Oil and gas personal protective equipment manufacturer DuPont provides durable solutions that help resist and repel lethal exposure offshore and in refineries
In offshore drilling, dangers range from blow-outs, hydrogen sulphide gas during drilling, heavy metals and benzene present in crude, to asbestos, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid and normally occurring radioactive materials (Norms).
Even in refineries, certain activities like process sampling, inspection, handling or recharging catalyst pose chemical risks as high as anywhere else on the planet. Risk is also higher during regularly scheduled maintenance and repair shutdowns.
Workers are also potentially exposed to flames and fires and other consequences of explosions.
DuPont’s Tyvek and Tychem coveralls protect workers against all of these potential perils.
The Tyvek Classic Xpert and Tyvek Classic Plus single-use coveralls help offer inherent protection against fine particles and low pressurised inorganic water-based chemicals of low concentration, while being robust, breathable and comfortable. They are well-suited for a broad range of tasks.
The new Tyvek 800J coverall offers resistance to oils, particles and pressurised jets of water-based chemicals all in a high comfort, breathable, Type 3 limited-use garment.
The range of single-use chemical protective coveralls made of Tychem help offer lightweight yet tough protection starting at low toxic chemicals up to biological hazards.
Garments made of Tychem are typically used in areas as diverse as petroleum refining, natural gas supply, factory decommissioning, land decontamination, industrial tank cleaning and spill clean-up. They are particularly suitable for jobs with frequent exposure to dangerous chemicals, such as maintenance and repair — particularly Tychem F, for its barrier to a broad range of organic chemicals, and Tychem F2, for its reinforced strength.
The flame-resistant properties of Nomex fibre are inherent in the molecular structure of the fibre and not chemically added, which means they cannot be washed or worn away.
Garments made of Nomex are comfortable, breathable, and resistant to tears and abrasion. Not only does Nomex fibre offer inherent flame-resistant properties but most Nomex solutions also include a permanent anti-static fibre. Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can generate sparks with energy levels sufficient to ignite surrounding vapours, aerosols of flammable liquids or dust particles, leading to an explosion.
Moreover, limited-flame spread coveralls made of DuPont ProShield FR can easily be worn over flame-resistant garments made of Nomex fibre, thus helping to protect the workers from contamination, and also the primary flame-resistant reuseable garments.
