Putting

PPE FIRST
Why the
proper
personal
protective
equipment is
paramount
for electrical
professionals

A compilation of
technical articles from the
EC&M e-books library
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PAGES 3-5

HOW PPE CAN COMPLEMENT

Not Your
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

ELECTRICAL SAFETY BEST PRACTICES PAGES 6-11

How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Proper PPE usage is one way to ensure electrical workers stay Compliance by
40% or More
safe — and alive — while working on electrical equipment.
PAGES 12-18
By Ellie Coggins, Senior Associate Editor, EC&M Arc Flash
Fallacies
Exposed

A
PAGES 19-22
ccording to an Electrical Safety Foundation International When addressing PPE, arc flash is a topic that cannot be ignored What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
(ESFI) analysis of 2019 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, due to its high risk of injury and fatality. Arc flash PPE can be
126 workers experienced fatalities due to electrical-related a life-saving tool for those working around these high-energy PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
work, while 2,220 workers experienced nonfatal electrical injuries blasts, so don’t miss the articles on what requirements to expect Clothing
Labeling
involving days away from work (https://bit.ly/3FNa8aC). Since one from arc flash clothing labels and a reminder why electrical Requirements
of our priorities at EC&M is providing editorial content that keeps workers should never share arc flash PPE.
PAGES 25-27
our readers on top of the latest safety trends and practices, we’ve I n a d d i t i o n , To m m y N o r t h c o t t , o n e o f o u r m o s t p o p u l a r Stop Sharing
compiled this free e-book with the latest information on how per- contributors, provides an inside look at eight common mis- Arc Flash PPE

sonal protective equipment (PPE) can help reduce the number of conceptions about arc flash that are prevalent in the industry. PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
injuries and deaths on the job site through safe/effective usage. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates
This selection includes an article by Hugh Hoagland, indepen- that five to 10 arc flash incidents occur daily, and more than PAGES 30-34
Personal
dent consultant and safety/arc flash expert, on how to improve 2,000 people are treated in burn centers with arc-flash injuries Protective
electrical safety compliance by up to 40% by pairing proper PPE annually, according to its 2015 report (https://bit.ly/3hpgiEg), Equipment:
Then and Now
usage with electrical safety programs (starting on page 6). But so understanding these fallacies and how to confront them
what does proper PPE usage look like? To answer that question, can help protect workers’ lives.
this e-book covers a wide range of PPE topics, including which I know this free e-book (available via the Member’s Only portal
From the EC&M
gloves meet ASTM F3258 standards, smart PPE, a look back at on the EC&M website) will provide a valuable reminder of how to e-books library

PPE of the past compared to today’s technology, and the most protect workers from arc flash and other hazards through the A compilation of
common PPE mistakes. practical, effective use of PPE. technical articles
from EC&M

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2

I
Executive

NOT YOUR
Summary
n 2021, ArcWear announced the publication of ASTM F3258-
2 1 , St a n d a rd S p e c i f i ca t i o n fo r P rot e c t o r s fo r R u b b e r I n s u l a t i n g PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Gloves Meeting Specific Performance Requirements, on its blog. An

GRANDFATHER’S
Grandfather’s
accredited lab, ArcWear performs ASTM F3258 Arc Rated Protector Protector Glove

G l ove t e s t i n g t o t h e fo l l ow i n g h a z a rd s : a rc f l a s h , c u t , p u n c t u re PAGES 6-11

PROTECTOR GLOVE resistance, and more. How to Improve

Electrical Safety
ASTM F3258 goes beyond the ASTM F696-06 (2019), Standard Compliance by
40% or More
Specification for Leather Protectors for Rubber Insulating Gloves and
Introducing the ASTM F3258 standard
Mittens, to include testing and a labeled arc rating in cal/cm 2 . Gloves PAGES 12-18
By Hugh Hoagland Arc Flash
can be dual certified to ASTM F3258 and ASTM F696 if they are pri- Fallacies
marily leather. ASTM F696 only specifies leather type, tanning type, Exposed

PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?

PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

PAGES 30-34
Personal
Protective
Equipment:
Then and Now

From the EC&M

e-books library

A compilation of
technical articles
from EC&M

3
This image shows F696 gloves in which the AR Cuff also meets ASTM F3258.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
and thickness minimums, but this will coexist with ASTM F3258
in the industry. Many end-users have wanted thinner, light- PAGES 3-5
Not Your
er-weight, more dexterous, and more cut-resistant gloves. This Grandfather’s
standard now can meet that need. Manufacturers may choose Protector Glove

the attributes they would like to make claims, perform testing, PAGES 6-11
and label classifications accordingly. How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Several years in the making, this standard now allows many Compliance by
40% or More
non-leather materials to be used in protector gloves for rubber
insulating gloves. For several decades, the only standard (ASTM PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
F696) option for protector gloves was “grain cowhide, buffed grain Fallacies
cowhide, grain deerskin, grain pigskin, grain horsehide, or grain Exposed

goatskin” of a certain thickness. No specifications for protector PAGES 19-22

gloves existed for puncture resistance, cut resistance, seam What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
requirements, or cuff flame resistance. Fortunately, leather has
performed well for flame, and heavier leather can receive a cut PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
resistance of as much as A2. However, leather still had issues Clothing
Labeling
with grip when wet, dexterity, chemical resistance, and in some Requirements
work applications (such as pharmaceutical and food service). The
PAGES 25-27
fact that leather could not be laundered posed a huge problem in Stop Sharing
cross-contamination and decontamination in these environments. Arc Flash PPE

Until now, there was no performance-based standard available to This is an example from a manufacturer of one of the first gloves to be fully PAGES 28-29
certified to both ASTM F3258 and ASTM F696. PPE Mistakes
address these issues. This has now changed with ASTM F3258.
The ASTM International Task Group responsible for developing PAGES 30-34
Personal
the standard tested many of the glove leathers on the mar- • Thread requirements (Either ASTM F696 or ASTM D7138 Protective
ket, established minimum performance criteria (based on the Method B – Thread Melt) Equipment:
Then and Now
weakest of leather allowed by the ASTM F696 standard), and The following optional tests are specified in ANSI/ISEA 105
provided initial guidance for specifiers of protector gloves for and NFPA 1971 if required by the specifying party:
the characteristics necessary in protector gloves. The following • Abrasion resistance [ANSI/ISEA 105] using either ASTM D3389
From the EC&M
tests are required to be performed: for coated materials or ASTM D3884 for textile materials e-books library

• Puncture resistance [EN 388] • Classification of dexterity [ANSI/ISEA 105] A compilation of

• Cut resistance [ASTM F2992]
• Arc rating (AR) [ASTM F2675]
• Afterflame time limit in an arc test [ASTM F2675]
• Arc ignition withstand [ASTM F2675]
• Torque test [NFPA 1971- Sec. 8.68] technical articles
from EC&M
• Hypodermic needle puncture [ASTM F2878]
• ASTM F1001 chemical resistance testing [Using either ASTM 4
F903 Penetration or ASTM F739 Permeation]

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
Gloves meeting this standard would be acceptable under the With the introduction of this standard, the ASTM F18 com-
OSHA standards and the NFPA 70E standard, since these both mittee will continue to drive innovation by allowing non-leather PAGES 3-5
Not Your
require, in many cases, “protector gloves” that have an “arc materials like para-aramids, flame-resistant threads, and other Grandfather’s
rating.” Both OSHA and NFPA standards mention ASTM F696, innovations to enter the marketplace with tested performance Protector Glove

but neither requires only that standard for protector gloves. characteristics. In the process of testing, one glaring weakness PAGES 6-11
The best glove for your work situation may already be avail- was observed in ASTM F696 gloves: There was no requirement How to Improve
Electrical Safety
able. There are now more than three manufacturers certifying for cuff materials to be flame resistant. While there are no known Compliance by
40% or More
gloves to this new standard, and more are in the process of dual incidents of ignition of glove cuffs in field use, many burned,
certifying their leather protectors using ASTM F696 and ASTM melted, and dripped in arc flash exposures during testing. Any PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
F3258 to provide more information about the performance of glove dual certified to both ASTM F696 and ASTM F3258, or Fallacies
their gloves to end-users. certified to ASTM F696, arc-rated by ASTM F2675, and passing Exposed

The standards group is still discussing the puncture require- the ignition withstand test in F2675, will no longer have a cuff PAGES 19-22
ment, currently requiring a minimum of one in the ANSI 105 material that can ignite, melt, or continue to burn. What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
scale of both the palm and back of the hand. This will limit Watch for lighter-weight, more cut-resistant arc-rated protec-
the dexterity of the initial gloves coming to market because tor gloves. The standard ASTM F3258-21 is available at ASTM. PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
i t re q u i re s t h e b a c k t o b e l e a t h e r o r t o b e t h i n l y co a t e d t o org. Click to view the ArcWear ASTM F3258 Glove Testing Page. Clothing
Labeling
meet the back of the hand puncture requirement. The majority Requirements
Hugh Hoagland is a semi-retired, independent consultant and an expert in arc
supported testing for a puncture on the palm and back and flash, flame, and thermal testing, and electrical safety. He has participated in
PAGES 25-27
having a minimum only on the palm to allow more form-fitting more than 200 incident investigations for arc flash, flash fire, and electrical shock Stop Sharing
events since 1994. Hoagland has been part of committees in NFPA, ASTM, IEC,
protectors, but ASTM regulations require 90% agreement to Arc Flash PPE
ANSI, CSA, ISEA, and worked with various national committees on electrical safety.
move a standard’s dissent to ballot — and the 90% was not Founder of the ArcWear testing laboratory and e-Hazard electrical safety training PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
reached initially on this subject. and engineering company, he can be reached at hugh@arcwear.com.

