Chemical protection garment

A chemical protective garment has an essential role in terms of safety. It protects workers against chemical products by preventing them from coming into contact with the skin and entailing a risk to their health.

When can chemical products mean a risk to workers?

  • If the product makes a health hazard.
  • If absorbed through the skin, it may damage it.
  • If the skin, even if it is not damaged by a first contact, it can lead the chemicals towards the airways, for example.

If chemical agents are found in the work environment, the health hazards meant by these products must be determined and what preventive measures have to be taken to avoid exposure to these agents, always starting with a comfortable and safe protective garment.

Classification of types of chemical protective garments

Depending on the characteristics of the chemical risk, we must choose a specific type of protective garment, always considering the set of authorized norms detailed below:

Type 1

Type 1 chemical protective garments are gas tight (EN 943-1 and EN 943-2). Type 1 protection has a subclassification:

  • Type 1a: Gas-tight garments containing an under-garment respirator.
  • Type 1b: Gas-tight garments that contain a respirator outside the garment itself.
  • Type 1c: Gas tight garments with internal positive pressure.
  • Type 1ET: Gas tight garments that are intended for emergency teams.

Type 2

Ventilated garments that do not remain gas-tight (EN 943-1).

Type 3

This clothing protects against liquids, such as splashes or low-risk substances (EN 14605).

Type 4

This type of chemical protective garment offers protection against liquid sprays (EN 14605).

características traje de protección química

Type 5

These chemical protective garments protect against dust and solid particles (EN ISO 13982-1).

Type 6

Protection against small splashes, in cases where low levels of protection are required (EN 13034).

Also, in the protective clothing we can incorporate other functionalities and materials to protect workers from other risks derived from their activity. In this way, the garments acquire greater protection and are more versatile both in work environments and in industrial environments.

Safer and more versatile chemical protection garment

It is very important that all workers are protected with the appropriate clothing that adapts to the characteristics of their position so they can perform their job safely and more efficiently. What protective properties can we incorporate into our chemical protective garments to make them safer if we are exposed to other types of risks?

Antistatic (EN 1149-5)

It details the electrostatic and design specifications and requirements that antistatic protective clothing must meet, so that it dissipates the accumulated charge on the worker through the material, thus avoiding a flash point that can lead to a fire.

Biological Hazard (EN 14126: 2004)

The requirements and test methods for reusable protective clothing, whose use is limited, which offers protection against biological agents, are specified in this norm.

Radioactive particles (EN 1073-2)

Requirements and test methods are specified for protective clothing consisting of non-ventilated garments that are responsible for protecting the user from contamination by radioactive particles.

Flame retardant (FR) (EN ISO 14116)

It is about clothing that offers protection against heat and flame.

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