Introduction:

Electrical Protective Equipment (PPE) is an essential aspect of workplace safety for electric power industry workers. PPE is worn to prevent exposure to electrical hazards. Electrical Protective Equipment falls into two categories: Electrical PPE (PPE) and Insulating Protective Equipment (IPE). In this article, we will discuss the care and use of electrical protective equipment, describe the different kinds of electrical PPE, and describe insulating protective equipment. We will also include information on employer responsibilities, voltages, inspecting equipment, defects, head, hand, and foot protection, electrical protective gloves, testing intervals, testing criteria, and certification.

Care and Use of Electrical Protective Equipment:

PPE refers to items typically worn by a worker to provide protection from recognized hazards. Depending on the job task to be performed, PPE for the electric power industry generally includes rubber insulating gloves and leather protectors to protect the hands and arms, rubber-insulating sleeves to protect the arms and shoulders, flame-resistant clothing to protect the body against arc flash, hoods to protect the head against arc flash, hard hats to protect the head from electrical shorts and striking or being struck by objects, safety glasses and shields to protect the face against flying objects and arc flash, and safety shoes and overshoes to protect the feet and worker from being grounded.

Insulating Protective Equipment (IPE):

IPE is used to provide workers protection when working in aerial buckets from contacting energized conductors. Unlike PPE, it is not worn on the body. IPE includes items such as insulating line hose, blankets, and hoods, insulating barriers made of fiberglass or phenolic resin, live-line tools such as hotsticks, switchsticks, and shotgun sticks, and plastic or fiberglass line hoods and covers that can be installed with live-line tools. All electrical protective equipment made of rubber should meet established safety standards and specifications.

Employer Responsibilities:

Employers are obligated to carry out risk assessments, provide education on PPE use for working with or around exposed energized parts, discuss necessary protective equipment during required job briefings and inspect and test gear such as insulating rubber gloves/sleeves to make sure they will offer the decisive protection before necessitating their workers wear electrical PPE.

Voltages:

Electrical protective equipment used for the protection of employees must be capable of withstanding, without failure, the voltages that may be imposed upon it. It must be rated for the AC voltage of the parts being covered (phase to ground or phase to phase) and are designated in 1910.137, Table 1-4, Rubber Insulating Equipment, Voltage Requirements. The classifications are as follows: Class 00 – maximum voltage that may be safely used is 500 V, Class 0 – maximum voltage that may be safely used is 1 KV, Class 1 – maximum voltage that may be safely used is 7.5 KV, Class 2 – maximum voltage that may be safely used is 17 KV, Class 3 – maximum voltage that may be safely used is 26.5 KV, and Class 4 – maximum voltage that may be safely used is 36 KV.

Inspecting Equipment:

To make sure electrical protective equipment performs as designed, it must be inspected for damage before each day’s use and immediately following any incident that can reasonably be suspected of having caused damage. Insulating gloves must also be given an air test, along with the inspection.

Defects:

If electrical protective equipment is found to have defects, it must be removed from service immediately. Any damaged or defective equipment must be repaired  or replaced before it is used again. This includes any equipment that has been exposed to excessive heat, chemicals, or other damaging conditions.

Head, Hand, and Foot Protection:

Electrical protective equipment includes various types of head, hand, and foot protection. Hard hats are worn to protect the head from electrical shorts and striking or being struck by objects. Rubber insulating gloves and leather protectors are worn to protect the hands and arms, while rubber insulating sleeves are worn to protect the arms and shoulders. Safety shoes and overshoes are worn to protect the feet and worker from being grounded.

Electrical Protective Gloves:

Electrical protective gloves are a crucial aspect of PPE for electric power industry workers. They are worn to protect the hands and arms from electrical hazards. Rubber insulating gloves are the most common type of electrical protective gloves and are designed to protect against electrical shock and burns. They must meet established safety standards and specifications and must be inspected and tested before each day’s use to ensure that they are not damaged or defective.

Testing Intervals:

Electrical protective equipment must be tested at regular intervals to ensure that it is still providing the necessary protection. The frequency of testing depends on the type of equipment and the specific hazards it is designed to protect against. For example, rubber-insulating gloves must be tested before each day’s use, while other types of PPE may only need to be tested annually.

Testing Criteria:

The criteria used to test electrical protective equipment vary depending on the type of equipment and the specific hazards it is designed to protect against. For example, rubber-insulating gloves must be tested for air and electrical leakage, while other types of PPE may be tested for wear and tear.

Certification:

Electrical protective equipment must be certified to meet established safety standards and specifications. This includes rubber-insulating gloves, which must be certified by an independent testing laboratory. Certification ensures that the equipment has been tested and found to provide the necessary protection against electrical hazards.

Conclusion:

Electrical Protective Equipment (PPE) and Insulating Protective Equipment (IPE) are essential for the safety of electric power industry workers. Employers have a responsibility to provide and maintain PPE and IPE, and workers must use and properly care for the equipment. Proper inspection and testing of equipment, as well as training on its use, are also necessary to protect workers from electrical hazards. Employers and workers must understand the importance of Electrical Protective Equipment and take the necessary steps to ensure its proper use and maintenance.