Post on 05-Feb-2017
COMPANY Ascend Performance Materials
INDUSTRY Chemical Processing
EMPLOYEES 3000
DATE Initiated in 2008
PRODUCTS GlenGuard™4.5 / GlenGuard™ 6.4
BENEFITS Maximum ComfortLightweightHighest Safety Attributes
I F T H E Y C H E AT W H E N T H E Y W E A R I T, I T ’ S N O T C O M P L I A N T
GlenGuard™ keeps Ascend employees compliant while managing the conditions of the toughest and hottest environments.
BACKGROUND
Ascend Performance Materials produces chemicals, polymers and fibers at five
manufacturing locations in the southeastern United States. Their products are
found in thousands of commercial and industrial products, including carpet,
tires and apparel. Ascend employees work in a variety of work environments
including those where flammables are present. The site staff is composed
of operators, engineers, maintenance personnel and support personnel. The
large maintenance department handles activities ranging from major unit turn-
around to installation and repair of sensitive equipment instrumentation.
CHALLENGE
Safety is the most important aspect of Ascend’s work. The company invests considerable
effort in ensuring and maintaining a safe work environment. Before a new FR Safety
Program was initiated, there were only a small percentage of employees who wore FR
cotton/nylon. “The biggest challenge was the culture shift,” says Janet Noble, industrial
hygiene team lead. Keeping employees cool and comfortable while maintaining
compliance is a primary concern. Headquartered in Texas with manufacturing locations
in Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Texas, workers are constantly faced with some of
the harshest weather conditions both indoors and out. “Most employees work in open
air, inside non-air- conditioned buildings, or even to the extreme of very hot buildings,”
says Janet. “In addition to safety, important factors were comfort, wearability and cost.”
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CASE STUDY ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
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SOLUTION
Ascend engaged a two-fold solution. For employees who currently wore FR cotton/
nylon, Ascend selected 4.5 oz. GlenGuard™. By choosing this product, employees
realized better FR protection in a garment that weighs 39% less than what they were
previously wearing. Secondly, employees who were currently not wearing any FR gear
needed to be outfitted in the most comfortable FR protection available in order to
enhance their safety. “We looked at a number of different companies and products.
We looked at weight of the fabric, and we took into account how it would look and
hold up,” says Janet. The 4.5 oz. GlenGuard™ offered superior comfort and the lightest
weight for the level of protection required.
When it comes to safety, Ascend knows firsthand GlenGuard™ has a quality combination
of protective materials. Ascend manufactures the No-Shock® antistatic fiber that is
woven into the workwear. The inherent fabric also incorporates Kermel® fibers and is
solution dyed for long-lasting wearability and color retention. It is this cutting-edge
technology and high quality fabric that keeps GlenGuard™ as the leader when it comes
to comfort and safety.
RESULTS
Ascend has more than 3,000 employees and contractors across five locations outfitted
in GlenGuard™. “It’s more comfortable than other FR garments we’ve tried,” says
Janet. “When it comes to wearability, they’re holding up well. GlenGuard™ offers great
protection and has really done what we have asked of it. If we had to make the decision
again today, we would still choose GlenGuard™.”
CASE STUDY ASCEND PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
I F T H E Y C H E AT W H E N T H E Y W E A R I T, I T ’ S N O T C O M P L I A N T
Lightweight gear means comfort for employees who work in hot and humid conditions. Only GlenGuard™ offered safe and comfortable PPE that Ascend’s employees will wear compliantly.
Glen Raven Technical Fabrics, LLC1831 North Park Avenue | Glen Raven, NC | 27217-1100 | USA 800.630.3759 | glenguard.com
©2015 Glen Raven, Inc. All rights reserved.
GlenGuard™ is a trademark of Glen Raven Incorporated.No-Shock® is a registered trademark of Ascend Performance Materials.
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