IAIbe ETYSEN Ay tr v Shaq ch mm Abts tt ( (NAPSA)—Working people all over the country may bebetter off now that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has enacted a new safety standard for businesses. Called NFPA 70E, the new rule details “best practices” for protecting at-risk workers from electrical-related hazards. Companies around the U.S. have been putting these recommendations into practice, helping to ensure their employees’ safety. In fact, some government organizations such as the Departmentof Energy (DOE) now requireall of their federal and contractor staff to comply. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)is expected to adopt the standard as well. The safety requirements include specifications for the proper use of Flame Resistant (FR) protective clothing when working undervarious conditions. Employees are required to wear appropriate FR apparel matched to the expected electrical exposurelevel. As a result, work clothes suppliers have been adjusting their product lines to meet the new demand. For example, UniFirst Corporation, a national leader in uniform and work apparel supply, recently expanded its specialized Flame Resistant apparel line specifically to meet the most common 70E needs. The clothes are available through purchase, lease, or full-service rental programs. The company has been outfitting | Fv r tn New Safety Standard Protects Workers Proper Flame Resistant work clothing keeps electrical workers safe and in keeping with government standards. businesses, large and small, since 1936 andis a recognized expert in the industry. According to the company’s Marketing Director, Robert W. Isaacson, “Because of its importance, our company has dedicated an entire team to this new NFPA standard. The focus has been on educating customers on the 70E requirements and how they apply to their work environments. Wefeel it’s important for them to understand the various risk levels of electrical work and the appropriate FR clothing that should be worn to keep workers safe.” To learn more about the new NFPA 70E standard or Flame Resistant protective garments, call (800) 225-3364 or visit www.unifirst.com.
