Jeans Guidelinepart of Bestseller’s HealtH & safety Guideline

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Contents

Jeans Guideline ...................................................................................3

sandblasting of jeans ...................................................................4

Chemicals in finishing of jeans......................................................4

Handwork .............................................................................................5

abrasion by wheel .......................................................................5

Brushing ......................................................................................6

abrasion by sand paper ...............................................................6

add whiskers ...............................................................................7

Crinkle process ............................................................................7

tacking ........................................................................................8

Resin treatment and Curing ................................................................9

resin treatment ...........................................................................9

Curing .......................................................................................10

Chemical treatment ...........................................................................11

spraying ....................................................................................11

Hand painting ............................................................................12

Laser etching .....................................................................................13

Screen printing ..................................................................................14

Washing .............................................................................................15

rinse washing ...........................................................................15

stone washing ...........................................................................16

Bleaching ..................................................................................16

Centrifuge and Drying .......................................................................17

Centrifuge ..................................................................................17

drying ........................................................................................18

Neutralisation .....................................................................................19

Ozone .................................................................................................20

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Jeans Guideline

this guideline is intended to create awareness of the general processes involved in jeans finishing and to give our denim suppliers an overview of the health and safety risks connected with these processes.

Bestseller a/s expects that suppliers ensure all necessary safety measures are in place to protect workers from hazards associated with each finishing process. for general health and safety issues in garment factories, please refer to the Bestseller Health & safety Guideline. if any of the work processes mentioned in this guideline are outsourced, it is your responsibility to forward a copy of this guideline to your subcontractor. to implement this guideline in the daily work, it is essential that workers are trained in health and safety issues and how to use and maintain personal protective equip-ment (ppe).

We expect our suppliers to implement effective procedures to ensure that workers wear any ppe provided. such pro-cedures would include raising awareness concerning immediate and long-term risks as well as fair disciplinary rules to tackle omissions and frequent offenders.

the processes involved in the finishing of jeans can be hazardous to the workers’ health if the necessary safety pre-cautions are not taken. Many of these risks may not be apparent in the short term, but in the long term there could be negative impacts to workers’ health which may only become apparent long after they have ceased working for the sup-plier. as a result it is essential that workers involved in these processes have regular occupational health examinations.

the evaluate, remove, Minimize and protect (erMp) model should be used as a general tool to evaluate the health and safety conditions in the factory. the detailed information provided in this guideline only provides help in tackling the last element of the erMp model: proteCt!

please read more about the erMp model in the Health & safety Guideline

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the guideline contains the following information about each process:

• Methodsusedinapplication• Risktoworkers• Safetyinstructions• Personalprotectiveequipment(PPE)

disclaimer:

every care has been taken in the preparation of this guideline, however, suppliers using these processes must ensure that they meet all local regulations and that safety provisions match the present risks.

Sandblasting of jeansdue to the high health and safety risks involved during sandblasting, Bestseller has decided that no denim must be treated with sandblasting.

Chemicals in finishing of jeansMany chemicals are used during the treatment of jeans, some of which can pose a health risk if they are not stored and handled safely. among these are potassium permanganate (KMno4), sodium Hypochlorite (naClo) and Hydrogen peroxide (H2o2) used in spraying and bleaching. When any chemicals are used, it is essential that recommendations and safety instructions stated in the Material safety datasheets (Msds) are followed and implemented. Msds must be routinely provided by any responsible chemical supplier as part of his service, and copies (in local language) must be displayed close to the point of use.

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HandWorK

aBrasion By WHeel

Application: • Abrasionwheel

Risk: • Airbornedustmaycauselungdisease • Airbornedustmayirritateeyesandnose • Rotatingpartsmaycauseskininjuryifincontactwithskin

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareawhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • Ifapneumaticsystemisnotused:electricalcordsmustbewellmaintainedwith-

out exposed wires • PPEshouldbeworn • Electricalcordsarenotpluggedintoanextensioncord

PPE: • Mask • Multipurposegloves • Labcoat • Protectiveeyewear • Earplugs

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BrusHinG

Application: • Abrasionbywheel

Risk: • Airbornedustmaycauselungdisease • Airbornedustmayirritatenoseandeyes • Rotatingpartsmaycauseskinirritationifthereislongexposuretotheskin

