Jobs that require NoMax suits and respirators

I can answer most questions about PPE etc.
What would you like to know exactly.
Are they hot?
Do you sweat?
Is it hard to see in a wearing a fullface one?

Yes to all.

I have no clue on truck driving jobs in an oilfield,if I was looking for a job in that field then that would be my last concern.

Good Luck

 

Nomex suits(as worn by truck drivers etc) are flame retardant (not fireproof) coveralls that supposedly give you a few more seconds to exit a fire location before being seriously burned. Do not think of the ones worn by race car drivers; those are real suits that close tight at openings and give you around a minute and a half in open flame (time enough to open seat belts and bail out). They do not reflect heat.

Respirators (half-face or full-face) protect your lungs,etc from fumes and aromas. Full-face also protects your eyes from splashes. Mostly they use outside air filtered through the appropriate filters, but for toxic products are connected to a breathable air bottle.

Neither are "breathable" for obvious reasons, so yeah they're "uncomfortable" in hot weather. But that beats the heck out of the alternative.

 

I've worn Nomex coveralls in all the major northern California refineries over the years. Very hot. One refinery showed us a video of a guy who got burned up (he was the narrator) talking about wanting to look 'cool' so he rolled up his sleeves. He received his most severe burns on is head and arms. Most of the guys in there wear shorts and wifebeaters although you sign papers saying you will wear long trouser and long sleeve shirts under the Nomex. When it is cold you have to wear your warm gear under the Nomex. They do sell Nomex jackets now -- about $250 bucks.

First time in a refineries 1990, we could wear jeans and regular cotton shirts no problems. Then the PPE revolution came on strong throughout the latter 90's and hazmat training became the word of the day as well as BATT cards.

 

cant tell you about respirators..but can tell you that on hot summer days standing in a refinery wearing nomex coveralls you will sweat your ### off...thankfully it only takes me about an hour to unload...having to wear nomex all day long would suck pretty bad in my opinion...I occassionally deliver to a refinery in northern PA that only makes you wear a nomex smock ( kind of like a giant shirt or shop coat)..I carry my own coveralls with me because Im not to interested in wearing a pair that a gaurd gives you that hasnt ever been washed...but I will wear the smocks because they are way cooler..(temp not looks)

 

Basically, you have a choice to make. PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) gives you a chance of surviving an industrial accident with minimal damage to you. It's the same idea as firemen clothing when entering a burning building. Firemen get burned, some die.... that's a fact of the job. But you don't see any of them deciding it's not "cool" or "too much trouble" for their PPE. Of course not, they're professionals and they'll use anything that betters their odds of going home safely.

Hauling tanker puts you in proximity to dangerous stuff that can do you permanent damage whether over a period of time (inhalation) or immediately (burns, posoning,etc).

So, like I said.... you have a choice. You can be a pro and protect yourself or be a jackwagon and wind up crippled or dead.

 

Kilobyte...If you are just statring out in trucking,the best thing to do is start at a job bumping docks,get the experience driving...then take on doing the job with all the things Kitty has explained.

One step at a time.

 

Does ten years worth of wearing Nomex turnouts and SCBAs count?

Uh....probably not. But I can say Nomex was much lighter and just as effective as the older materials used in firefighter turnout gear. It was easier to move in Nomex than older materials, too. As far as respirators, I used SCBA. It was basically the same as a SCUBA outfit except we used full face masks instead of a mouthpiece. It was the heaviest part of the gear we wore into a structure fire.

Nomex isn't too bad. If the respirator you will be using is similar to a military gas mask, it's a little cumbersome, but considering the alternative of not having one if you need it, it is tolerable.

 

Cleaning the bathroom at the Pilot.

 

Oilfield workers wear issued overalls, not sure if their these so called Nomax suits. These overalls issued to us are very light weight and thin. They claim to be fire retartent but who knows. I don't know about drilling rigs but Fracing crews have what is called a Safty coordinator and it doesn't matter if you're part of his company or not, he will ask you about your overalls if you're not wearing any...ask me how I know lol. The only exception is guys like sand trucks guys I guess.

Anyhow, Being a Native West Texan, the heat doesn't bother me that much. The only time the overalls bothered me was during the summer and wearing jeans under neath....now that got hot! I would suggest a t-shirt and shorts underneath...something like sports shorts that breath.

Now if you end up on a Frac crew, most guys just use standard overalls but guys dealing with sand and acid with generally wear some form of berthing device, at least a paper filter. I will sometimes wear one my self even though I only pump fuel because someone is always spilling acid etc. The guys dealing with acid or the blender will sometimes wear an additional plastic suit over their standard issued overalls as well. It's not that dangerous of a job really but #### if it doesn't stick sometimes!