PAGES 30-34
Personal
Protective
Equipment:
Then and Now

From the EC&M

e-books library

A compilation of
technical articles
from EC&M

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

Photo courtesy of e-Hazard.com

PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Compliance by
40% or More

PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
Fallacies
Exposed

PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?

PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements

M
PAGES 25-27

HOW TO IMPROVE
ost companies trying to comply with electrical safety Stop Sharing
standards start with personal protective equipment (PPE) Arc Flash PPE

or a written program. Even though the old adage goes,

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
“PPE should be the last resort,” PPE is needed almost every day in
electrical work and should be put into place quickly. PAGES 30-34

COMPLIANCE BY
Personal
For an effective electrical safety program, build the overall safety Protective
improvement process into the technical electrical safety program. Equipment:
Then and Now

40% OR MORE
From a program perspective, a company should quickly standardize
approaches, such as developing energized work permits, implement-
ing training programs, conducting engineering studies, and adding
A combination of training, auditing,
From the EC&M
arc flash and shock hazard labels to equipment. But these projects e-books library

and retraining can push your take time, and companies are often concerned that they will buy A compilation of

program to another level.
By Hugh Hoagland
more PPE than they actually need in the meantime. However, this technical articles
from EC&M
isn’t typically a valid concern. Our firm has had clients who had
employees die while they were commissioning arc flash studies, so 6
don’t ignore the PPE — but don’t stop there either.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

Learning Doesn’t Equal Doing PAGES 3-5

Not Your
— a personal experience from Hugh Hoagland, senior managing partner with e-Hazard.com Grandfather’s
Protector Glove
I walked into the room to do electrical safety training like I visited on this day had been in the VPP process for some
PAGES 6-11
I have done thousands of times before and looked around time and had just identified the electrical safety need How to Improve
the room. It was a Saturday; I was in my hometown. We after an OSHA consultation. Electrical Safety
Compliance by
do training all over the world, but when I train at home I After my Saturday class, I returned the next Saturday to 40% or More
can’t help but wonder if these guys are someone I know. train the day crew. I was shocked to see the same PPE kit
PAGES 12-18
Are they husbands or wives of friends? Do my kids go to was still there with all the tags still on each piece. This was Arc Flash
Fallacies
school with theirs? their only kit to share with five workers on each shift. They
Exposed
Like so many times before, I walked into a company that had not implemented anything taught the week before! The
PAGES 19-22
had received an OSHA citation due to an employee com- employees clearly understood what was communicated, but What’s Next
plaint. Because of this, the company decided to join the their learning had not translated into doing. for Smart PPE?

OSHA VPP (Voluntary Protection Program) to improve its In talking with the employees, I found out that the plant PAGES 23-24
safety program. VPPs began in California under Cal-OSHA manager kept the kit locked up in his office, and the night Arc Flash
Clothing
in 1979, and were embraced by federal OSHA in 1982. shift had no access. “That kit was expensive, and I don’t Labeling
Requirements
Then, they were offered to all employers in 1998. The VPP want them ruining it. Besides, they are not supposed to
sets performance-based criteria for a managed safety and do energized work,” the plant manager reportedly told the PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
health system, and one of their current foci is electrical safety director, who had since left the company. When we Arc Flash PPE
safety. Since electrical incidents are the fifth leading killer went back for a free audit the next month, things were a
PAGES 28-29
of employees, it is an important focus, made even more little better, but my feedback that day had begun a slow PPE Mistakes
so since the NFPA 70E made arc flash a household term in slog toward real safety change. I’ll admit I was angry at
PAGES 30-34
the year 2000. the safety director at first, and still am angry at the plant Personal
Through the VPP, OSHA regularly audits and helps com- manager who didn’t have enough time to listen to a qual- Protective
Equipment:
panies improve their safety program. If improvement is ified safety director and learn that even voltage testing Then and Now
seen, they do not cite the company for violations. The site requires PPE.

