Employees working on energized conductors or circuits run the risk of serious or even fatal injury, such as electrocution. Wearing heavy cotton clothing can help protect workers, because heavy cotton clothes don't ignite as fast as clothing made from other fabrics. Flame-retardant cotton is even better.

Does cotton protect from electricity?

Instead, electrical clothing choices include 100% cotton for shirts, pants, and all clothing worn under workwear, since cotton doesn't ignite as quickly as other fabrics. Flame resistant or flame retardant cotton clothing is an even better choice.

Is 100% cotton considered FR?

There's a dangerous misconception that 100% cotton fabric is flame resistant. The truth is, untreated cotton fabric is not flame resistant (FR) – it will ignite and continue to burn against the skin in the event of an arc flash.