Deadly Uniforms ?? (AA)

melax

Well-Known Member
http://money.cnn.com/2016/12/02/news/companies/american-airlines-uniform/index.html

Man That's crazy ! Oil fumes seeping from engines bleed air, High altitude radiation exposure, Aggressive doped up passengers and now THIS , I can't wait to retire !! @@#$

American Airlines flight attendants want new uniforms recalled

by Jon Ostrower @jonostrower December 2, 2016: 6:39 PM ET
161202181705-american-airlines-uniform-780x439.jpg

American Airlines' flight attendants union called on the airline Friday to recall its new uniforms claiming the garments are to blame for a string of health problems including headaches, rashes and respiratory problems.
American and the union, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, have been jointly testing the uniforms to determine if the clothing is responsible for the reactions that have triggered more than 1,600 health complaints by cabin crews. The airline has also offered uniforms made of alternative materials.

The union, which represents 26,000 American flight attendants, said that the airline's offer doesn't go far enough.

"We feel a remedy that excludes a full recall of the uniform fails to adequately protect our members," the union said in a statement.

The union said the flight attendants have been reporting headaches, rashes, hives, burning skin, eye irritation, itching, and respiratory problems they said are related to the new uniforms.

'Passport Plum' and 'Groundspeed Graphite': Delta unveils new uniforms

An American Airlines (AAL) spokesman said the Dallas-based carrier has finished its third round of lab evaluations and has offered its employees dermatological testing to help establish what might be causing the reactions.

"We know some people are having reactions and we're looking into why," the spokesman said, but said it was not yet ready to issue a recall. "We have no doubt the uniforms are safe."

New uniforms were rolled out for 70,000 employees in September as part of an uniform overhaul for the airline, which merged with U.S. Airways in 2013.

The airline and the flight attendant union appear to be at odds over the cause of then reactions. So far 600 staff have ordered non-wool versions and 200 more are wearing the old uniforms. The union is concerned that the manufacturing, not the type of fabric, is the source of the problem.

Vendor In The Spotlight

American's uniform vendor, Twin Hill, has been at the center of airline staff complaints before. Alaska Airlines in 2011 selected Twin Hill for its new flight attendant uniforms, but quickly received complaints similar to those of American staff.

Alaska recalled the Twin Hill uniforms for its flight attendants by 2014.

"Ultimately we were looking for certain sourcing standards to ensure the safety of the garments," said an Alaska Airlines spokeswoman on Friday.

In 2012, 164 Alaska Airlines flight attendants, separately from their union, filed a class-action suit against Twin Hill claiming its uniforms caused allergic reactions as a result of a chemical called Disperse Orange 37/76. In October, Twin Hill won a court verdict that rejected those claims.

Tailored Brands (TLRD), Twin Hill's parent company, which also owns retailer Men's Warehouse, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CNNMoney (Seattle) First published December 2, 2016: 6:39 PM ET
 
Wait what?

I don't know about the other services but the Airman Battle Unifrom issued to airmen is of a woven nylon material that when on fire will melt onto your skin. This is why if you see pictures of airmen outside the wire in 2008-2012ish you'll see them wearing tan nomex flight suits rather than the camo uniform. Eventually the AF started issuing certain AFSC's (firemen, security forces, CCT etc) uniforms made of cotton that would just burn away rather than melt (and also much lighter. The ABU feels like the same material as a potato sack). Plus it doesn't blend in with anything but a gravel pit. Now anyone who deploys gets the Multicam uniforms which is what everyone should have gotten from the get go.
 
The radiation issue is pretty legit. More so if you fly north/south of 60 degrees, above 11km and depending on the day.
Like on my flight here later today, looking at the space weather, the vast majority of my flight will be in the 14-16uSv/hr range. For about 9 hours today. Which is actually below average. On flights we get up to 39,000 or so it's usually closer to 30uSv/hr.
For comparison, a chest x-ray is about 100uSv.

Maximum annual dosage for normal people is 1000uSv, but since we're radiological workers, they up it to 20,000. Not that anyone tracks it....
 
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I don't know about the other services but the Airman Battle Unifrom issued to airmen is of a woven nylon material that when on fire will melt onto your skin. This is why if you see pictures of airmen outside the wire in 2008-2012ish you'll see them wearing tan nomex flight suits rather than the camo uniform. Eventually the AF started issuing certain AFSC's (firemen, security forces, CCT etc) uniforms made of cotton that would just burn away rather than melt (and also much lighter. The ABU feels like the same material as a potato sack). Plus it doesn't blend in with anything but a gravel pit. Now anyone who deploys gets the Multicam uniforms which is what everyone should have gotten from the get go.

