WHAT SHOULD ELECTRICIANS WEAR TO PROTECT AGAINST ARC FLASH?

Electrical risks fall, slips, awkward postures, chemical environments, noise, heavy manual handling, etc.

The risks of the electrician and technician’s jobs are multiple. To optimize the safety of these professionals at work, they must be provided with appropriate clothing and PPE.

Electricians need proper work clothing to minimize the effects of arc flash. When an electrical incident occurs, the electric arc by its release of heat (5000° C) can cause considerable injuries.

Without proper protective clothing, synthetic fibers such as nylon would immediately melt on the skin, causing intense burns and serious injury.

Work clothing for electricians must not be flame spreading or have conductive parts. It must be worn with the collar closed to avoid burns on the neck.

Electricians should avoid clothing containing metal, for example, zippers, pocket closures, soles, or frames of safety shoes. L’emploi, l’entretien, le stockage, la vérification et les limites d’utilisation des vêtements de protection pour les électriciens doivent tenir compte des prescriptions de la notice d’instructions du fabricant.

What are the standards for protection against electric arcs?

–CE 61482-1-2 standard: Protective clothing against the thermal hazards of an electric arc. The performance of the clothing can be qualified according to two test methods: – The Open Arc method, which determines the energy incidence of the electric arc expressed in calorie/cm²—The Box test method defines a protection class linked to the intensity of the electrical installation.

– Standard EN ISO 14116: Protective clothing against brief contact with heat and flames. The heat may be convection heat, radiant heat, molten metal splash, or a combination of these.

What clothing to choose when you are an electrician?

Electricians and technicians usually wear metal-free multi-pocket pants, jackets, or coveralls. On the one hand, the presence of many pockets allows them to have their tools and materials within reach. On the other hand, the fact that they prefer all-plastic haberdashery helps avoid the risk of electrical conductivity.

In addition to the work clothes, the operator must wear:

– The gloves to protect the hands. …

– The insulated helmet to protect the head. …

– PPE for eyes and face. …

– Respiratory protection. …

– Safety shoes without metal normed S3 SRC

What are the recommended materials?

Flame retardant fabrics have chemical treatment on the fiber to reduce its flammability, or by incorporating this treatment into the fiber before it is spun. Flame retardant chemical treatments are “activated” by intense heat, producing charring and gases that inhibit combustion for a period.

These fabrics are produced with fibers whose intrinsic properties make them naturally flame-resistant without any chemical treatment. The flame resistance is not altered by cleaning. The fibers have a high abrasion resistance.

Modacrylic blends

The flame retardant treatment has been integrated into the chemical solution that allowed the creation of this fiber. Mixed with other fibers (cotton, polyester, antistatic…) it allows to obtain of flexible flame retardant fabrics.

Surface treatment of the cotton fabric

A chemical compound is applied at the end of the process to the fiber or fabric to reduce its flammability. Intense heat-producing gases that inhibit combustion activate chemical treatments.

Mustang Workwear recommends different protective clothing levels for electricians, depending on the job site’s Arc-Flash Hazard Analysis. For instance, oil rig electricians are required to wear full-body fire-resistant suits on worksites daily, while electricians working on construction sites need construction-specific PPE.