People have different opinions about working in the oilfields. Some may say it is a nice, clean and stress-free occupation while others may say it’s filthy, tiresome and dirty since the workers get in contact with oily products like grease which stains their workwear. However, despite all these issues the workers at the oilfields always seem to be satisfied and passionate about it.
The safety of these workers can be ensured by various practices, proper maintenance and laundry of the Fire Retardant clothing being one of them. This article aims at walking you through all the steps on how to get oil off industrial workwear in India.
Oil and grease might just be unavoidable especially when one interacts with them in their line of duty. However, if you work in the oilfields, the fact that oil and grease might stain your clothing doesn’t mean you have to ignore the stain and accept its existence. You really should not.
Why You Need Not Tolerate Oil Stains?
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Oil and grease are both flammable compounds and chemicals. It can turn out to be deadly if they catch fire in the workplaces. This in turn may cause deadly injuries or even death. All the workers taking duties from the oilfields are mandated to wear FR industrial workwear in India. This clothing protects the workers from hazardous fire but if they contain flammable contaminants, it may not serve the desired good reason.
Fire Retardant Clothing is designed to extinguish themselves when exposed to embers and flames. Based on the fabrics and fibres used to make the FR clothing, they come in different kinds. Let’s take a look on how the FR clothing is made before jumping into how to maintain it.
Quick Guide to FR Fabrics
Fire Retardant fabrics come in four different kinds. The different kinds of fabrics provide a different level of protection when worn by the workers at the oilfields. These are the common fabrics found in the oil industry.
Inherent FR Fibres
Inherent FR fibres have naturally flame-resistant properties built into the fibres directly. The inherent fibres are made from materials which naturally have the ability to prevent the spread of fire when ignited or come into contact with embers.
Treated Fibres
These fibres are coated with a chemical which is flame-retardant during the manufacturing. The treated fibres are not flame resistant by default but only after addition of the chemical. The quality of the treated fibres is almost similar to that of inherent fibres.
Treated Fabrics
This include garments which are treated with flame retardant chemical substances. However, the treated fabrics only retain the flame-resistant characteristics for a period of time with a number of washes. Treated fabrics are not as effective and dependable as inherent and treated fibres since they are just effective when used within a specified span of time.
Blended Fabrics
Some of the Fire Retardant Clothing fabrics consist of a blend between the inherent and treated fibres. The expected lifespan for these kind of fibres varies depending on the types of blend used to make the garments.
Of all the various fabrics available in the market, each has its own maintenance and care instructions. These guidelines can also vary depending on the manufacturer. Hence, you must always check the attached label for maintenance instructions from the manufacturer.
Best Laundering Practices for Fire Retardant Clothing
For a perfect maintenance experience of Fire Retardant Clothing, all the maintenance instructions must be observed. Avoid using fatty soaps when laundering. It is recommended to use only liquid laundry detergents. Fabric softeners and bleaching agents should also be avoided. These fabric softeners and bleaching agents can leave behind traces of flammable residue vulnerable to flame hazards.
How to Get Rid of Oil Stains?
The good news above all the precautions is that you can take care of your FR clothing by self-laundering at the comfort of your home. However, to get rid of tough stains, you may need to take it for industrial laundering.
In the case of small stains, apply liquid detergent directly to the stain, rub the stained part and let it stay for a few minutes. While minding the manufacturer’s washing recommendation, throw the garment into the wash. Ensure you wash it in the hot water recommended conditions. If the above method does not work, repeat the steps or take the garment for dry cleaning at an industrial laundering facility. Removing the stains is not only for a decent look but also to prevent injuries that may be caused by flames when they come into contact with the oil stains which are flammable. If both the above methods fail to remove the stain completely, it is advisable to seek a replacement of the garment.
In conclusion, having stains on your Fire Retardant Clothing is quite normal. The actions you take to get rid of the them dictate your safety at work. Most of the industrial workwearcan be cleaned using the same methods as shown above. Above all, check the manufacturer’s recommendations for laundering.
