Chefs and other food preparation workers are at a high risk of scald injuries from hot
liquids. Chefs’ clothing has the potential to act as a protective barrier between the skin
and the thermal hazard. Although, impermeable barriers coupled with an insulating
layer of fabric tend to ofer the greatest protection against hot liquid penetration, the
potential for heat strain and discomfort to workers may make them impractical in the
kitchen environment. This study examined the efects of common fnishing treatments
used in chef jacket fabrics and the impact of layers on the protection ofered against
hot water burn injuries. The Tefon® treated fabrics ofering combined stain and water
repellency, provided the greatest protection with the lowest absorbed energy and
longest times to second degree burn injury compared with the other fnishes (i.e.,
regular, water repellent and soil release). Findings also showed that in most cases,
increasing the number of layers improved protection provided by the fabric systems,
with the Tefon® fnished fabrics providing the highest protection against scald injuries
as fabric layers increased.

• Can common fnishing treatments used in chef jacket fabrics improve protection against scald injury?