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PHS Besafe stays Bright, not Out of Sight!
02 February 2012
A tough, working environment can leave its mark on specialist workwear. It is crucial that an effective laundry process be used to ensure contaminants that could affect the performance of garments be removed, without detriment to the fabric of the clothing itself. Continual conventional laundering of garments can be ineffective on heavy soiling, leading to clothing looking dull, faded and lack-lustre. In addition, reflective tapes and specialist fabric finishes can be damaged, reducing the level of protection and safety. Many employers will therefore resort to discarding garments and replacing with new in an effort to protect their staff. This is damaging to both the environment and the pocket!
However, PHS Besafe has provided a solution. Experts in the provision of specialist, technical workwear and workwear laundry services, PHS Besafe has launched Premier Arc, a dedicated laundry service exclusively designed to remove the heaviest of soiling whilst maintaining the effectiveness of the Arc:Gear range. This ensures the life of the clothing is extended, dramatically reducing the workwear replacement cycle.
The Premier Arc laundry process encompasses a 12 point procedure, each part designed to ensure garments are cleaned, repaired and replaced with the maximum of care and the minimum of disruption. In terms of the wash method, all products are presented for the PHS Besafe unique wash process utilising the Aqueous wash cycle at 40 degrees. This wash process is designed to remove as much contaminant as possible whilst protecting the fabrics and components of the garment. Once the garment has been laundered, a visual inspection is carried out to ensure contaminant removal has taken place. If required the garments will be laundered again to ensure optimum removal of contaminants has occurred. All high visibility arc products are then dried through the PHS Besafe tunnel process. The temperature does not exceed 90 degrees to ensure reflective and sealing tapes and fabrics are not damaged in the drying process. An integrity inspection is then undertaken to check zips, press studs and sealing tapes are all still intact.
Although the wash process is an integral part of the service, PHS Besafe recognises the need for a fully comprehensive service. In addition to the washing of the garments, the Premier Arc service also includes:
- collection of all clothing from the client’s site
- scanning of all items for tracking purposes
- repairing faults when necessary
- inspection sheets outlining all guaranteed checks
- a commitment to return garments within one week.
Paul Sharkey, PHS Besafe’s National Sales manager commented, “Premier Arc is PHS Besafe’s innovative new wash process, designed with the focus on wearer safety. By concentrating on contaminant removal and components such as zips, studs and reflective tapes all being in working order, the wearer of Arc Flash protective clothing can relax and concentrate on his/her working duties. Our process not only delivers a premium maintenance service but it also provides a checklist detailing what that premium service has carried out, such as checking for surface contamination, zips and studs all fasten correctly, there are no fabric tears and reflective tape is not damaged or delaminating. Once all checks have been carried out and PHS Besafe personnel are confident that the product has met all Premier Arc criteria they will then sign and place the checklist with the Arc garment and send back to the wearer. This process is about wearer safety, garment longevity and cost savings to our clients and adds to PHS Besafe’s portfolio of providing highly specialised laundry processes for technical safety clothing in all manner of working environments".
Besafe