Yes, the ABU is a horrible uniform. I was thinking nomex flight suits were not actually nomex, made of some "other" material and still billed as "fire resistant."
 
Nomex covered in Velcro. That works well. Especially the piece on your throat after you pop the collar up.

They should just let folks wear polo shirt under the flight suits. Pop that collar and you not only look cool, but that'll protect your throat. Right?
 
The radiation issue is pretty legit. More so if you fly north/south of 60 degrees, above 11km and depending on the day.
Like on my flight here later today, looking at the space weather, the vast majority of my flight will be in the 14-16uSv/hr range. For about 9 hours today. Which is actually below average. On flights we get up to 39,000 or so it's usually closer to 30uSv/hr.
For comparison, a chest x-ray is about 100uSv.

Maximum annual dosage for normal people is 1000uSv, but since we're radiological workers, they up it to 20,000. Not that anyone tracks it....

That's 300 bananas an hour! (For scale).

For your tracking, an airport security screening with a backscatter is 0.25μSv (I can mu!), although the scanners were found to exceed this limit by a factor of ten. Banned on safety grounds in many countries, removed for 'privacy reasons' in the US to avoid lawsuits.
 
Yes, the ABU is a horrible uniform. I was thinking nomex flight suits were not actually nomex, made of some "other" material and still billed as "fire resistant."
92% meta-aramid, 5% para-aramid, 3% conductive fiber. Couldn't tell you how that compares to nomex. Also can't figure out why there's a sideways pocket on my left thigh. I can say I will miss flying/working in boots and coveralls when the time comes.
 
92% meta-aramid, 5% para-aramid, 3% conductive fiber. Couldn't tell you how that compares to nomex. Also can't figure out why there's a sideways pocket on my left thigh. I can say I will miss flying/working in boots and coveralls when the time comes.
It's easy to access the pocket while you're seated. The top of the pocket is up.
 
That's 300 bananas an hour! (For scale).

For your tracking, an airport security screening with a backscatter is 0.25μSv (I can mu!), although the scanners were found to exceed this limit by a factor of ten. Banned on safety grounds in many countries, removed for 'privacy reasons' in the US to avoid lawsuits.
As yes, the banana equivalent dose... ~80nSv. I'm too lazy to mu.
 
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I'm a member of an AA FA 'group' on FB. From what is said there, about 1200 reports of varying degrees of skin issues have been reported. From minor rashes to going to ER with severe respiratory issues and hair falling out in clumps. Almost all the claims have photos to back up the claims. Some of the rashes are BAD. Like, holy crap that looks AWFUL bad. :ooh: The company is allowing FAs to go back to wearing the old blue uniform or going out and buying lookalike uniform pieces and the company is quietly reimbursing for those purchases. It sounds like AA is trying to sweep this under the rug, but there are sooooo many documented skin issues going on, it's bad. Roommates/family getting sick from having the uniforms in the same house, at least two pets have died from exposure (!). I wouldn't want that fabric anywhere in my house. A handful of issues could be glossed over, but the number is about 1200. That's not a small number.
 
I'm a member of an AA FA 'group' on FB. From what is said there, about 1200 reports of varying degrees of skin issues have been reported. From minor rashes to going to ER with severe respiratory issues and hair falling out in clumps. Almost all the claims have photos to back up the claims. Some of the rashes are BAD. Like, holy crap that looks AWFUL bad. :ooh: The company is allowing FAs to go back to wearing the old blue uniform or going out and buying lookalike uniform pieces and the company is quietly reimbursing for those purchases. It sounds like AA is trying to sweep this under the rug, but there are sooooo many documented skin issues going on, it's bad. Roommates/family getting sick from having the uniforms in the same house, at least two pets have died from exposure (!). I wouldn't want that fabric anywhere in my house. A handful of issues could be glossed over, but the number is about 1200. That's not a small number.

Going for Fourth!!

Of all the milestones this company has met during the merger, the rollout of the new uniform was atrocious!
 
Itching powder? Just a hunch...or, something more sinister like crabs in the linen perhaps?
 
Good gravy, we've only been making clothing for a few millenia now, you'd think they could do it consistently without giving people a health threatening reaction.
 
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