Special Protective Clothing

SPECIAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, clothing having the purpose of protecting the worker from industrial hazards acting on the organism through the skin coverings, or from dangers associated with the cut of ordinary clothing. According to the current state of fabric manufacturing technology, specifically protective and general hygienic properties of fabrics do not always fully coincide; therefore sometimes one must partially sacrifice one in favor of the other. - Types of SPC: 1) items that give protection to the entire body of the worker (smocks, suits, overalls, quilted jackets, coats-capes, etc.), and 2) items that give only partial protection (aprons, headwear, armlets, mittens, leggings, knee pads, footwear, etc.). The main types of SPC have been developed by the Central Institute for Labor Protection and released in the form of standards (OSTs) by the All-Union Committee for Standardization at STO in 31₂ and 32₂ under specific numbers (part of which are given below). (In the planned new edition of standards, each OST will be represented as a fraction of the old and new numbers.) In relation to certain groupings of industrial hazards, the main types of SPC are as follows: 1. For work involving the danger of clothing being caught by moving parts of machinery (example: lubricators, harness makers, mechanics for current machine repairs, etc.),-overalls of type OST 4775. Features of cut: closed at the back, without sewn-on pockets, front flaps overlap each other by at least 8 cm; no protruding parts. Fabric-muslin or other cotton fabric, easily torn in cases of being caught. 2. For work in hot shops, types of special clothing are used according to the main features of the work. Case 1. There is no danger of ignition: no sparks; heat dissipation is difficult due to the high t° of the surrounding air (example: dryers, dyers, workers in sugar refining production). SPC-suit with blouse (OST 2183 or 2184) of muslin or other light cotton fabric. Here the requirements for specifically protective (facilitation of heat dissipation) and general hygienic properties coincide (the suit is light, soft, hygroscopic, well gives off moisture, washes well, does not change its properties after getting wet). Case 2. The predominant factor-radiant heat. Sharp difference in t° affecting different parts of the body at different moments of work (steel founders, etc.). Special clothing: *a) suit with local padding from coarse woolen canvas (OST 3157 and 3158). Fabric (with few sparks) light cotton (quite hygienic); with sparking-linen (less hygienic, but also less dangerous in relation to flaring up than cotton). b) Poyarkova hat with turning-down brim; long mittens with wool lining (OST 640); valenki. Case 3. The predominant danger-ignition from sparks and splashes of molten metal (foundry workers, furnace operators, etc.). SPC-suit (OST 2187) either from canvas No. 63 and 128 or from woolen shinel cloth (provides better protection). Local protection-as previous. Case 4. The same points-are expressed especially strongly, to the above-mentioned SPC is added asbestos [depending on the nature of the work: smock (OST 2181/1), apron (OST 677), mittens (OST 642), leggings (OST 2181/9)]. 3. For work involving the action of acids: suit (OST 2371-2372) of woolen shinel cloth (incomplete protection); rubber aprons, mittens, boots, armlets (good protection). 4. For work involving the action of alkalis: suit from impregnated canvas No. 63 or 128 (OST 2187-2188); local protection-as previous. 5. In "dusty" work-depending on the degree of dustiness: 1) smock, 2) closed overalls (OST 4775), 3) special overalls (OST 3160). Fabric-dense cotton. 6. For work involving moisture-depending on working conditions, e.g. for miners in wet workings-suit from impregnated canvas No. 86 or 128 (OST 3012-3013) and the same helmet (OST.3014). For fishermen not immersing themselves in water-suit from the same canvas (OST 3015-3016) or vulcanized overalls (OST 3159). For work involving immersion in water (fishermen on the ton), is used (not standardized) repeatedly greased SPC from rawhide: bakhily (a kind of very loose trousers, closed at the bottom), polubakhily (covering the legs and reaching to the stomach), "pistons" (a kind of shoes worn over the previous ones). 7. For work involving the action of cold-also depending on conditions: quilted jackets and trousers (OST 2374-2375)-for mobile work, fur coats-for work with stationary position, etc. 8. In work involving the possibility of electrical shock-rubber, specially tested for strength "dielectric" galoshes and gloves.