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareawhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • Ifapneumaticsystemisnotused:electricalcordsmustbewellmaintainedwith-

out exposed wires • PPEmustbeworn • Electricalcordsarenotpluggedintoanextensioncord

PPE: • Gloves • Halffacemask • Labcoat • Eyeprotection • Earplugs

aBrasion By sand paper

Application: • Thesurfaceisrubbedwithsandpaper

Risk: • Airbornedustmaycauselungdisease • Airbornedustmayirritatenoseandeyes • Long-termusecoulddamagehands

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareawhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • PPEmustbeworn

PPE: • Multipurposegloves • Halffacemask • Labcoat • Eyeprotection

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add WHisKers

Application: • Thelookisappliedusingsandpaper

Risk: • Airbornedustmaycauselungdisease • Airbornedustmayirritatenoseandeyes • Long-termworkmaydamagehands

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareawhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • PPEmustbeused

PPE: • Multipurposegloves • Halffacemask • Labcoat • Eyeprotection

CrinKle proCess

Application: • Jeansarefittedonamodellegandheatappliedinthestovetofixtheeffect

Risk: • Hotobjectsmaycauseburns

Safetyinstructions: • Handstobeprotectedfromhotsurfaces • PPEmustbeworn • Electricalcordsmustbewellmaintainedwithoutexposedwires • Machinerymustbewellmaintainedandregularlychecked • Machinerysafetyinstructionsmustbefollowed • Ensureappropriatefireextinguishersareavailableclosebyandthatworkersare

trained in their use • Electricalcordsarenotpluggedintoanextensioncord

PPE: • Halffacemask • Multipurposegloves • Labcoat

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taCKinG

Application: • Atackingmachineisused

Risk: • Hands/fingerscouldgethurtifincontactwiththeneedle • Needlebreakagecouldcausedamagetotheeyes

Safetyinstructions: • Followthemachinesafetymanual • Ensurepropertraininginusingthemachine • Electricalcordsmustbewellmaintainedwithoutexposedwires • Machinesmusthaveaneedleguardtoavoidphysicalrisksfrombrokenneedle

parts • Incasenoguardisavailable,PPEmustbeprovided • Electricalcordsarenotpluggedintoanextensioncord

PPE: • Protectiveeyeweartobewornifmachineisunguarded

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resin treatMent and CurinG

resin treatMent

Application: • Sprayingordippingintoachemicalresinbath

Risk: • Hazardouschemicalvapours • Burnsduetoskincontactwiththechemicals • Potential long-termhealth issues (if the resin contains formaldehyde, it could

potentially cause cancer) • Coulddamageeyesifincontact

Safetyinstructions: • Useonly inwellventilatedareaswith localexhaustventilationwherecontami-nated air is taken out of the room and fresh air is pumped in

• Thespraybooths,washerandhotstovesmustbeselfventilatedbyindividualaspirators

• Airqualitymustbetestedtoensurelegalexposurelimitsarenotexceeded • Avoideyeandskincontactandrinseimmediatelyincaseofcontact • Theremustbeasafetyshowerandeyewashnearby • AllchemicalsmusthaveMSDS • Thesolutionmustbemixedinawellventilatedarea

PPE: • Nitrilrubbergloves • Halffacemask • Protectiveeyewear • Boots • Labcoat • AdditionalPPEshouldbewornifstatedintheMSDS

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CurinG

Application: • Thepreviouslypreparedgarmentisplacedinhotovenfor10-25min.Toallowthe resin to bind with the fabric.

