Personal Protective Equipment for Electricians

Electricians are daily exposed to high risks such as electric shocks, burns, and falls. Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is therefore essential to ensure their safety. Discover the main PPE that help reduce these dangers and effectively protect professionals in the field.

The Risk of Electric Shock and Its PPE

Electric shock is one of the most serious dangers electricians face. An electric shock occurs when the human body comes into contact with an electrical source, causing current to pass through the body. This contact can result in injuries ranging from mild jolts to severe burns, cardiac arrest, or even death. For example, an electrician working on a distribution box without properly checking for the absence of voltage might accidentally touch a live wire, resulting in a potentially fatal electric shock.

To protect against electric shocks, electricians use several types of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Rubber insulating gloves: These gloves are specially designed to prevent electrical current from passing through the electrician’s hands. They must be regularly tested to ensure they have no holes or degradations.
• Insulating shoes and boots: These shoes prevent current from passing through the feet and body of the electrician in case of contact with a voltage source. They are often reinforced to resist other types of injuries as well.
• Insulating mats and blankets: Used to insulate electricians from the ground when working on electrical installations, these mats reduce the risk of grounding the current through the body.
• Insulated tools: Tools with insulated handles are designed to prevent current from passing through the tool to the user. This includes screwdrivers, pliers, and other commonly used tools.
• Voltage detectors: Before starting work, electricians use voltage detectors to check for the absence of current in circuits. This ensures that the lines are de-energized and safe to work on.

The Risk of Burns and Its PPE

Electricians are exposed to various burn risks during their work, mainly due to electric arcs, short circuits, and contact with hot surfaces or overheated equipment. Electric arcs, generated by faults in electrical circuits, produce intense heat and molten metal splashes, which can cause severe burns in a fraction of a second. Additionally, short circuits can lead to explosions and fires, exposing electricians to severe thermal risks. Accidental contact with overheated electrical components, such as transformers or cables, can also cause direct contact burns.

Here is a well-known video that shows the impact of a short circuit:

To avoid these burn risks, electricians must use specific Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Flame-resistant clothing: Fire-resistant suits and jackets are essential to protect the skin from burns caused by electric arcs and molten metal splashes.
• Rubber insulating gloves: They protect not only against electric shocks but also against burns.
• Safety helmets with integrated visors: They offer protection against splashes of molten metal and sparks.

The Risk of Falls and Its PPE

Electricians are frequently exposed to the risk of falls and falling objects due to the nature of their work. The risk of falling is particularly high when working at heights on ladders, scaffolding, or roofs. For example, an electrician installing cables in a building’s ceiling may lose balance and fall from the ladder, leading to serious injuries such as fractures or head trauma. Additionally, falling objects are a constant hazard. When an electrician works on scaffolding, tools or materials can accidentally fall and injure workers below. For instance, pliers or a screwdriver can slip from an electrician’s pocket or hand and fall on a colleague, causing head injuries or other body injuries.

• Safety helmets: Protect the head from falling objects and impacts during falls from heights.
• Safety harnesses and lifelines: Used to secure workers when working at heights, preventing severe falls.
• Anti-slip safety shoes: Ensure better grip on surfaces, reducing the risk of slipping and falling.
• Falling object protection: Safety nets or tarps stretched under work areas at height to catch falling objects (this is a CPC, not PPE).
• Knee and elbow pads: Protect the joints in case of falls, especially when working in kneeling or crouching positions.
• Tool lanyards: Allow tools to be secured to the electrician’s body or belt, preventing them from accidentally falling.

Checking the Voltage Class of Your PPE

High voltage amplifies the already present risks in electricity by significantly increasing the severity of potential incidents. For example, a low-voltage electric shock can cause serious injuries, but a high-voltage shock is often fatal due to the much higher energy carried by these systems.

Moreover, high voltage introduces new risks absent in low voltage. High voltage electric arcs can cause major explosions and fires, endangering workers and facilities. Additionally, the effects of high electric and magnetic fields around high voltage lines can lead to long-term health issues, such as neurological problems.

Finally, electromagnetic induction can create dangerous currents in nearby metallic objects, a rare phenomenon in low voltage but common in high voltage, thus increasing the risks of indirect electrification.

It is therefore essential to use PPE whose class covers the voltage to which one is exposed. Here are the different voltage classes for PPE (e.g., gloves) specified by the ASTM International standards, primarily ASTM D120:

• Class 00
  • Maximum use voltage: 500 volts AC / 750 volts DC
  • Color code: Beige
• Class 0
  • Maximum use voltage: 1,000 volts AC / 1,500 volts DC
  • Color code: Red
• Class 1
  • Maximum use voltage: 7,500 volts AC / 11,250 volts DC
  • Color code: White
• Class 2
  • Maximum use voltage: 17,000 volts AC / 25,500 volts DC
  • Color code: Yellow
• Class 3
  • Maximum use voltage: 26,500 volts AC / 39,750 volts DC
  • Color code: Green
• Class 4
  • Maximum use voltage: 36,000 volts AC / 54,000 volts DC
  • Color code: Orange

For more information on electrical risks, access the comprehensive OSHA article on the subject.

You can also read this article discussing the method for identifying risks and purchasing the right PPE .