Why blue jeans should not be worn....

I have seen countless LinkedIn posts of workers in aluminium plants around the world. Most of these posts show workers wearing the appropriate personal protection equipment (PPE) including clothing as per their task or procedure. But, unfortunately there are many workplaces whose posts show workers wearing blue jeans at the aluminium plant. That in my opinion is a big "No No". Why? I firmly believe that the blue jean pants that I see in countless LinkedIn posts are not provided by the employer but are actually the worker’s own pants. What is the basis of this opinion? I have seen photos of workers who are wearing exactly the same clothing except their pants, which are blue jeans and the colors vary. If they were supplied by their employer all the blue jeans would be the same color. I have never seen a photo of workers wearing the same color blue jeans. Thus, my hypothesis is these workers are wearing their own pants.

There are a myriad of reasons on why worker’s should not be allowed to wear their own clothing (e.g., blue jeans) in an aluminium plant. This practice is not only hazardous to the worker but also the worker's family.

First: Blue jean fabric is not flame resistant. I have reported on numerous incidents where workers received burns because their clothing ignited.

Second: Blue Jean fabric is not flash arc flash resistant. I have seen countless photos of maintenance or electrical personnel at a smelter wearing blue jeans. If the workers receive an arc flash their blue jeans would ignite resulting in a serious burns. I acknowledge that some blue jean fabric can be arc resistant, but I highly doubt a worker would purchase on their own this safety clothing.

Third: Condition of blue jeans. I have observed countless examples of workers’ blue jeans that are torn or ripped. If these damaged pants were supplied by the employer they would have been replaced. Because the worker is wearing torn or blue jeans with holes in them. Leads me to believe that the worker owns the blue jeans.

Fourth: Chemical contamination to the worker and worker’s family. In our workplaces our employees are exposed to a variety of chemicals depending on their job function. At minimum all workers are exposed to aluminium fines that are generated through a variety of processes in our workplaces. These chemicals and aluminium fines attach to anything, including fabric. That is why many workplaces launder the workers’ clothing and not allow it to go home with the worker. That practice cannot be done if the worker is wearing their own clothing. When workers wear their blue jeans home they are unknowingly taking with them any chemical residues and aluminium fines that might be on the fabric. Over time this repeated introduction of chemicals and aluminum fines may affect the health and well being of other family members, especially young children.

In conclusion, all aluminium workplaces who provide clothing to their workers should provide both shirts and pants. Thus preventing their workers from wearing their own personal clothing to the job. Through that our workplaces can ensure an increase safety to not only their own workers, but their families too.