Frontline professionals in the oil and gas industry face a vast number of life-threatening chemical hazards on a daily basis.

Danger lurks in every activity, from building well foundations and erecting lease tanks, to chemically treating or hydraulically fracturing wells.

In off-shore drilling, the dangers range from blow-outs, hydrogen sulphide gas during drilling, heavy metals and benzene present in crude, to asbestos, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid and normally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs).

Even in normally safe refineries, certain activities – process sampling, inspection, handling or recharging catalyst – pose chemical risks as high as anywhere else on the planet. Risk is also higher during regularly scheduled maintenance and repair shutdowns.               

Workers are also potentially exposed to flames and fires and other consequences of explosions.

Workers need strong protection against all of these potential perils, and to be able to comfortably work in their protective garments for their entire shift.

DuPont seeks to provide durable solutions that help resist and repel lethal exposure.

Tyvek® and Tychem®

As well as being antistatically treated, DuPont™ Tyvek® and DuPont™ Tychem® coveralls can help offer much needed protection against chemicals and particulates.

The Tyvek® 500 Xpert and Tyvek® 600 Plus single-use coveralls help offer inherent protection against fine particles and low pressurized inorganic water-based chemicals of low concentration, while being robust, breathable and comfortable. They are well-suited for a broad range of tasks.

The Tyvek® 800J coverall offers resistance to oils, particles and pressurized jets of water-based chemicals all in a high comfort, breathable, Type 3 limited-use garment.

The range of single-use chemical protective coveralls made of Tychem® help offer lightweight yet tough protection starting at low toxic chemicals up to biological hazards. Garments made of Tychem® are typically used in areas as diverse as petroleum refining, natural gas supply, factory decommissioning, land decontamination, industrial tank cleaning and spill clean-up. They are particularly suitable for jobs with frequent exposure to dangerous chemicals, such as maintenance and repair – particularly Tychem® 6000 F, for its excellent barrier to a broad range of organic chemicals, and for its reinforced strength.