From the EC&M

A common outline for developing a safety program is as follows: • Hazard control e-books library

1. Establish the value of safety as a goal, not just a priority 3. Educate management and supervision so they support, A compilation of
that can be shifted. value, and grow the program (this is a commonly skipped step). technical articles
from EC&M
2. Create a safety program by: 4. Begin measuring safety as a part of job performance.
• Hazard identification 5. Make safety (and planning for it) valued on the job site. 7
• Risk assessment 6. Make all employees responsible and accountable for safe behavior.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
The problem with most safety programs from an electrical provides a framework for establishing a comprehensive electrical
standpoint is that the safety departments often do not have the safety program as a component of an employer’s occupational PAGES 3-5
Not Your
technical expertise to do electrical safety. But electrical safety safety and health program. Grandfather’s
must be managed as part of an overall safety program. “Informational Note No. 3: IEEE 3007.1, Recommended Practice Protector Glove

OSHA has electrical safety requirements, but they are insuf- for the Operation and Management of Industrial and Commercial PAGES 6-11
ficient to build an electrical safety program around, except in Power Systems, provides additional guidance for the implemen- How to Improve
Electrical Safety
the case of electric utilities [29 CFR 1910.269, especially since tation of the electrical safety program. Compliance by
40% or More
2014 when this standard superseded the National Electric Safety “Informational Note No. 4: IEEE 3007.3, Recommended Practice
Code (NESC)]. Most OSHA 10-hour courses have an electrical for Electrical Safety in Industrial and Commercial Power Systems, PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
safety component, but they tend to be very cursory (adequate provides additional guidance for electrical safety in the workplace.” Fallacies
in most cases if a plant does not employ electricians or do its They may be simple statements, but using the ANSI Z10-2005 Exposed

and IEEE standards brings a holistic approach to electrical safety. PAGES 19-22
THE PROBLEM WITH MOST SAFETY PROGRAMS FROM Note that even though Informational Notes are non-mandato- What’s Next
for Smart PPE?

AN ELECTRICAL STANDPOINT IS THAT THE SAFETY ry; they often foreshadow upcoming moves by the Technical
Committee or important thoughts it believes is good practice. PAGES 23-24

DEPARTMENTS OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE TECHNICAL Let’s consider some of the requirements of ANSI Z10:
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
EXPERTISE TO DO ELECTRICAL SAFETY. 1. Requires a safety management system. This is a proactive,
standardized process for continuously assuring and improving
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
own electrical work). For an effective electrical safety program, element effectiveness. Stop Sharing
build the overall safety improvement process into the technical 2. Requires establishing policy and objectives that use an Arc Flash PPE

electrical safety program. organizational structure with systematic documented roles, PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
The NFPA 70E Technical Committee recognized this and added responsibilities, processes, and resources to obtain objectives.
two new Informational Notes in Sec. 110.1(A) of the 2015 Edition 3. Emphasizes continuous improvement and systematic elim- PAGES 30-34
Personal
of the standard. Although non-mandatory, they encompass a ination of root causes of deficiencies. Protective
whole range of changes in how electrical safety will be done in 4. Requires management leadership and employee participation. Equipment:
Then and Now
the future. The other two Informational Notes in this Section 5. Requires planning and ongoing review, assessment, and
have been in the standard since 2009. The notes state: prioritization of objectives by implementation of plans and
“Informational Note No. 1: Safety-related work practices, such allocation of resources.
From the EC&M
as verification of proper maintenance and installation, alerting 6. Implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety e-books library

techniques, auditing requirements, and training requirements Management System, which includes the following elements: A compilation of
provided in this standard, are administrative controls and part • Hierarchy of controls technical articles
from EC&M
of an overall electrical safety program. • Design review and management of change
“Informational Note No. 2: ANSI/AIHA Z10, American National • Procurement 8
Standard for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, • Contractors

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

How Auditing and Training Lead to Results PAGES 3-5

Not Your
To really succeed in the safety profession, we must be Grandfather’s
Protector Glove
students of learning and adult psychology. In 1984,
David A. Kolb published a ground-breaking book entitled PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning Electrical Safety
Compliance by
and Development (Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall). The book
40% or More
exposed the principle that a person would learn through
PAGES 12-18
discovery and experience. Kolb developed a learning cycle Arc Flash
(see Figure at right) after extensive research, and it can Fallacies
Exposed
help with understanding why auditing is so important.
All learners go through phases of learning. Some of PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
these phases happen quickly, if the behavior is readi- for Smart PPE?
ly understandable or easy to implement. Behaviors can
PAGES 23-24
change quickly, but many factors (such as individual Arc Flash
Clothing
learning differences) can make behavior change more Goal setting and auditing help training get implement- Labeling
difficult. Even if a new behavior takes little effort initial- ed. When you set goals and audit them, it helps identify Requirements

