Protective Fabrics


The institute

Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute Announced

The institute's participants will integrate fibers and yarns with integrated circuits, LEDs, solar cells, and other devices and advanced materials to create textiles and fabrics that can sense, communicate, store energy, regulate temperature, monitor health, change color, etc.

Spend a day in a data center and you will come away with a deep appreciation that indoor noise exposure is a priority safety consideration. (Digital Realty Trust, Inc. photo)

Data Center EH&S 101

Stakeholders' concerns range from asbestos and lead-based paint typically found in older and/or legacy data centers to fire-resistant clothing, contractor and construction management, elevated work such as portable and fixed ladders, and rooftop maintenance.

Health effects of breathing welding fumes include eye, nose, and throat irritation; possible lung damage; various types of cancer; kidney and nervous system damage; and suffocation when oxygen-displacing gases are involved in welding in confined or enclosed spaces.

Keep An Eye on Welding PPE

The OSHA mandatory standard specifies both eye protection and protective clothing for welders.

The best and brightest 2016 shows include NFMT 2016, AIHce 2016, ASSE

Looking Ahead to AIHce, Safety 2016, VPPPA, and More

The best and brightest 2016 shows include NFMT 2016, which takes place in March 2016 in Baltimore, followed by AIHce 2016, ASSE's Safety 2016, NFPA's Conference & Expo VPPPA's national conference, WEFTEC 2016, and the 2016 National Safety Congress & Expo.

A culture of awareness as well as the proper work practices and procedures are essential components in preventing accidents, but they can only go so far to protect lab workers from hazards. (Workrite Uniform Company photo)

The Science of Laboratory Safety

A recent surge in FR lab coat usage has led to an increase in FR options for lab workers.

Huge bales of fiber—from 400 to 700 pounds each, depending on the fiber—are delivered to a yarn plant for processing. (TenCate Protective Fabrics photo)

Inherent vs Treated: The Building Blocks of Flame-Resistant Fabrics Matter

Whether purchased by individuals, supplied by the company, or leased through a laundry service, FR clothing arrives for wear.

Having the right percentage mix and orientation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic within an FR fabric, combined with engineered breathability, is both the art and the science used to create high-performance next-to-skin clothing. (Polartec photo)

Comfort is the Key to FR Clothing Compliance

Employees should look professional in their work uniforms with clothing choices that offer the trifecta of good fit, good function, and that offer modern fashion so workers want to wear their FR clothing.

What matters most to the end user is the final product

Informed Workers Are Safer Workers: Science Is the Key to FR Technology

End users and wearers of flame-resistant garments should research FR fabrics and manufacturers to make sure they specify those fabrics from reputable suppliers that will meet their unique needs.



The primary objective of outerwear in cold weather is to provide warmth. However, sub-zero work have the potential for exposure to an electric arc or a flash fire event.

How to Stay Safe and Stay Warm This Winter

The primary objective of outerwear in cold weather is to provide warmth. However, many sub-zero temperature industrial workplaces also have the potential for exposure to electric arc or a flash fire event.

Once a fabric has been manufactured, it should be inspected and tested for quality assurance and to ensure that the fabric meets or exceeds the ASTM and NFPA standards for flame resistance. (Mount Vernon FR photo)

Vertical Manufacturing of Flame-Resistant Cotton and Cotton-Rich Fabrics

Wear trials can help guide you in selecting the right fabric by providing a more comprehensive evaluation of important factors such as performance, comfort, and applicability.

Public safety is one of the areas where the most advances in "smart fabrics" are taking place, the U.S. Department of Commerce said as it announced the April 2016 Smart Fabrics Summit.

Smart Fabrics Summit Scheduled for April 2016

The Department of Commerce reports that the smart fabric product development is being seen in the fields of defense, fitness, health, and public safety.

There is a growing need for a more consistent testing method and ratings that take into account recent advances in cut-resistant yarns and technologies.

New Global Standards for Protective Gloves Are Coming

Proposed changes have been submitted for both the ANSI/ISEA 105 Hand Protection Selection Criteria and the EN 388 European regulatory standard for protective gloves. Everyone involved in the design, development, and specification of cut-resistant apparel and PPE needs to understand the impact of these changes on their selection and purchasing decisions.

U.S. Exhibitors Have High Hopes

A+A 2015, the 30th safety trade fair in the series, kicked off Oct. 27 in the sprawling fairgrounds of Düsseldorf, Germany, with more than 1,800 exhibitors eagerly awaiting the crowds.

#NSCexpo Product Round-Up: Newcomers, Shiny New Products

Our time at the 2015 National Safety Congress & Expo was spent looking at a range of new products—both familiar and new.

OSHA Cites Refinery Contractor After Heat Exposure Fatality

JV Industrial Cos. Ltd. faces $7,000 in fines in fines, the maximum allowed for a serious violation.

Turning Down the Heat: Saving Money and Lives with the Right PPE Program

Workplace fires inflict major financial damages on companies and immeasurable impacts on burn victims and their families. Considering the total cost of a fire—in strict monetary terms, as well as in human suffering—all companies would do well to define and administer an effective employee safety program. Thoughtful, informed selection of protective garments should be a centerpiece of any such program.

FR Garment Comfort: Explaining the Mystery

When it comes to selecting flame-resistant (FR) garments, there are many variables to consider, including protection, comfort, durability, appearance, style, cost, and quality.

Milliken & Company Acquires Springfield LLC

"With this acquisition, we will further improve the user experience for industrial workers, first responders, and military personnel with performance-driven protective apparel that does not sacrifice comfort or safety," said Joe Salley, president and CEO of Milliken & Company.

MSA Buying Latchways plc, National Safety Apparel Acquires TECGEN

Two deals on the eve of the National Safety Council's Congress & Expo this month will give those companies' representatives plenty to talk about with attendees.

Employers must ensure that their workers are willing to consistently and appropriately wear their protective gear—and the better it feels, the more likely they are to do so.

Turning Down the Heat: Saving Money and Lives with the Right PPE Program

Appropriate PPE choices, along with a comprehensive safety program, can save lives, reduce injuries, and diminish long-term business costs.

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