Hospital Topics
ISSN: 0018-5868 (Print) 1939-9278 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vhos20
Fabric-flammability Legislation Reviewed at Seminar To cite this article: (1975) Fabric-flammability Legislation Reviewed at Seminar, Hospital Topics, 53:1, 14-14, DOI: 10.1080/00185868.1975.9954179 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00185868.1975.9954179
Published online: 13 Jul 2010.
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Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=vhos20 Download by: [York University Libraries]
Date: 06 November 2015, At: 13:09
FolJric- f/olnlnolJl~ify /egis/ofion reviewed of selninor
T
he
fabric with the broadest range of adaptability for hospital sleepwear is fire-retardant polyester, John R_ Hosten, Ph.D., research specialist, Lowenstein Research Center, Lyman, S.C_, said at a recent seminar on what fabric flammability legislation means to hospitals.
Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 13:09 06 November 2015
The seminar, held December 4 in Oakbrook, III., and co-sponsored by the Tri-State Hospital Assembly and Fashion Seal Uniforms, division of Superior Surgical Manufacturing Co., was attended by personnel from hospitals in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. It was the eighth in a series presented by the company in various parts of the country. As of May 1, 1975, it will be against the law for any manufacturer to make flammable sleepwear for sizes 7 through 14, said Nathan L. Belkin, the firm's director of research and development. "Standards for sleepwear in sizes 0-6X are already in effect. An executive of the apparel manufacturers' association recently predicted that within the next five years all apparel will be under flammability standards." Hospitals will have to comply with the standards on sleepwear, even though children may not usually be exposed to an ignition source, Dr. Holsten warned. He also recommended that hospitals consider purchasing flame-retardant sleepwear for aged, even though it is not required by law. Upholstery standards probably will be issued sometime in the fall of 1975, to become effective in the fall of 1976. Standards are being considered for general apparel, nightgowns and bathrobes. California already has a law covering general apparel through size 14. Asked about absorbency of fabrics by one member of the audience, who commented, "Nonabsorbent fabrics are not good nursing care," Dr. Holsten said that work is being done on the absorbability of polyesters, but that probably they cannot be made cotton-comfortable.
14
"Flammability is our No, 1 problem now," declared David A. Lyttle, manager, institutional textiles, Celanese Fibers Marketing Co., New York City. "But we haven't forgotten about patient comfort. No product will answer all needs." Most standards issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission are based on injury studies, Sam Hart, director of the commission's Chicago office, told the registrants. Emergency rooms in 119 hospitals thoughout the country participate in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and report statistics on Injuries that are productassociated, he said. Section 15 of the Consumer Products Safety Act places a responsiblity on anyone who becomes aware of a defect in a product (every person involved in business, as well as the consumer) to notify the commission, unless he knows the commission already knows about it, Mr. Hart emphasized. A heavy fine and a one-year jail term may be levied for failure to report, and a fine of $2,000 a day may be levied for each day the hazard is known but not reported. Hospitals were advised not to "stock up" on sleepwear that does not meet the standard before it goes into effect. When someone in the audience asked whether a hospital would be in trouble if it still had a supply of nonconforming material three years after the deadline, Sam Miller, Chicago attorney, answered: "Yes - because you have known the state of the art - and should not have stocked up." To reduce the possibility of fire, smoking should be prohibited in patients' rooms, Mr. Miller suggested, and hospitals should provide a lounge area for those who wish to smoke. "If you furnish ashtrays, are you not inviting people to smoke?" he asked. "Common usage" no longer reduces liabil itv, he warned, adding, "You're not even allowed to show 'state of the art' at the time of the caseanymore." •
HOSPITAL TOPICS
ISSN: 0018-5868 (Print) 1939-9278 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vhos20
Fabric-flammability Legislation Reviewed at Seminar To cite this article: (1975) Fabric-flammability Legislation Reviewed at Seminar, Hospital Topics, 53:1, 14-14, DOI: 10.1080/00185868.1975.9954179 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00185868.1975.9954179
Published online: 13 Jul 2010.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 1
View related articles
Citing articles: 1 View citing articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=vhos20 Download by: [York University Libraries]
Date: 06 November 2015, At: 13:09
FolJric- f/olnlnolJl~ify /egis/ofion reviewed of selninor
T
he
fabric with the broadest range of adaptability for hospital sleepwear is fire-retardant polyester, John R_ Hosten, Ph.D., research specialist, Lowenstein Research Center, Lyman, S.C_, said at a recent seminar on what fabric flammability legislation means to hospitals.
Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 13:09 06 November 2015
The seminar, held December 4 in Oakbrook, III., and co-sponsored by the Tri-State Hospital Assembly and Fashion Seal Uniforms, division of Superior Surgical Manufacturing Co., was attended by personnel from hospitals in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. It was the eighth in a series presented by the company in various parts of the country. As of May 1, 1975, it will be against the law for any manufacturer to make flammable sleepwear for sizes 7 through 14, said Nathan L. Belkin, the firm's director of research and development. "Standards for sleepwear in sizes 0-6X are already in effect. An executive of the apparel manufacturers' association recently predicted that within the next five years all apparel will be under flammability standards." Hospitals will have to comply with the standards on sleepwear, even though children may not usually be exposed to an ignition source, Dr. Holsten warned. He also recommended that hospitals consider purchasing flame-retardant sleepwear for aged, even though it is not required by law. Upholstery standards probably will be issued sometime in the fall of 1975, to become effective in the fall of 1976. Standards are being considered for general apparel, nightgowns and bathrobes. California already has a law covering general apparel through size 14. Asked about absorbency of fabrics by one member of the audience, who commented, "Nonabsorbent fabrics are not good nursing care," Dr. Holsten said that work is being done on the absorbability of polyesters, but that probably they cannot be made cotton-comfortable.
14
"Flammability is our No, 1 problem now," declared David A. Lyttle, manager, institutional textiles, Celanese Fibers Marketing Co., New York City. "But we haven't forgotten about patient comfort. No product will answer all needs." Most standards issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission are based on injury studies, Sam Hart, director of the commission's Chicago office, told the registrants. Emergency rooms in 119 hospitals thoughout the country participate in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System and report statistics on Injuries that are productassociated, he said. Section 15 of the Consumer Products Safety Act places a responsiblity on anyone who becomes aware of a defect in a product (every person involved in business, as well as the consumer) to notify the commission, unless he knows the commission already knows about it, Mr. Hart emphasized. A heavy fine and a one-year jail term may be levied for failure to report, and a fine of $2,000 a day may be levied for each day the hazard is known but not reported. Hospitals were advised not to "stock up" on sleepwear that does not meet the standard before it goes into effect. When someone in the audience asked whether a hospital would be in trouble if it still had a supply of nonconforming material three years after the deadline, Sam Miller, Chicago attorney, answered: "Yes - because you have known the state of the art - and should not have stocked up." To reduce the possibility of fire, smoking should be prohibited in patients' rooms, Mr. Miller suggested, and hospitals should provide a lounge area for those who wish to smoke. "If you furnish ashtrays, are you not inviting people to smoke?" he asked. "Common usage" no longer reduces liabil itv, he warned, adding, "You're not even allowed to show 'state of the art' at the time of the caseanymore." •
HOSPITAL TOPICS