ly, some people may reject it because they don’t believe failures in motivation, systems (you can’t wear rubber PAGES 25-27
it’s important. insulating gloves if you don’t have them), and understand- Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE
How do adults learn? Kolb says we experience, reflect/ ing (with new behaviors, especially complex ones, people
review, learn/conclude, and try it out every day. In event may not fully comprehend the requirements). Auditing PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
training, if the learning can’t be implemented because of spurs more training, helps clarify the behavioral goals,
PAGES 30-34
hindrances in the workplace, peer pressure, or whatever and tweaks the system so these objective goals can be
Personal
reason, it will often be unlearned or forgotten. met and have the desired effect of no injuries. Protective
Equipment:
Then and Now

• Emergency preparedness • Corrective and preventive actions

• Education, training, and awareness • Feedback to the planning process
From the EC&M
• Communication • Management review: outcomes and follow-up e-books library

• Document and record control process Many companies have their safety program operating in the A compilation of
• Evaluation and corrective action ANSI Z10 format to some extent, but they often place elec- technical articles
from EC&M
• Monitoring and measurement trical safety under the engineering department — only parts
• Incident investigation are actually “owned” by safety. In order to get real compliance 9
• Audits improvement, the safety process must infiltrate the electrical

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
m a i n t e n a n c e w o r l d . N F PA 7 0 E a n d C S A Z 4 6 2 a r e t h e U . S . TRAIN
and Canadian standards for electrical safety. Implementing a e-Hazard.com’s research shows that training raises compli- PAGES 3-5
Not Your
strong consensus standard within a continuous improvement ance by 10% to 50%, depending on the behaviors. The general Grandfather’s
process framework will bump up the quality of any electrical s t u d y w a s o n b a s i c b e h a v i o r s l i ke w e a r i n g h a rd h a t s , e t c . Protector Glove

safety program. Electrical safety habits are new and often not as well known PAGES 6-11
as basic safety. How to Improve
Electrical Safety
E-HAZARD.COM’S RESEARCH SHOWS THAT Compliance by
40% or More
SET GOALS AND MEASURE
TRAINING RAISES COMPLIANCE BY 10% TO 50%, Yo u h a ve t o m e a s u re t h e r i g h t t h i n g s . St a r t by m e a s u r i n g PAGES 12-18

DEPENDING ON THE BEHAVIORS.

Arc Flash
behaviors like: Fallacies
• De-energizing, lockout/tagout Exposed

e-Hazard.com recommends the following elements for an • Wearing of rubber insulating gloves PAGES 19-22
electrical safety program (See NFPA 70E, Annex E): • Verification of meter and absence of voltage What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
• Inspect/evaluate the electrical equipment for code compliance. • Wearing of basic arc rated daily wear
• Maintain the electrical equipment’s insulation, enclosure • Wearing flash suits for higher level exposures PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
integrity, and operational reliability, especially breakers • Use of insulated tools Clothing
Labeling
and fuses. • Testing of rubber insulating gloves, blankets and other Requirements
• Plan every job and document first-time procedures. insulated equipment
PAGES 25-27
• De-energize whenever possible. This list isn’t inclusive, but these behaviors are easy to measure Stop Sharing
• Anticipate unexpected events. and yield big results. Most incidents involve no injury when the Arc Flash PPE

• Identify and minimize the hazard. elements above are used. PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
• Protect the worker from shock, arc, and other hazards.
• Use the right tools and PPE for the job. AUDIT, AUDIT, AUDIT PAGES 30-34
Personal
• Assess, audit, and document worker’s skills. Our firm recommends a three-tier auditing strategy: Protective
• Audit the principles of the applicable standards. Year one: Have an outside firm do an audit, giving you a basic Equipment:
Then and Now
• Audit employees, contractors, and service personnel for audit framework.
proper electrical safety (contract employees are not covered Year two: Have one of your safety people audit your own site.
under your company’s worker’s compensation insurance and Ye a r t h r e e : H a v e a n o t h e r s a f e t y /e l e c t r i c a l p e r s o n f r o m
From the EC&M
represent a greater liability if not working safely). within your company audit your site, and you audit their site e-books library

• Report and investigate incidents and near misses. (cross-pollination). A compilation of

• Put action items in place from audited issues and improve Then start the process over again. technical articles
from EC&M
the program document, written procedures, PPE and any This three-step approach to auditing will be more cost effective
other findings from audits and incident root cause analysis. and get better results than a single-step approach. Auditing is 10
How do you gain >40% compliance? a learning tool. Outside firms and other people have different

