CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS
Work in the chemical and petrochemical industries requires certified protective clothing against liquid chemicals according to EN 13034 and EN 14605, as well as against heat and flame according to EN ISO 11612. The industry covers everything from the production of basic chemicals to more advanced products such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, fuels and specialty chemicals.
Petrochemicals are part of this sector and focus on converting crude oil and natural gas into useful products, such as plastics, synthetic materials and various chemical components. These are used in areas including packaging, construction materials, electronics and textiles.
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RISK ANALYSIS ATEX - EXPLOSIVE ENVIRONMENTS
This is what you get when you download the guide:
- Which factors contribute to an increased risk of danger in explosive environments.
- How to act in an ATEX environment and how to reduce the risks.
- How protective clothing should be used to provide the best protection in different explosive environments.
RISKS WHEN WORKING WITH CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS
However, working in the chemical and petrochemical industry involves several risks, which makes safety a central part of the operations. One of the greatest risks is exposure to hazardous chemicals that can be toxic, corrosive or allergenic. If these substances are handled incorrectly, they can cause damage to the skin, eyes or respiratory tract and in some cases lead to serious illnesses. Therefore, it is important to use the right protective equipment and follow careful safety procedures.
Another significant risk is fire and explosion. Many chemical substances, particularly in petrochemistry, are highly flammable and can form explosive gas mixtures. Small mistakes or technical faults can have major consequences, which places high demands on monitoring, maintenance and training. In addition, work is often carried out with high pressures and temperatures in the processes, which involves further risks if equipment were to fail.
Work in chemicals/petrochemicals often requires protective clothing that is certified according to EN 13034, EN 1149-5 and EN ISO 11612. At the same time, it is important to check which chemicals are used in the company so that the specific chemical/chemical group is tested on the protective clothing chosen.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Common risks when working with chemicals
CHEMICAL SPLASH
Work in the chemical and petrochemical industry places high demands on thorough risk analysis and the right protective clothing. Hazards such as chemical splash, explosion, flame and heat – and in some cases electric arc – require garments certified according to EN 13034, EN 1149-5 and EN ISO 11612. It is crucial to ensure that the protective clothing has been tested against the specific chemical or chemical group used in the operation.
Most of Tranemo’s fabrics that are certified according to EN 13034 have a finish that protects against chemicals in spray form. Garments with suitable and approved design may be marked with the CE symbol. It is important to choose the right fabric that can handle the risks associated with the type of chemical group used in the operation. Protective clothing marked EN 13034 needs industrial washing to reactivate and re-impregnate the EN 13034 finish. This applies to fabrics both with and without PFAS.
class="btn btn--secondary">Chemical standard EN 13034
EXPLOSION / ATEX ENVIRONMENT
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Risk of explosion
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Flame and heat
When working in ATEX-classified environments, a thorough risk assessment is crucial to prevent explosions. Static electricity and sparks can act as sources of ignition in environments with gas, vapour or explosive dust. Therefore, flame retardant and antistatic workwear certified according to EN 1149-5 and EN ISO 11612 is required. The right protective clothing and correct use minimise the risk and create a safer working environment in, for example, the petrochemical and gas industries.
In ATEX environments where the user handles explosives or works in mine tunnels where there may be natural gas such as methane, Tranemo recommends garments certified according to the EN 1149-5 standard in combination with EN ISO 11612. Antistatic garments have properties that minimise the risk of spark formation (a source of ignition) that can cause an explosion, with antistatic fibres in the fabric and concealed metal accessories in accordance with the design requirements. The majority of Tranemo’s flame retardant garments are antistatic and certified according to EN 1149-5. Antistatic garments marked EN 1149-5 are intended for use in ATEX zones 1, 2, 20, 21 and 22. In environments with elevated oxygen levels or in zone 0, the protective clothing must not be used without first being approved by the responsible safety engineer, since the use and wear of the garment can affect the protection. It is also of the utmost importance that the protective clothing is worn correctly in ATEX environments.
Flame and heat
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Flame spread
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Convective heat
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Radiant heat
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Contact heat
For work where there is a risk that garments may come into contact with heat and flame, flame retardant workwear is required. Protection against flame and heat is the basic protection in all Tranemo flame retardant garments. In a complete protection system, the protective clothing must cover the neck, torso, arms and legs; either with a full-covering garment such as an overall, or a two-piece system with, for example, jacket and trousers, with the same certification.
ELECTRIC Arc flash
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Radiant heat
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Convective heat
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Electric shock
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Shock wave
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Loud noise
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Optical radiation
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Toxic gas
Working with electricity is risky and means that the worker is constantly exposed to different types of hazards. A short circuit or other problems can cause a powerful arc flash which often has devastating consequences if the correct protective clothing is not used. The arc flash challenges the flame retardant garments with, for example, radiant heat, metal splashes and optical radiation, which also requires the user to wear protective clothing from top to toe and from the inside out.
An arc flash can be very powerful and affects the worker and the protective clothing in different ways. By using a Tranemo Skinsafe™ system where the outer layer has PPE 2 with ELIM above 8 cal/cm², the effects of these hazards are minimised. All Tranemo’s arc flash certified garments have the Arc Rating value indicated on the outside of the garments to make it easy to choose the right protection.
TRAFFIC
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Collision accidents
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Crush injuries
It is very important to be clearly visible when working close to traffic, or in environments with moving processes such as overhead cranes or forklifts. In environments like these, high-visibility protective clothing certified according to EN ISO 20471 is often a requirement. The fluorescent fabric of the garments ensures that you are clearly visible during the day, while the reflective tape makes you visible when darkness falls. Since collision accidents are among the most common workplace accidents, high visibility is included in most of Tranemo’s outer garments.
class="btn btn--secondary">Read about the high-visibility standard EN ISO 20471
FIND THE RIGHT PROTECTIVE CLOTHING FOR chemicals and petrochemicals
A BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE
If your company does not require protection against O-xylene or Butanol, you can choose a fabric with a PFAS-free finish. Tranemo’s PFAS-free finish meets EN 13034 for acids and bases.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a broad group of laboratory-produced chemicals that are used in many consumer and industrial products. PFAS are used for their good resistance to grease, oil, water and heat, but are a poor environmental choice. Tranemo works hard to phase out PFAS where it is not necessary and also sees the need for strict chemicals legislation in order to minimise and in the long term end the use of PFAS. In 2021, we joined Chemsec’s Corporate PFAS Movement – “No to PFAS” – to influence how chemicals legislation is implemented in practice.
A PFAS-free finish does not contain the fluorine atoms that nature has such difficulty breaking down. This makes a PFAS-free product a better and more environmentally friendly choice.
OUR STRENGTHS in CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS
Tranemo is a strong partner for the chemical and petrochemical industry and offers flame-retardant workwear developed for environments with high risks of fire, explosion and chemical exposure. With deep expertise in heat, flame, antistatic properties, chemical splashes and multinational safety requirements, we deliver certified solutions that combine the highest level of protection with comfort and long service life.
Through close cooperation with refineries, chemical companies and service contractors, we develop workwear that functions in real process environments – and that contributes to safer working days in some of the industry’s most high-risk operations.
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