Outfitting North Slope Workers with Layers of Protection

Brains of the Outfit

A familiar name among anyone looking for outdoor gear, Big Ray’s outfits Alaskans for life, recreation, and work.

“Outfitting workers on the North Slope can pose unique challenges. One of the most well-known aspects is the extreme cold and high winds,” says Big Ray’s corporate outfitting director Tyler Snyder. “Protecting workers against these harsh conditions takes uniquely designed clothing and thoughtful layering. Improper layering and/or clothing can create inefficient heat retention and minimal moisture wicking.”

The way to warmth runs through the feet. “Something people don’t think about is the heat retention of your feet. When you’re standing on ice that’s -40°F, it sucks the heat right out of your feet,” Snyder explains.

Thus, Big Ray’s carries the Baffin safety boot, one of the most popular boots recommended for Slope workers. The Baffin boot is designed with unique layering that prevents wicking, and the Canadian-made brand also includes safety features such as an Arctic-grip toe and puncture resistant sole.

A full kit for North Slope workers can vary from person to person but could contain, according to Snyder, a base layer, bottom layer shirt, mid layer jacket, outer layer jacket or parka, Arctic boots, thick socks, pants, bib or coveralls, Arctic gloves, balaclava, beanie, or other necessary equipment or tools.

Big Ray’s offers several channels for getting the right gear to the right person. The simplest and most common is fitting the individual at a store location in Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Kodiak. Companies can also be set up a webstore, where employees log in and begin build their orders, like an industrial wedding registry. Big Ray’s also ships bulk orders directly to the employer.

One of the biggest issues with Arctic or Slope workers is that everyone’s body is a little bit different, so a given individual may not need three layers, says Snyder. “But at the end of the day, it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it,” he adds.

Stuff for Survival

Outfitting is a practical necessity, yet for certain personalities fascinated by gadgets and gimmicks, safety solutions are as good as toys. That’s why Eagle Enterprises has billed itself as “neat stuff headquarters.” Its Anchorage and Homer locations sell medical kits, flotation devices, and lifeboat rations.

Safety regulations can get rather complicated when transporting workers by helicopter to offshore rigs, says Eagle Enterprises president Shane Langland.

“At a minimum, you have to have a Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] approved life vest in the helicopter for each occupant. Many oil companies also stipulate having a sufficient number of US Coast Guard flight suits on board as protection from cold water in case of ditching,” Langland says.

Because the Anchorage store is certified as an FAA service center and the Homer location is US Coast Guard certified, the company can provide the required equipment as well as perform regular certification of life rafts and life vests.

In operation since shortly after oil was discovered at Prudhoe Bay in 1968, Eagle Enterprises also sells firefighter breathing apparatus and fire resistant clothing. The shop also stocks solutions for another hazard faced by remote workers: bears.

A proprietary bear fencing kit manufactured in Anchorage, ElectroBearGuard is a battery-operated portable electric fence system that covers a 400- to 3,000-square-foot area. The protected enclosure is meant to deter bears with pulses of 9,500 volts, with a power source as small as 6 volt or 12 volt lantern batteries. The kit can also be made with a solar option, or it can plug into AC grid power.

Lifesaving Long Johns

Many oil producers, such as ConocoPhillips Alaska and Hilcorp Alaska, mandate that employees wear protective gear, including arc resistant and flame resistant (AR/FR) clothing. Meeting this local need opened a national sales opportunity for Anchorage-based Alaska Textiles.

Established in 1946 as a dry cleaner and commercial laundry, Alaska Textiles shifted toward AR/FR apparel in 1996. The company is now the leader in flash fire and electric arc protection. The company also became a manufacturer of FR apparel under the Korbana Protective Apparel brand in 2000, specializing in cold weather FR clothing designed in Alaska for North Slope oil workers. The Korbana line of outerwear includes bib overalls, bomber jackets, windproof parkas, and hoods designed to fit under hardhats.

Unlike flammable clothing that can ignite and continue to burn, AR/FR garments prevent ignition and offer vital insulation against thermal hazards. The base layers that Alaska Textiles sells must fit properly, endure wear and wash, and breathe while also insulating—like the best long underwear—and none of those qualities can interfere with the key attributes of inherent fire and arc resistance.

“At Alaska Textiles, safety is our top priority,” says President Clif Burnette. “All our Korbana Protective Apparel brand and other brands we distribute, like Ariat and Carhartt, not only meet the safety standards but exceed expectations for comfort, durability, and style.”

National Fire Protection Association 2112 is the industry standard for flash fire and the standard required on the North Slope. Compliance requires the garment to pass a series of four tests, one of which is the Manikin Test where a stationary manikin wearing the garment is positioned in a burning chamber for three seconds with attached sensors to measure second- and third-degree body burn percentages. The standard requires the garment to have less than 50 percent second- and third-degree burns to pass. Survival rates plummet as total body burns exceed 50 percent.

Choosing AR/FR gear is not just a matter of compliance; it’s a lifesaving decision that eliminates the risk of clothing becoming fuel, says Burnette.

One challenge Alaska Textiles faces is keeping the correct amount of inventory. “The Slope can gear up quickly and slow down quickly,” says Burnette.

“Although we maintain the largest inventory of FR in Alaska, we work very hard to have the right inventory at the right time.”

Just as outfitters must match the tempo of the oil industry, individual workers must keep up with the outfitting requirements of their job. Langland offers up some good advice for oil field new hires. “For those who are going up to the Slope, just make sure you understand the requirements of the company you’re working for,” says Langland. “If you’re not following the guidelines for the required clothing and equipment, they will send you off the Slope. Like anybody, if you’re not following the rules of your company and the safety guidelines—I don’t care what rule it is—they’re not going to keep you there.”