Flash Burn

[jumbomonkey]

We all survived the heat last summer and are happy to have the extra warmth this winter. I heard OSHA is going to make FR mandatory for all Utility line clearance Arborist. I guess a clothing manufacturer will need to add orange to their palette of available FR colors. Asplund's clothing budget will increase 10 fold.

 

[inztrees]

when I worked at asplundh all we had to wear was cotton

 

[BostonBull]

Orange is there, we used to wear reflective ornage FR shrits and vests.

 

[NMETreeman]

[ QUOTE ]
We all survived the heat last summer and are happy to have the extra warmth this winter. I heard OSHA is going to make FR mandatory for all Utility line clearance Arborist.
Where did you get your information about OSHA requiring FR?

 

[jumbomonkey]

One of the company's area leaders told me that at our last safety meeting. I'll get his source.

 

[BUK]

Some years back an electrician working for a large utility in Ontario came to work on his bike. He kept the bike shorts on as he worked, arc flash....

Ouch.

Think he lived but not the right environment to have bike shorts on.

Same principle with nylon chainsaw pants. Sure they are comfy but are you willing to have that crap welded to your legs? Take the extra breaks, hydrate, slow down if you have too. The utility wants to make you wear this stuff then they have to realize the drawbacks to it.

I know that in Ontario if a worker passes out for any reason (heat, shock, struck by, etc.) the Ministry of Labor HAS to be contacted within 24 hrs. Get the MOL involved and then you will really get managements interest.

I've gotten used to wearing it as have hundreds of other utility arborists in the province. Can't say if we like it but we're used to it.

Later

 

[one_bad_ash]

Its been required atire(fr) for at least 5yrs up here. That being said. Marks work warehouses sells a huge variety now of fr stuff as well as reflective fr. Most of it looks way cool. winter and summer stuff. Lord knows most fr is UGLY! A man has gotta look good to ya know.

 

[Blinky]

I watched a guy with Townsend get seriously flashed when he dropped a forked limb onto big primaries. The phase to phase arc was at least 30' long and he was almost even with it...incredibly loud.

Apparently he wasn't hurt because he stayed up in the bucket arguing with the foreman for while about being grounded. That was in the early 80's. I have no idea if he was wearing fire retardant gear.

 

[mikeyott]

here in ottawa we have to wear FR long sleves even when its +30 sucks big monkey nuts ive been writen up before for having my sleves rolled up they wernt even rolled up past my gloves theyre pretty strict over here pants arent FR yet but probably will be in the next 2 yrs

 

[classictruckman]

Where did you hear that it was manditory in our province?

Last I heard that law was changed because too many people were being injured from heat stress compared to the one in a million chance of suffering a flash burn.

 

[classictruckman]

It makes sense for electricians and linemen to wear FR clothing but if your a well trained utility arborist your far more likely to even die from heat stress than ever be burnt.

 

[one_bad_ash]

It seems to me every Utility has there own idea how to dress us up. Based on what i am able to discern here, some places require everything from your underwear out to the outer layer. Where i am, outer layer only. You would think that one of the highly paid "Hydro Geeks" would talk to the other hydro geeks and work out what is best. Dont they have a club or something where they talk rules and stuff hydro geeks like? Different requirements for climbers i would hope. I would love to get some sync on this. Take care.