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
approaches, and you can learn from them and then teach others Statistically, it has been shown that training, goal setting, auditing,
about what you have learned or seen. and communication of results have been effective in increasing PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Training is great, but it isn’t a “be all, end all.” When I say company compliance to safety standards. Implementing both Grandfather’s
training here, I mean event training. High-impact training can training and auditing into your compliance toolbox will raise the Protector Glove

get some results — it gets attention and introduces concepts. bar in your company more than most methods. PAGES 6-11
Detailed technical training is also effective, but goes over the How to Improve
Hugh Hoagland is a semi-retired, independent consultant and an expert in arc Electrical Safety
heads of some workers and is no more successful in changing flash, flame, and thermal testing, and electrical safety. He has participated in Compliance by
40% or More
behavior than high-impact training. more than 200 incident investigations for arc flash, flash fire, and electrical shock
events since 1994. Hoagland has been part of committees in NFPA, ASTM, IEC,
Companies that want to operate safely must have systems PAGES 12-18
ANSI, CSA, ISEA, and worked with various national committees on electrical safety. Arc Flash
that allow for learning and evaluation of behavioral change. Founder of the ArcWear testing laboratory and e-Hazard electrical safety training Fallacies
Training alone is not enough to reach compliance in most cases. and engineering company, he can be reached at hugh@arcwear.com. Exposed

PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?

PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

PAGES 30-34
Personal
Protective
Equipment:
Then and Now

From the EC&M

e-books library

A compilation of
technical articles
from EC&M

11

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive

ARC FLASH
Summary

PAGES 3-5
Not Your

FALLACIES
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11

EXPOSED How to Improve

Electrical Safety
Compliance by
40% or More
An inside look at eight common
PAGES 12-18
misconceptions that continue to put Arc Flash

electrical professionals at risk Fallacies

Exposed
By Tommy Northcott
PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?

W
ithin the electrical industry, most workers have PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
become familiar with the term arc flash and the Clothing
Labeling
hazard it represents. While training and education Requirements
have helped in understanding the hazard as well as methods
PAGES 25-27
for workers to protect themselves from it, there are still Stop Sharing
some gaps in industry application that need to be addressed. Arc Flash PPE

The following is a collection of some of the most common PAGES 28-29

PPE Mistakes
fallacies that arise when working with companies that are
developing their electrical safety programs. Before jumping PAGES 30-34
Personal
into the various misconceptions, it’s important to establish Protective
a clear understanding of what the arc flash hazard is. Equipment:
Whether the task is operational, diagnostic, or repair in nature, proper arc flash PPE is Then and Now
A n a rc f l a s h i s a v i o l e n t e r u p t i o n o f e n e rg y f ro m a n required when there is a potential arc flash hazard.
electrical source that happens when the electrical ener-
gy travels from a conductor through the air to another The extremely high temperatures of the arc flash also result in
From the EC&M
conductor or grounded component. The arc temperature what is called an arc blast. This is a pressure wave that is caused by e-books library

can exceed 35,000°F, which is more than three times the
estimated temperature of the surface of the sun. Unlike a
shock hazard, workers do not have to come into contact
with the piece of equipment to be injured by an arc flash.
Fatal burns can occur at distances of more than 10 feet.
the heating and rapid expansion of the surrounding air to a plasma. A compilation of
When air reaches these temperatures in a span of milliseconds, the technical articles
from EC&M
ionized air explodes away from the source being driven by magnetic
forces. These blasts are prominent at higher fault currents and can 12
have the force and magnitude of an explosive device.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
Understanding the severity involved in an arc flash event
makes it clear that the hazard needs to be taken very serious- PAGES 3-5
Not Your
ly, and electrical professionals must do everything possible Grandfather’s
to avoid exposure to this hazard. The first, and arguably most Protector Glove

important, step in protecting workers is knowledge. Everyone PAGES 6-11

working around electrical equipment needs to know when the How to Improve
Electrical Safety
hazard exists and what can be done to protect themselves from Compliance by
40% or More
the potentially severe outcome of an arc flash event. While
this will not be fully exhaustive, the following scenarios will PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
hopefully help to clarify some misunderstandings, point out Fallacies
misapplications, and put forth recommendations for avoiding Exposed

injury or death from an arc flash event. PAGES 19-22

What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
THE “HIGH-VOLTAGE” FALLACY
When assessing a company’s electrical safety program, I typically PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
start by interviewing various categories of employees to get a Clothing
Labeling
feel for the type of work they perform as well as any hazards to Requirements
which they may be exposed. In these discussions, I often hear a
PAGES 25-27
commonly used misleading statement: “I don’t work with ‘high Stop Sharing
voltage’ so I don’t have to worry about arc flash hazards.” The Arc Flash PPE