Risk: • Skincontactwithhotobjectscancauseburns • Mayreleaseexcessfumes.Pleaseseetheriskandsafetyinstructionsforresin

treatment

Safetyinstructions: • The oven must vent fumes externally. An aspirator must start automaticallywhen opening the stove doors in order to extraxt any fumes

• Avoidskincontactwithhotobjects • Ensureappropriatefireextinguishersareavailableclosebyandthatworkersare

trained in their use • Overheadconveyorsareclearlyidentifiedtopreventworkerinjury • Useequipmenttoverifytheactualtemperatureoftheoven.Thisistoprevent

overheating of the garment and reduce the chance of a garment catching fire • Followmachinesafetyinstructionswhileoperatingthehotoven • Ensureperiodicchecksoftheovenarecarriedout

PPE: • Gloves • Halffacemask • Apron

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CHeMiCal treatMent

sprayinG

Application: • Spraygun

Risk • Chemicalvapours • Eyeandskinirritationifincontactwiththechemicals

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareasorventilatedwatercabins • Airqualitymustbetestedtoensurelegalexposurelimitsarenotexceeded • Forallchemicals,MSDSmustbeprovidedanddisplayedclosetothepointofuse • Safetyshowerandeyewashmustbenearby • Thesolutionmustbemixedinwellventilatedoropenarea • PPEisusedwhilemixing • KMn04mustnotbeincontactwithskinortheeyesandmustnotbeinhaledor swallowed • Storeoil-basedpaintsawayfromheatsources • FollowthestorageinstructionsoftheMSDS

PPE: • GlovesthatprotectagainstKMn04permeation • Fullfacemask • Protectiveeyewear • Boots • Labcoat(longsleeves) • AdditionalPPEifstatedintheMSDS

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Hand paintinG

Application: • Appliedbyhandwithabrushorsponge

Risk: • Chemicalvapours • Eyeandskinirritations

Safetyinstructions: • Airqualitymustbetestedtoensurelegalexposurelimitsarenotexceeded • MSDSforpaintavailableclosetopointofuse • Safetyshowerandeyewashmustbenearby • Useonlyinwellventilatedareas • Airmustbedirectedawayfromtheworkers • Storeoil-basedpaintsawayfromheatsources • FollowthestorageinstructionsontheMSDS

PPE: • Halffacemask • Gloves • Labcoat • AdditionalPPEifrecommendedintheMSDS

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laser etCHinG

laser etCHinG

Application: • Anautomatedlaserisused

Risk: • Eyedamageandburnsonthehands • Inhalationofsmokefumes • Movingmachinery • Fabriccatchingfire

Safetyinstruction: • Administrativeandengineeringsystemsmustbe inplace topreventphysicalcontact with the laser beam including 2-level start/stop mechanism

• Avoidinhalationofsmokefumesresultingfrommachineoperation • Makesurethatworkersarepreventedfrombeinghitbymovingmachinery • Putupsignsindicatingdanger,warningsorcautions • Installanalarmorwarninglighttoindicatewhenthemachineisstartingup • Ensurethatappropriatefireextinguishersareclosebyandworkersaretrained

on their use • Operateonlyinwellventilatedareas

PPE: • Protectiveeyewear(lasersafetyglasses) • Maskgloves(fireproof) • Earplugsifnoiselevelsareover85dBA

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sCreen printinG

sCreen print

Application: • Octopusshapeddigitalpresses.Selfprotectionbuiltin.Themachineautomati-cally stops when the pressing area is not clear

Risk: • Hotsurfacescancauseburns • Chemicalvapours

Safetyinstruction: • Avoidskincontactwithhotobjects. • Useonlyinwellventilatedareawithairdirectedawayfromtheworkers • Airqualitymustbetestedtoensurelegalexposurelimitsarenotexceeded • MSDSmustbeavailableforthescreen-printingchemicalsclosetopointofuse • Electricalcordsmustbewellmaintainedwithoutexposedwires • Automaticstopmechanismsmustbecheckedregularly • Oil-baseddyesarestoredawayfromheatsources • Electricalcordsarenotpluggedintoextensioncords • FollowthestorageinstructionsontheMSDS

PPE: • Gloves(topreventfromhotobjects) • Labcoat(longsleeves) • Mask • AdditionalPPEtobewornifstatedintheMSDS

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WasHinG

rinse WasHinG

Application: • Industrialwashersareused. • Dispersingagentsareused • De-sizingagentsareused

Risk: • Noise • Heat • Wetfloor

Safetyinstruction: • Useonlyinventilatedarea(theremustbealocalventilationsystemattheopen-ing of the washer)

• MSDSforthechemicalsmustbeprovidedclosetopointofuse • Safetyshowerandeyewashmustbenearby • Followusersafetymanualforwashingmachine • Spillsmustbewipedpromptlytoreduceriskofslips • Floorcanbetreatedwithanti-slippainttominimizerisks

PPE: • Halffacemask • PVCnitriderubbergloves(long) • Labcoat • Boots • Earplugs

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stone WasHinG

Application: • Thegarmentsarewashedinindustrialwasherswithstones.Pumicetypestonesare used. additionally enzymes may be used to add to the effect of the stones.

