June, July and August are typically the hottest months in the U.S., but even when warm climates aren’t at their peak temperatures, heat can be dangerous for outdoors workers.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) developed NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace to help prevent injuries and fatalities associated with electrical shock and arc flash hazards.
About 30 to 50 workers in every 100,000 are killed doing utility line work every year, and many more suffer non-fatal but life-changing loss of limbs from electrical burns and trauma.
Flame-resistant (FR) clothing can increase the chances of survival and decrease the need for medical treatment and the chances of subsequent infections. It can help preserve the quality of life of a worker exposed to an electric arc flash.
While the flame-resistant fabrics in use today are the result of very modern technological advancements, the idea of treating materials to make them safer in the event of fire goes back centuries