problem is that this implies a connection between the voltage PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
rating and the severity of an arc flash event. The truth is that arc
flash hazards are essentially voltage-independent. The severity of PAGES 30-34
Personal
an arc flash hazard is more directly related to the available fault Protective
current and the amount of time it takes the upstream overcur- Operating a 480VAC disconnect switch requires a risk assessment be Equipment:
performed to determine if arc flash PPE is required. Then and Now
rent protective device (OCPD) to clear the fault. We also need to
recognize that “high voltage” means different things depending follow workers who make this statement into the field to let
on the worker’s perception. Exposure to energized 480VAC, for them show me the systems on which they work. Far too often,
From the EC&M
example, can constitute a very serious arc flash hazard. they will open an enclosure to show me the control system for e-books library

Another variant of this thought is: “I am only a controls techni-
cian. Anything over 48V, and I get an electrician to work on it.” In
general, this is a good approach for someone to take. However,
it is important to communicate the difference between working
“on something” and working “exposed to something.” I often
which they are responsible. What they don’t realize is that in the A compilation of
same enclosure is a 480VAC circuit with exposed termination technical articles
from EC&M
points that pose an arc flash hazard.
It is important to educate workers to look beyond the circuit 13
or components with which they are specifically interacting and

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
control circuit. Any task performed inside an arc flash protection
boundary could result in inadvertently contacting the energized PAGES 3-5
Not Your
conductor, resulting in an arc flash event. Any time a worker Grandfather’s
opens an electrical enclosure, he or she should evaluate what Protector Glove

they are exposed to rather than just what they are working on. PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
THE “CLOSED-DOOR” FALLACY Compliance by
40% or More
Although this is not as common as it used to be, I still run across
workers who believe as long as the breaker enclosure door is PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
closed there is no need for arc flash PPE when operating a Fallacies
breaker. The only time that it is safe to operate a circuit break- Exposed

er with no arc flash PPE on is if the risk assessment verifies PAGES 19-22
there is no arc flash hazard, or the equipment is arc-rated and What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
installed/operated per the manufacturer’s instructions. If the
risk assessment verifies an arc flash hazard potential exists, PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
then the appropriate level of PPE must be worn to operate the Clothing
Labeling
breaker. Not only do the breaker enclosures have vents that Requirements
will allow the super-heated air and gasses out of the enclosure,
PAGES 25-27
but arc flash events have also been shown to blow doors open, Stop Sharing
melt through metal barriers, and even strip bolts out of their Arc Flash PPE

holes to allow the pressure wave to escape — not to mention PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
the common practice of only tightening enough of the latches/
bolts to hold the enclosure/panel in place so that it’s easier to PAGES 30-34
Personal
remove on the next maintenance cycle, which is not an accept- Protective
able practice. Equipment:
Then and Now

THE “NO MAINTENANCE” FALLACY

Some companies are misled to believe that if they contract all of
Operational switching involves potential electrical hazards that workers need to From the EC&M
take into consideration. their electrical maintenance work out, then they do not need to e-books library

look at the bigger picture to identify anything to which they
are exposed. Workers must be protected from the hazard any
time they are within the arc flash protection boundary, regard-
less of whether they are working on that circuit or an adjacent
worry about any arc flash hazards. Article 100 of the NFPA 70E A compilation of
defines the arc flash hazard. The definition explains that not only technical articles
from EC&M
does the hazard exist when there are exposed energized conductors,
but also when interacting with the equipment in a manner that 14
could result in an arc flash event. The task of opening and closing

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
breakers and switches is known to
be an interaction that could result in PAGES 3-5
Not Your
an arc flash event. This means that Grandfather’s
anyone operating electrical distri- Protector Glove

bution equipment that has not been PAGES 6-11

verified through a risk assessment How to Improve
Electrical Safety
to be free from an arc flash hazard Compliance by
40% or More
must take the appropriate actions to
ensure they are protected from the PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
arc flash hazard potential. Fallacies
Exposed

