Page 44 - OHS, October 2022

PPE: ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Proper Selection of PPE for Electrical Work
Let’s explore the dos and don’ts of personal protective equipment for electrical work.
EBY SYDNY SHEPARD
lectricity is one of the most dangerous and unpredictable things you can work with. According to data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), 126
1 workers died due to exposure to electricity in 2020. While
this number follows a trend of decline for overall occupational fatalities related to electricity, the nature of the incidents shows that workers are still not taking proper precautions.
While education and training are the number one way that you can protect workers from electrical incidents, a robust PPE policy can also aid in keeping workers safe on the job. While OSHA has determined that PPE is an integral part of any company policy, its effectiveness to protect against electrical hazards hinges on employees’ understanding of the proper selection and use.
There are several categories of PPE that can be selected when working around electrical hazards, but for the purposes of this article, we are going to dive into eye and face, hand and body protection.
Eye & Face Protection
Let’s start from the top down, shall we? According to OSHA 1910.335(a)(1)(v), employees shall wear protective equipment for the eyes or face wherever there is a danger of injury to the eyes or face from electric arcs or flashes or flying objects resulting from an electrical explosion.2
Do. When choosing proper PPE for electrical work, do select safety glasses or goggles that adhere to safety standards. ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2020 recently underwent some changes for better protection for workers’ eyes. However, if employees will be exposed to electrical hazards like arc flashes, they should be outfitted with PPE that also adheres to NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.
Don’t. The worst mistake that you could make when choosing PPE to protect the eyes and face is to underestimate the hazards. When working on energized parts, the possibility of arc flash exists. Other dangerous hazards could also include extreme heat, flying hazards and molten metal. Because of this, you should look to ensure that all PPE is durable, non-conductive, heat-resistant and provide deflection qualities.
Hand Protection
Employees working in electrical work often use their hands as their main tool. The hands are the most susceptible to electric shock and must be protected.
Do. Do become familiar with the standards for protection when it comes to the hands. In OSHA’s 1910.137 standard on electrical protective equipment, OSHA recommends that leather protector gloves should always be used in addition to rubber insulating gloves to provide additional protection against cuts, abrasions and punctures, but it is sure to remark that leather gloves alone should never be the only protection used against electrical hazards.3
Don’t. Don’t get overwhelmed by the number of options 40 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2022
out there. There are many types of gloves on the market with each one touting different features. Protective gloves can be categorized into six classifications, according to OSHA, with each classification based on the maximum usage voltage the gloves can provide protection for. To best protect workers from electrical shock or burns, you must be sure that the chosen PPE match up to the hazards.
Protection for the Body
While arc flash events can be few and far between, they can be catastrophic. Temperatures can reach an excess of 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit during an arc flash event, and even when the temperature is much lower, typical daily wear clothing would do little to protect the worker from being seriously injured. In fact, it could ignite and burn the skin long after the arc flash has dissipated. It is because of this that workers will need flame- resistant (FR) clothing.
Do. When outfitting employees with FR clothing, you must ensure that the items are comfortable. We have seen all too often a worker decide to shed their protective items because they have limited mobility, are too hot or just feel like they are uncomfortable in their PPE. An arc flash can happen in seconds, and workers must be wearing their FR clothing items the entire shift to ensure they are protected.
Don’t. Just because you have never seen an arc flash before, don’t think it will never happen. To ensure that employees are always protected, stress the importance of wearing FR clothing during a worker’s entire shift. Employees can layer FR items over their daily wear to protect against the worst possible scenario.
Protection Doesn’t Stop at Selection
Employees must understand that proper care of their garments will extend the life of the clothing. FR clothing must not be washed with fabric softeners, starches or bleaches, and you should always launder these items separately from other clothing. Employees must also inspect each item before work begins. PPE that has been worn down, torn or scratched may indicate that it has come to the end of its life cycle and needs to be replaced.
Ensure you are doing everything you possibly can to eliminate hazards from the workplace, but when you cannot, top-tier PPE can be chosen to help.
Sydny Shepard is the Editor of Occupational Health & Safety. REFERENCES
1. https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics- and-reports/Electrical/osFatalElectricalInjuries.pdf
2. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/ standardnumber/1910/1910.335
3. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/ standardnumber/1910/1910.137
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