Flame resistant (FR) garments have come a long way in terms of comfort. While FR items for some job operations remain, out of necessity, fairly heavy, innovations by textile manufacturers have produced FR apparel suitable for many industries so lightweight and comfortable that it is indistinguishable from everyday clothing.
This development is generally a positive one – both for the workers who must wear the FR items and for their employers, who recognize that compliance increases with comfort. But there is a potential downside to jeans that seem like ordinary street wear, and shirts so soft they can be worn off the job. Workers who launder this clothing at home may be inclined to combine it with ordinary laundry.