Why is flame-resistant clothing important in the oil and gas industry?

The answer is right in the name. Oil and gas personnel spend their workdays in close proximity to large quantities of flammable materials, such as petrochemicals, hydrogen sulfide, and vapors that can ignite easily. Any of these materials coming into contact with an ignition source (e.g. an open flame, static electricity, high heat) can result in a fire or an explosion.

That's where flame-resistant clothing comes into play. This clothing is designed to be self-extinguishing, thereby preventing a fire from spreading to the rest of the worker's clothes or body. This reduces the severity of burn injuries and greatly increases the chances of surviving contact with fire. Depending on the material it's made from, regular clothing can also melt onto the body when it catches on fire, which can significantly aggravate the injury.

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Fire risks are inherent across all oil and gas operations. Since the majority of the substances these organizations extract and process are highly flammable, it's essential that all their workers be protected from a potential fire at all times. Wearing flame-resistant clothing isn't enough to keep oil and gas workers safe, but it's an essential step toward that goal.