Oil and Gas Flash Fire PPE, Limited-Flammability vs. Flame-Resistant Protective Gear

Important work is sometimes dangerous.  Chief among the many daily hazards faced by oil and gas workers is the ever-present risk of fire.

Industries take great care in preventing fires and explosions because they expose workers to extremely hazardous conditions.  OSHA indicates that it is now recognized as practice to require flame-resistant clothing in the chemical and refinery industries.  In fact, stepping foot onto an oil and gas operation site, such as a refinery, without proper flame-resistant PPE is virtually unheard of today.

Several stats worth noting:

• Fires and explosions are the 3rd most fatal work injuries within the oil and gas industry.
• 16% of all oil and gas fatalities are the result of exposure to fires and explosions, which cause devastating burns.
• Since 2003, there have been more than 1,500 fatal occupational injuries in the oil and gas extraction industries.
• In 2017 alone, there were 23 fatal occupational injuries due to fire or explosions in the construction of or support activities for oil and gas extraction.  

With the statistics shared above clearly showing fire as a concern for oil and gas workers, wearing proper PPE should not be taken lightly.  While it is impossible to eliminate the risk of fire, the proper use of flame-resistant PPE can minimize injuries and save lives. 

Below, MCR Safety provides deep insight into everything you need to know about the flame-resistant PPE options they offer. They educate consumers about the differences in protection options, including distinguishing between products that are labeled as having “limited-flammability” vs. true “flame-resistance”.   You can never be too well prepared when it comes to understanding the protective products available. 

30 Years Since the Devastating 1989 Pasadena Explosion

October 23, 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the plant disaster in Pasadena, Texas, where 23 people died after a series of explosions caused from an ethylene leak.  Inadequate safety procedures and cuts in necessary refinery maintenance work were determined to be contributing factors of the explosions. 

In a report revised in March 2011, FEMA outlined lessons learned from the tragic Pasadena explosions. 

Concerning worker safety, the Pasadena incident marked a major change in the PPE requirements across the oil and gas industry.  During a recent refinery visit, a worker told MCR Safety that prior to the Pasadena explosions, workers wore whatever clothing they liked to work and very little of it was safety rated.  After witnessing workers’ clothing engulfed in flames and literally melting onto their bodies, however, the industry recognized that changes were needed to keep workers safe and to minimize the risk from fires or explosions. 

When a major accident like the Pasadena explosion occurs, there are typically positive outcomes that transpire in the aftermath, once adjustments are made.  In the case of PPE, workers now wear higher-quality flame-resistant garments and PPE.  As a result of this horrible incident, there are now industry-wide flame-resistant clothing programs in place.

Limited-Flammability Garments

Flame-resistant apparel plays an important role for oil and gas workers because it mitigates burn injuries and provides insulation against second-degree burns.  Yet safety managers and workers often overlook a key component: the material used.  Generally speaking, flame-resistant clothing is either made from fabric whose fibers are inherently flame retardant or by chemically treating fibers in order to reduce flammability.  Not all protection is the same, though.

“Limited-flammability” garments are, strictly speaking, not fire-resistant; they may melt or burn when they come in contact with an open flame.  Items that are considered to have “limited-flammability” have been chemically treated and tested to method ASTM D-6413 to observe the materials’ reaction to an open flame. 

ASTM D-6413 is not a standard. It is only a test method that determines a textile’s response to a standard ignition source. LF is highlighted by MCR Safety to show how the garment will self-extinguish within a matter of seconds, once the source of the flame is removed.  

This type of clothing is best suited for workers who may have incidental contact with heat, heated objects, or flames, working in a capacity where short-term protection is needed.  Originally, limited-flammability gear was developed for welders in the form of a protective vest, as welders required material that would not immediately catch fire from the flying sparks generated while welding.

By self-extinguishing, LF materials help reduce the potential of burn injuries when compared to straight PVC and polyester products not chemically treated with any flame-resistant properties. Click here to see a video showing an ASTM D-6413 open flame test.

Remember, LF garments are not intended for protection against flash fires.