PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Any employee who works in/around energized equipment and has the potential to come into contact with "live" exposed parts must be provided and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The following are basic guidelines for the proper use of electrical PPE.

PPE should be used whenever a you could come into contact with exposed electrical parts. Give this statement some thought. An example of a situation in which you could inadvertently come into contact with live voltage is while resetting a switch that is located inside a panel box that contains exposed live wires, etc.

PPE must be designed for the work being performed. You must make sure that electrical gloves, insulated tools, etc. are rated for the voltage levels they will be used around. Electrically rated tools will be clearly labeled with the amount of voltage for which they are approved. Do not exceed the tool's electrical rating !

Always inspect your electrical tools and PPE before each use to make sure they are in good condition and will work properly. If you find that a tool has been damaged, or that PPE has tears or holes, you need to replace the item before conducting the assigned work. In order to protect electrical insulated gloves from puncture, they are often worn under thicker, heavier leather gloves.

You must wear non-conductive head protection if you are working in a location that present a possible electrical hazard to your head (bumping into exposed lines, parts, etc.). Class A hard hats provide limited protection against electricity up to 2,200 volts. Class B hard hats are highly resistant to electricity up to 20,000 volts.

You must wear eye and face PPE, such as face shield and safety glasses, whenever there is a possibility of electrical arcs or explosion. Safety glasses should always be worn underneath a face shield. A face shield alone does not provide enough protection.

All test instruments and equipment (volt, ammeters, ohm meters) and associated leads, cables, power cords, probes, and connectors must be visually inspected for external defects and damage before the equipment is used. If any defect or damage is noted remove the item from service.

All Qualified Electrical Workers are required to wear electrically rated steel-toed boots at all times.

Utilize approved fuse handling equipment that is insulated for the circuit voltage to remove or install fuses. Never use a non-insulated tool to remove a fuse. Many electrical related deaths have occurred when an employee uses a pair of channel locks or pliers to remove a live fuse.

You may be required to utilize insulating materials, such as non-conductive matting and insulated blankets. If used properly, these pieces of equipment provide a barrier between your body and the energized part.