Incident Report

Subject:                       RE: Fire Retardant Clothing 

Date of Email reporting Incident:   Wed 30/01/2002 11:44

Report Detail:

Is there any specific detail on what is meant by Fire Retardant Clothing. ?
What was the exact make of the garment, density of cloth and any FR treatment ?
Were toxic/noxious fumes given off by the fire retardant nature of the clothing treatment into the victims face immediately following the flash fire ?
Our policy in BP is not to recommend fire retardant/fire treated/fire resisting garments, but inherently fire resisting overalls wherever there is a potential for a flash fire condition.
Also be interested what the first aid treatment was.

Email Responses

Initial Email Enquiry –

Is there any specific detail on what is meant by Fire Retardant Clothing. ?
What was the exact make of the garment, density of cloth and any FR treatment ?
Were toxic/noxious fumes given off by the fire retardant nature of the clothing treatment into the victims face immediately following the flash fire ?
Our policy in BP is not to recommend fire retardant/fire treated/fire resisting garments, but inherently fire resisting overalls wherever there is a potential for a flash fire condition.
Also be interested what the first aid treatment was.

1st Response –

Summary: In a flash fire wearing Fire Retardant Clothing (FRC)  is decisive for the extend of the injury

The following "lessons learned" from an accident was received from a third party. Because of confidentiality reasons no further details can be given.

What happened:
An operator was sent to check the operation of the direct-fired heater. At the moment he arrives a tube burst occurred and the fire blows out the blast door. The operator is caught in the flash fire and leaves immediately the area.

Severity of burn injuries:

• 1st and 2nd degree burns to face, head, elbows and wrist
• Treated in a burn hospital for one day; back to work after 2 weeks
• Fire Retardant Coveralls prevented burns to the employees body
• Insulating layer of cotton under coveralls prevented burns from radiant heat
• Safety glasses prevented eye damage
• Sleeves rolled down prevented burns
• Gloves prevented burns to hands
• Burns to elbows occurred from radiant heat through coveralls where material was tight over skin and no insulating layer was present (short sleeve cotton T-shirt)
• Prompt first aid treatment on site minimized severity
  

Anyone still not convinced about the need to wear FRC?
It is not the tube burst in the heater, but the flash fire that holds the similarity to our processes.

Note the contributing affect of the cotton underwear.

End of email correspondence on Topic to date

Author’s identities are concealed for privacy and security reasons. Further information on the information contained in this topic can be directed to the JOIFF secretariat.