TAKING CARE OF YOUR PPE

Good practices to maintain your protection

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is designed to protect its wearer against identified hazards. However, its performance also depends on its condition, maintenance and conditions of use.

Dirt, unsuitable washing methods, wear, tears or improper repairs can compromise the effectiveness of protective clothing.

A few simple practices can help maintain the protective performance of your PPE and extend its service life, within the limits specified by the manufacturer.

1. WHEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING?

Clean clothing helps maintain effective protection

Forestry protective clothing is particularly exposed to dirt and contaminants: resin, chain oil, fuel, soil, sawdust and wood chips.

These substances can penetrate materials and affect their properties.

In chainsaw protective clothing, accumulated dirt may interfere with the functioning of the protective fibres.

It is therefore important to wash your clothing regularly, without carrying out unnecessary washing cycles.

The frequency of cleaning depends on how intensively the garment is used, its condition and the manufacturer's instructions.

There is no universal washing frequency suitable for all PPE.

2. HOW SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING?

Always check the care label first

The instructions on the care label and in the manufacturer's user instructions must be followed.

Temperature, washing programme, detergent, spin cycle and drying methods may vary depending on the materials and garment construction.

To understand the symbols, consult our care symbol guide.

Before washing

  • Empty all pockets and remove wood chips, sawdust and other debris.

  • Close the main zips and ventilation openings.

  • Loosen drawcords.

  • Fasten hook-and-loop closures to prevent damage to the fabrics.

  • Check the overall condition of the garment.

During washing

Use a suitable detergent and follow the recommended dosage.

Select the temperature and washing programme authorised by the manufacturer.

Do not use treatments that are not permitted in the instructions: bleach, fabric softeners, aggressive stain removers or unsuitable chemical cleaning may damage certain materials.

After washing

Gently reshape the garment.

Follow the drying instructions. Where air drying is permitted, hang the garment in a well-ventilated area.

Never store a garment while it is still damp.

Prolonged moisture can encourage unpleasant odours, mould growth and deterioration of certain materials.

3. GOOD PRACTICES FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Clean effectively without unnecessary waste

Responsible garment care helps reduce water, energy and detergent consumption.

A few simple habits can help limit the environmental impact of washing:

  • Choose detergents carrying a recognised environmental label.

  • Follow the recommended detergent dosage.

  • Avoid running washing machines with unnecessarily small loads.

  • Select the lowest temperature permitted and suitable for the level of soiling.

  • Avoid unnecessary washing while keeping protective equipment sufficiently clean to perform its intended function.

Important: environmental considerations must never take priority over the PPE manufacturer's care instructions.

A washing temperature of 30°C may be sufficient for certain textiles, but it is not necessarily suitable for all protective equipment or types of contamination.

Part of our environmental commitment

For several years, FRANCITAL ENVIRONNEMENT has been taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of its activities.

These efforts include material selection, packaging, printed materials and the continuous improvement of our practices.

We also encourage packaging sorting and responsible management of protective equipment at the end of its service life.

For protective clothing, collection, reuse and recovery options depend on material composition, condition, possible contamination and available recycling or waste management schemes.

PPE that is no longer suitable for its protective purpose must never be put back into circulation for protective use.

4. USING FORESTRY CHAINSAW PROTECTIVE CLOTHING CORRECTLY

Protection designed to reduce the consequences of an accident

Clothing designed to protect against cuts from hand-held chainsaws is intended to reduce the risk of injury in the event of accidental contact with a moving chain.

However, it cannot guarantee absolute protection.

Its use must always be combined with appropriate training, safe working techniques and compliance with the chainsaw manufacturer's safety instructions.

Wear your equipment correctly

To obtain the intended protection:

  • Choose clothing suited to your body shape and size.

  • Make sure the protective areas are correctly positioned.

  • Wear the garment fully fastened, in accordance with its instructions.

  • Avoid any modification that could displace or deform the protective materials.

  • Use other PPE appropriate to the activity: helmet, eye and face protection, hearing protection, gloves and protective footwear.

Poorly fitting or incorrectly worn clothing may compromise the expected level of protection.

5. FOUR MISTAKES YOU MUST AVOID

MISTAKE NO. 1 — Wearing the wrong size

Protective clothing must fit the wearer's body shape.

If it is too loose, it may catch on branches or equipment. If it is too tight, it may restrict freedom of movement and interfere with work.

For Type A chainsaw protective trousers, the protective areas must be correctly positioned, particularly on the front of the legs.

Choosing the correct size is essential for both safety and comfort.

Consult our FRANCITAL size guide.

MISTAKE NO. 2 — Continuing to wear damaged clothing

Before each use, inspect the overall condition of your equipment.

Pay particular attention to tears, cuts, damaged seams, faulty fastenings and signs of excessive wear.

If the protective materials are damaged, or if their integrity is uncertain, stop using the garment as PPE.

Repairs to the outer fabric may only be considered if authorised by the manufacturer and if they do not compromise the protective system.

A garment that can no longer perform its protective function must be permanently withdrawn from protective use.

MISTAKE NO. 3 — Sewing or modifying chainsaw protective materials

Forestry chainsaw protective clothing contains an assembly of technical materials whose construction directly contributes to its effectiveness.

Never:

  • Stitch through the protective layers unless expressly authorised.

  • Alter their position or coverage.

  • Cut or remove protective fibres.

  • Make alterations that could affect the performance of the chainsaw protective system.

An incorrectly performed repair can make a garment unsafe, even if the damage is not visible from the outside.

If in doubt, contact the manufacturer or an expressly authorised repair specialist.

MISTAKE NO. 4 — Ignoring care instructions

Excessive washing temperatures, unsuitable drying methods or unauthorised products may damage the materials.

For chainsaw protective clothing, shrinkage or deformation of the protective system may affect how the fibres perform.

Conversely, accumulated resin, oil and dirt may also reduce protective performance.

Good maintenance is about balance: wash when necessary, but always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

6. WHEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR PPE?

Protective equipment does not necessarily have the same service life as ordinary clothing.

Whether it remains suitable for use depends on several factors: intensity of use, material ageing, maintenance, storage, incidents and possible damage.

It must be withdrawn from protective use when its condition no longer allows the expected performance to be assured.

The service life of PPE is not determined by age alone: its actual condition and the limits specified by the manufacturer are essential.

For more information, see our PPE Service Life and End-of-Life guide.

KEY PRACTICES TO REMEMBER

Before use: check the garment's condition, fit and correct positioning.

After use: remove dirt and inspect exposed areas.

When washing: follow the care label and user instructions.

In case of damage: never modify protective materials and seek advice before attempting repairs.

At the end of its service life: permanently withdraw any equipment that can no longer provide the expected protection.

FRANCITAL ENVIRONNEMENT — Textile expertise dedicated to your protection.

These recommendations are general. The manufacturer's user instructions and the product care label always take precedence. If you are unsure about the condition or performance of any equipment, stop using it until the situation has been clarified.