From Top to Bottom: Proper Selection of PPE for Electrical Work
Let’s explore the dos and don’ts of selecting and utilizing personal protective equipment for electrical work.
- By Sydny Shepard
- Oct 03, 2022
Electricity 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 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 show that workers are still not taking proper precautions.
Of the 126 fatalities, 56 percent were caused by direct exposure to electricity. CFOI defines this as injuries caused by direct contact with the power source, such as a live electrical wire or when the victim is struck by an electrical arc. Another 48 percent of the fatalities in 2020 were due to indirect exposure to electricity which includes incidents involving contact with electrical energy through some form of conductive material, such as water or uninsulated ladders.
While education and training are the number one way that you can protect workers from electrical incidents, a robust personal protective equipment 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 proper selection and use.
Let’s take a look at some of the do’s and don’ts of selecting and utilizing PPE for electrical workers from head to toe.
It All Starts with a Hazard Assessment
Time spent selecting personal protective equipment will be wasted unless you first take a look at the spaces electrical work will be taking place and the kinds of work being tasked. In some instances, risk can be eliminated through other protective methods such as de-energization, insulation, guarding or barricades. However, if risk cannot be eliminated through engineering controls or administrative controls, then personal protective equipment must be considered.
For employees working in areas where there are potential electrical hazards, the employer must provide—and the employee must use—electrical PPE that is appropriate for the specific parts of the body to be protected and for the work to be performed.
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. Each section will outline appropriate PPE based on standards and rules set forth by OSHA and other associations such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
This article originally appeared in the October 1, 2022 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.