Page 43 - OHS, April/May 2024

Balancing Cost with Comfort
Selecting the best PPE for improved arc flash safety for electrical workers starts with asking the right questions.
BY SCOTT FRANCIS
Afather in Texas with years of electrical experience helping de- molish an elementary school.1 A 30-year old man making repairs to an Arizona Goodwill store.2 An MBTA employee in Boston working on repairs to the railroad.3 All of these electrical workers know first-hand the impact and damage an arc flash can have on a life — they’ve expe- rienced one while on the job.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Health & Safety, an estimat- ed five to 10 arc flash incidents with electri- cal equipment occur every day. With this much risk at play, selecting the right per- sonal protective equipment (PPE) for elec- trical workers isn’t a “check the box” type of job responsibility. Someone’s life is in your hands. But today, with calls for more com- fortable workwear, striking the balance between cost-effectiveness and comfort is becoming more difficult.
While it can be tempting to prioritize the bottom line when making PPE selec- tion decisions, especially in higher cost garments like flame-resistant and arc flash apparel, compromising quality or comfort can be a detrimental decision. A poorly fitting or uncomfortable garment may dis- courage workers from wearing it consis- tently, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an arc flash.
The 2024 NFPA 70E, Standard for Elec- trical Safety in the Workplace, is one of the most trusted sources of safety in the elec- trical industry. The latest edition of NFPA 70E emphasizes assessing the condition of equipment maintenance. That update begs the question — what is the current condi- tion of your organization’s FR/AR PPE pro- gram? Is it time to take a second look at the gear your workers are relying on to keep them safe while on the job?
Annual Program Audits
Adding an annual FR/AR PPE program audit is one of the simplest ways to ensure apparel is being properly maintained and the longevity of the garments isn’t in ques-
tion. Plus, a yearly review allows health and safety professionals an opportunity to anonymously poll the garment wearers to gain more qualitative data. These insights can help you navigate the current pro- gram’s effectiveness and identify areas of opportunity for future programs.
A few questions to consider asking in these audits include:
■ “Do any of your provided or ap- proved FR/AR PPE garments keep you from doing your job?”
■ “Have you ever opted for a non-FR/ AR garment on-the-job because your PPE wasn’t comfortable?”
■ “Which FR/AR garments, if any, do you wish were more comfortable?”
■ “Are any of your FR/AR garments too hot? Do any not keep you warm enough?”
■ “Do you have a favorite piece of FR/ AR apparel? If so, why is it your favorite?”
With this feedback in-hand, you can make more accurate decisions surround- ing the program you have in place as well as next-generation programs. But perhaps more importantly, this assesments provides you the ability to make adjustments to your workers’ current needs in real-time.
Most garment manufacturers are work- ing year-round on new product designs and more innovative solutions to address the wants and needs of electrical workers. Their suppliers, particularly fabric manu- facturers, are continuously working on developing the next generation of fabrics to be even more lightweight, more flexible and have better stretch.
In addition to soliciting feedback from end users during your PPE audit, prepare yourself with a checklist to review internal- ly with a small group of decision makers. These conversations can uncover potential areas of improvement and avenues for ef- ficiencies that are currently being over- looked.
A few questions to considering adding to this revision of PPE equipment includes: ■ “Do we have enough garment op- tions in our program to fit every body
type?”
■ “How is our program addressing the
differences in fit between men and wom- en?”
■ “Are there any areas in our program where we feel like we’re taking a shortcut?” ■ “What are the major weather consid- erations in our area and how (if at all) is our program addressing the specific chal-
lenges brought on by mother nature?”
■ “How can we make our workers more comfortable on the job? Are there certain garments or situations that are in- advertently putting our workers in dan-
ger?”
Conclusion
Striking the perfect balance between com- fort, cost and safety is a tall task. With shortcuts available at just about every decision point, allocating dedicated time each year to re-assess the PPE programs for workers can mitigate unnecessary risk, complacency on the jobsite and poten- tially poor selections made by previous decision makers. Just like the NFPA 70E requires regular maintenance checks on equipment and machinery, rolling your PPE program into these check-ins is not just a smart business decision, but one that will support worker health, safety and job satisfaction.
Scott Francis serves as a technical manager for Westex: A Milliken Brand. He earned a master’s degree in inorganic chemistry and has been involved with the safety industry for more than 30 years, gaining extensive experience in protective apparel fabrics and programs. Reach him at scott.francis@mil- liken.com.
REFERENCES
• tinyurl.com/4k9jaczm • tinyurl.com/4rxj8wdw • tinyurl.com/ymhhkypx
INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE
www.ohsonline.com
APRIL/MAY 2024 | Occupational Health & Safety 43