• Alsodispersingagentsareused

Risk: • Noise • Wetfloor

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareawhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • TheremustbeMSDSforthechemicalsclosetopointofuse • Safetyshowerandeyewashshallbeprovidednearby • Spillsmustbewipedpromptlytoreduceriskofslips • Floorcanbetreatedwithanti-slippainttominimizerisks • Followusermanualforwashingmachine

PPE: • Gloves • Halffacemask • Apron • Boots • Earplugs

BleaCHinG

Application: • Industrialwasherisused • Bleachingagentsareapplied

Risk: • Noise • Wetfloor • Potentialirritationofskinandeyes

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareawhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • TheremustbeMSDSforallchemicalsclosetopointofuse • Safetyshowerandeyewashmustbenearby • Spillsmustbewipedpromptlytoreduceriskofslips • Floorcanbetreatedwithanti-slippainttominimizerisks • Alocalaspiratormustbeavailableinthewasheroutlet • Followusermanualforwashingmachine

PPE: • Halffacemask • PVCnitridegloves • Labcoat • Boots • Earplugs

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CentrifuGe and dryinG

CentrifuGe

Application: • Industrialmachinesareused

Risk: • Rotatingparts

Safetyinstruction: • Useinwellventilatedareawhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • Machinewarningandguidelinesmustbedisplayedinthelocallanguage • Stayawayfromthecentrifugewhileinmotion.Nohandorbodycontactwiththe

machine • Ensurethecentrifugeisfixedtothefloor • Ensuretheclothesareplacedinthemachineinabalancedway • Machinesafetymanualmustbefollowed

PPE: • PVCGloves • Halffacemask • Apron • Boots • Earplugs

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dryinG

Application: • Industrialdryersareused

Risk: • Noise • Heat • Automaticopeningandclosingofdoors

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareaswhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • Theworkersmustkeepawayfromoperationpanelsinordertopreventbeinghit

when the doors open and close unexpectedly • Followtheusermanualforthedryingmachine

PPE: • Gloves • Halffacemask • Apron • Boots • Earplugs

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neutralisation

neutralisation

Application: • Industrialwashersareusedforwashing

Risk: • Noise • Wetfloor • Useofchemicalswhichcanirritateeyesandskin

Safetyinstructions: • Useonlyinwellventilatedareaswhereventilationdirectsairawayfromworkers • Spillsmustbewipedpromptlytoreduceriskofslips • Floorcanbetreatedwithanti-slippainttominimizerisks • MSDSmustbeavailableforallchemicalsclosetopointofuse • Machinesafetymanualsmustbefollowed

PPE: • Mask • PVCnitridegloves • Labcoat • Earplugs • AdditionalPPEifrecommendedintheMSDS.

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ozone

ozone

Application: • Ozonegenerator

Risk: • Ifozoneisreleasedintotheworkplacethereareseriousrisksinvolved.Anythingfrom skin/eye/throat irritation to death

Safetyinstruction: • Factoriesmustseparateozonegeneratorsfromtherestofthefactory • Ashutoffswitchmustbeavailableat least10metresaway fromtheozone

generator • Theozoneconcentrationinthesystemmustbemonitoredwithanozonemonitor • Doors tomachines using an ozone generatormust be equippedwith safety

locks so that the machine cannot be opened if the ozone concentration is more than 1ppm or equal

• Pipes,pipeconnectorsandclampsmustbemadeofcorrosionresistantma-terials and must be strong enough to withstand the pressure generated by the ozone finish process

• Employeesmustbetrainedonthehazardsofozonegas,theuseoftheSelf-Contained Breathing apparatus (sCBa) and evacuation plan if the alarm triggers

• Standardoperatingprocedure (SOP) foroperating theozonegeneratormust be available and followed

corporate sustainability

2011