Face Coverings, flame-retardant/resistant clothing (FRC) and hazardous locations

UPDATED 6/4/2020 with an FR face-covering item. (NOT an endorsement!)

Westex UltraSoft® FR Face Mask

7oz. Westex UltraSoft®

88% Cotton / 12% High Tenacity Nylon

Sizes: Regular

Colors: Orange (OR)

Style: FR9805

Source: https://rascofr.com/product-category/face-covering/


Last week the good folks are DuPont opened a can of proverbial worms that about a dozen of us have been hotly debating behind the scenes. Their press release suggested that workers who need a CDC recommended face covering and may be doing a task or work in an area that requires flame-retardant/resistant clothing (FRC) to use masks, balaclavas, gaiters, and hoods made with Nomex®. I have been convinced that this could be met when the FRC need is for an Arc-Flash Hazard, as this can be easily managed by wearing the balaclava in the arc-flash PPE ensemble for a short period of time and hopefully on rare occasions. As we enter the summer months, I can just see operators in wearing full balaclavas and hoods for their full shift in 100° weather!!!  But what about the workers who work in Class II, Div 1 and 2 hazardous locations (HAZLOC) and they need respiratory protection?

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Scroll to Top