Question:

Spray Safe: The Rules for Insect Repellent and FR Clothing

Answer:

With every new bug season, come swarms of new questions as to how to properly use insect repellent while wearing FR garments.

DEET is the active ingredient in many well known, and often used, insect repellents (liquids, lotions, sprays, wristbands, etc.). It is used to ward off biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks – insects that may or may not be carrying far peskier diseases like West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease.

The problem for those who work where there are arc flash and flash fire hazards? DEET is HIGHLY flammable. Any flame resistant clothing sprayed with it has the potential to ignite and continue to burn if exposed to an ignition hazard.

Do not spray DEET on your FR clothing.  Ever.

Brought to you by Ohio BWC safety consultants.