cease to function normally: the liver, kidneys, heart are disrupted, the nervous system is affected, convulsions, dizziness, and loss of consciousness occur.

The following actions can help to avoid diseases caused by overheating:

• control of the water-salt balance, timely fluid intake.
• Comfortable workwear: loose, light and breathable clothing helps keep the body cool. Light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight and will be appropriate for working in hot conditions
• timely cooling (cool shower, bath)
• use of protective equipment (sunglasses, hats, SPF cream)
• climate control in production (air conditioning, room ventilation)

New generation textiles is a way to minimize heat load

During the hot summer months, the risk of overheating is very high. But for some industries (foundries, smelters) heat load is a problem that workers face all year round.

To improve productivity and work safety, choosing the right fabric for workwear is an effective solution.

Suppliers of protective textiles are required to test and certify flame retardant fabric in accordance with existing standards: NFPA 2112, ISO 11612, ISO 11611, IEC 61482.

NFPA 2112 – Flame Retardant Clothing Standard for Protecting Industrial Personnel

ISO 11612 – Occupational Safety Standards System.against heat and fire

ISO 11611 – Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes

IEC 61482 – Live work. Special clothing for protection against thermal risks of an electric arc

The standards fix the protection criteria:

• Heat
• flame
• radiation heat
• contact heating

For a long time there was an understanding that the thicker the fabric, the better the level of protection of flame retardant and heat-resistant fabric. But at the same time, the thermal load and the risk of overheating also increased.

Technological solutions from Daletec

Daletec offers the optimal technological solution – a special refractory impregnation that provides workers with the best protection even with a small mass of fabric.

Daletec is a leading manufacturer of innovative flame retardant fabrics

When developing flame retardant materials, the main focus is on the following characteristics:

• high level of protection (against sparks, fire, electric arc)
• weight
• strength
• comfort level of the finished product

Examples of lightweight fabrics are:

• Dalamid 5, 192 g/m²
• TropicGuard, 266 g/m²
• TropicSplash, 265 g/m²

The company's R&D and technical teams focus on improving and developing new flame retardant textile solutions with improved protective and ergonomic properties.

With this approach, by 2021 Daletec will bring the latest generation of flame retardant fabrics to the market with the highest degree of protection.