Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 1 of 9 REVISION HISTORY Date Revision Number Details of Change 01/31/2014 1 added Exception and requirements for the exception to Section 4.1 for FRC to not be worn 10/01/2012 new initial release of FRC standard
Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 2 of 9 1.0 PURPOSE The purpose of this document is to establish minimum standard work requirements and policies for uniforms and flame resistant clothing (FRC) for the Freeport site. Note: Flame resistant clothing is being driven for site to comply with Arc Flash Requirements of NFPA 70E for the site. Individual units may have additional combustible flash fire requirements. 2.0 DEFINITIONS 2.1 Arc Flash Boundary the calculated distance from an electrical source where arc rated flame resistant clothing (FRC) must be worn 2.2 Electrical Task work that involves but is not limited to: operating an electrical breaker/disconnect being in Prohibited Approach Boundary of un-insulated electrical components/conductors removal of, connection to, or repair of electrical components/conductors racking in/out of breakers taking load readings within the Restricted Approach Boundary thermography within Arc Flash Protection Boundary 2.3 Flame Resistant (FR) the property of a material whereby combustion is prevented, terminated, or inhibited following the application of a flaming or nonflaming source of ignition, with or without subsequent removal of the ignition source 2.4 Flame Resistant Clothing (FRC) Uniform An FRC uniform consists of a longsleeved shirt/pant combination or coveralls that are made of flame resistant material and have a minimum arc rating of 8 Note: Foot, hand, and face/head protection requirements will be covered in SS #10 Electrical, for electrical flash protection. 2.5 FRC Uniform Contact the designated person who will interface with the site uniform provider to arrange for FRC needs of the area he/she represents; can include ordering new uniforms needed, arranging extra pick-ups, troubleshooting FRC issues with vendors, etc.
Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 3 of 9 2.6 Meltable Fibers any fibers that melt when exposed to heat that could be generated from an arc flash event; examples of meltable fibers are acetate, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, spandex, T-shirts with screen printing/appliques on them, etc. 2.7 Non-Melting Flammable Materials untreated cotton, wool, rayon, and silk or blends of these materials with a fabric weight of at least 4.5 oz. /yd 2 2.8 Outerlayers all garments worn outside of the FRC uniform; includes jackets, rainwear, etc. 2.9 Technicians/Electricians a craft/operator employee who spends 50% of his/her time doing operational, electrical, instrumentation, or mechanical (rotating equipment) type work OR someone who could be required to do an electrical task/standby inside an arc flash boundary during his/her job 2.10 Underlayers all garments worn under the FRC uniform; includes T-shirts, shorts, underwear, socks, etc. 3.0 SCOPE The requirements of this procedure apply to the BASF Freeport plant site. 3.1 This procedure applies to all BASF and contractor employees who perform electrical tasks and/or who are within the arc flash boundary while electrical tasks are being performed. Exemption: An exemption from wearing FRC all the time by specific craft types may be issued by the Site Leader for new units being installed on site by a capital contractor. This will be approved after a written agreement between Site and the project team has been developed to ensure FRC compliance with corporate and NFPA 70E requirements. 4.0 REQUIREMENTS 4.1 FRC uniforms must be worn while on duty by all BASF and contractor operations technicians, shift supervisors, electricians, I&E technicians, mechanical technicians, and others identified by the tasks they perform. Exception: Units that do not require flash fire protection may approve FRC shirt not to be worn except while inside an arc flash boundary while an electrical task is being
Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 4 of 9 performed if each of the following requirements are met: The unit must develop a unit policy that addresses where FRC shirts will be stored when not worn The unit defines who may remove an FRC shirt and when. The policy must ensure that all other aspects of this standard are in compliance. The policy must be approved through MOC process with Production Director/Sr. Production Manager. Service groups will follow the policy of the unit/area owner. The unit policy will be posted in control room or a readily accessible area. 4.2 FRC uniforms must be worn by anyone who enters the arc flash boundary while any electrical task is being performed and comply with the requirements of this standard. 4.3 All garments that are worn as outerlayers while performing any duties that require the use of FRC must also be made from FR material. 4.4 All underlayers shall not be made of meltable fibers but may be made of non-melting flammable materials. 4.4.1 Note: Any designs on underlayers (T-shirts, etc.) should be made of nonmelting, non-flammable materials. (no screen printed emblems) 4.4.2 Exception: An incidental amount of elastic used on non-melting fabric underwear and socks shall be permitted. 4.4.3 Exception: The 4.5 oz./yd 2 requirement does not apply to underlayers. 4.5 While performing any task that requires the use of FRC, the FRC uniform must be worn according to the following: 4.5.1 Sleeves must be rolled down and fastened at the wrist. 4.5.2 Shirt tails must be tucked in. 4.5.3 Shirts and jackets must be closed/buttoned up to the neck. 4.6 The FRC uniform must be maintained to manufacturer s recommendations for condition, repairs, and laundering.
Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 5 of 9 4.6.1 no holes or damage to fabric 4.6.2 proper laundering to prevent damage to the FR material (Attachment A) 4.6.3 Application of products to FRC can cause the FR properties of the clothing to be ineffective. Use of any product on FRC should be thoroughly investigated before use. (Note: Do not use DEET, perfume, fabric softeners, etc., on FRC.) 5. FRC Uniform Policy 5.1 BASF Employees 5.1.1 BASF employees will be furnished FRC uniforms by the company through the specified uniform supplier(s) for the site. 5.1.1.1 Employees who do not like the BASF supplied FRC may purchase, at their own expense, their own FRC that is compliant with the proper AR rating. (AR8, ATPV8 or HRC. II) 5.1.1.2 Managers may approve the purchase of properly rated FRC if the supplier is not able to supply a properly fitting FRC garment. 5.1.1.3 Procurement will be the overseer of the contractual process. 5.1.2 The number of uniforms will be determined based upon work schedule, work environment, pickup schedule, and job requirements. This will be a joint agreement between the uniform supplier and BASF. 5.1.3 Each employee who is required to wear an FRC uniform while on duty will be provided an FR jacket and FR raincoat upon request. These will be provided through the site uniform supplier through your FRC uniform contact. 5.1.4 Working from a list of agreed upon options, each employee will be allowed to select his/her style/color of FRC uniform. This will be handled through the FRC uniform contact for your area. 5.1.5 Key FRC uniform contacts designated will be designated throughout the plant site to coordinate any interface with the FRC uniform supplier. 5.1.6 Each unit/department management will be responsible for specifying additional FRC uniform needs to cover additional employees, visitors, spares, FR raingear,
Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 6 of 9 and any other special needs that may arise. Unit/department management will coordinate these needs through their FRC uniform contact. 5.1.7 Employees will be offered a laundering service for the FRC uniforms but can elect to launder their own FRC uniforms after signing a waiver that states they understand and will abide by the proper laundering requirements specified by the manufacturer. 5.1.7.1 See Attachment A for laundering requirements. 5.1.7.2 The waiver will be signed off on and stored in Mockingbird. See Attachment B. 5.1.8 Uniforms that are contaminated with process or hazardous chemicals should be left at the site for proper disposal or sent to laundering service for proper laundering. We do not want to carry a hazard outside of the site boundaries. Spare FRC uniforms can be requested from your manager for emergency use. 5.1.9 Employees may request a change in uniform size as needed to maintain proper fit and protection. 5.1.10 Employees may request a change in uniform style once a year with manager approval. (Note: In some cases, there may be an extra charge for this change.) 5.1.11 Employees must return FRC uniforms when they leave the BASF or the Freeport site, or they will be financially responsible for their replacement cost. 5.2 Contractor Employees 6. Violations 5.2.1 Contractor employees must follow their company policy for the provision of proper FRC uniform requirements. Violations of this policy will be handled through Human Resource policies as a failure to comply with job requirements.
Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 7 of 9 7. Training 7.1 Each department/company shall provide initial training to ensure that the purpose and function of this procedure is understood. 7.2 Retraining will be needed when there are changes to the standard and/or deficiencies of knowledge and understanding are identified. 7.3 Each person wearing FRC will need to take the Mockingbird course for the laundering waiver. 8. Responsibilities 8.1 Site Manager The Site Manager is responsible for ensuring the implementation of this standard at the Freeport site. 8.2 Unit/Department Managers 8.2.1 Ensure compliance with site standard. 8.2.2 Provide required FRC uniforms to their employees. 8.2.3 Determine any additional employees who will need FRC because of an occasional/frequent need to be inside the arc flash boundary while an electrical task is being performed. 8.2.4 Determine the needed amount of FRC for visitors, spares, and other special needs and acquire through the FRC uniform contact for their area. 8.2.5 Provide training to their employees to ensure compliance with site standard. 8.2.6 Approve the purchase of FRC when the uniform supplier cannot provide a properly fitted FRC garment. 8.3 BASF Procurement 8.3.1 Maintain a contract with a uniform provider that can meet the requirements of this standard.
Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 8 of 9 8.3.2 Keep FRC uniform contacts informed regarding contract requirements and changes of the uniform provider. 8.3.3 Provide FRC uniform contacts with all needed contact information to work with uniform provider to perform their duties. 8.3.4 Provide assistance to FRC uniform contacts to work out issues with the uniform provider. 8.4 FRC Uniform Contact 8.4.1 Work with BASF Procurement and the uniform provider to supply FRC uniform needs to the affected employees in his/her area. 8.4.2 Be the main point of contact for employees, BASF Procurement, and the uniform provider for FRC uniform needs and issues in his/her area. 8.4.3 Provide employees with copies of the FRC manufacturer s laundering requirements as requested. 8.5 BASF Employees BASF employees must comply with the requirements of this standard when and where it applies to BASF employees job requirements. 8.6 Contractor Companies Contractor companies must ensure that policies and procedures are in place to ensure that their employees are in compliance with this standard. 8.7 Contracted Employees Contracted employees must comply with the requirements of this standard when and where it applies to contracted employees job requirements. 9. Related Documents 9.1 Freeport Electrical BCF020.010 9.2 Personal Protective Equipment - BC032.007 9.3 Workplace Electrical NFPA 70E 2009
Environmental, Health and No.: BCF020.018 Page: 9 of 9 10. Attachments 10.1 Attachment A Laundering Instructions 10.2 Attachment B Self-Laundering Waiver 10.3 Attachment C FRC Selection Guidance