THE “SOME ARE BETTER PAGES 19-22

THAN NONE” FALLACY What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
There are times when a worker has
Category 2 PPE with them, but the The arc flash boundary is the calculated distance required for the arc flash energy to dissipate to a level that will PAGES 23-24
not produce second-degree burns on exposed skin. Arc Flash
equipment they are to operate requires Clothing
Labeling
Category 4 PPE. Human nature tempts the worker to just put on 1.2 cal/cm 2 .” This seems like it is a logical assumption, and — in Requirements
what they have rather than go get the appropriately rated PPE. a lot of cases — it will likely be correct. However, considering
PAGES 25-27
The problem with this is that underrated arc flash PPE may not the severity of the outcome of an arc flash event, it is not safe Stop Sharing
protect the worker. Arc flash PPE is rated one of two ways: arc to make this assumption. Consider a scenario where the avail- Arc Flash PPE

thermal performance value (ATPV) and energy breakopen threshold able fault current is just on the very edge of the instantaneous PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
(EBT). ATPV is the amount of energy the material can withstand trip curve at the upstream device, then there is a long run of
without burning through the material. EBT is the amount of ener- conductor before terminating at the next disconnecting means. PAGES 30-34
Personal
gy an article of clothing can withstand without ripping open the The long conductor may introduce enough impedance into the Protective
seams or fasteners. The rating given to the arc flash PPE is the circuit that the current drops below the instantaneous setting Equipment:
Then and Now
lowest of these two values. If the PPE is not rated sufficiently for and now requires a time delay setting to clear the fault. This
the potential hazard, then the arc flash could either burn through scenario adds time to the clearing time, which will increase
the PPE or break it apart and ignite any under layers. Workers the incident energy level and potentially require a higher level
From the EC&M
must remain outside the arc flash protection boundary unless of arc flash PPE to safely operate that device. The other more e-books library

they are wearing appropriately rated arc flash PPE. common scenario is that there is a transformer downstream. A compilation of
Transformers will impact the arc flash value. It is not uncommon technical articles
from EC&M
THE “DOWNSTREAM ASSUMPTION” FALLACY for a medium-voltage switch on one side of the transformer will
This fallacy stems from this belief: “If a panel is rated less than be less than 1.2 cal/cm 2 and the 480V breaker on the secondary 15
1.2 cal/cm , then everything else downstream is also less than
2
side of the transformer will be over 30 cal/cm . The bottom line
2

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
electricians; we sub out all of our electrical work. Therefore, the
NFPA 70E does not apply to us.” However, the NFPA 70E does PAGES 3-5
Not Your
have requirements for employers who contract out electrical work. Grandfather’s
The host employer is required to communicate to the contractor Protector Glove

any known hazards in the work area as well as any information PAGES 6-11
about the installation to assist in their risk assessments. The How to Improve
Electrical Safety
host employer is also expected to report any electrical safety Compliance by
40% or More
violations they observe by the contractor’s employees.
The owner of electrical equipment also has requirements related PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
to the equipment regardless of their position on operations and Fallacies
maintenance of the equipment. The NFPA 70E states that the Exposed

owner is responsible for the documentation, installation, and PAGES 19-22

maintenance of the equipment labeling that provides arc flash What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
hazard details to include the arc flash boundary and a means to
determine what arc flash PPE is required. The method for deter- PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
mining the information on the label must be documented and Clothing
Labeling
reviewed for accuracy at intervals not to exceed five years. The Requirements
equipment owner is also responsible for the maintenance of the
PAGES 25-27
electrical equipment and documentation. Essentially, the owner Stop Sharing
is responsible for ensuring the health of the equipment, docu- Arc Flash PPE

menting the arc flash hazard, and assisting the contractor in their PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
hazard risk assessment by providing location-specific hazards.
PAGES 30-34
Most electrical incidents can be prevented through educating workers and Personal
developing a culture that is focused on safety. THE “WE HAVE CHECKED ALL THE BOXES” FALLACY Protective
There have been companies that learned the major NFPA 70E Equipment:
Then and Now
is that employers must assess equipment operating at 50V or requirements and take the position: “Our arc flash analysis is
more for shock and arc flash hazards. If the equipment has not complete, arc flash warning labels are posted, and our employees
been through an assessment, do not make any assumptions on have been trained on electrical safety. We are fully compliant!”
From the EC&M
the magnitude of the hazard. While those are all good steps in the right direction, the journey e-books library

THE “NFPA 70E EXEMPTION” FALLACY
This is a philosophy that some companies adopt to rationalize
how they can consider themselves exempt from the NFPA 70E
requirements. The fallacy sounds like this: “We do not employ
does not end by checking those boxes. NFPA 70E Sec. 110.5 A compilation of
lists 12 specific items that need to be included in a company’s technical articles
from EC&M
electrical safety program. All of these items must be documented
and periodically reviewed. A company’s journey to being NFPA 16
70E-compliant is not a one-time effort, but rather an ongoing

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
process of developing a culture of safe work practices while arc flash risk assessment to include evaluating electrical tasks
maintaining alignment with the NFPA 70E requirements as they using the hierarchy of risk control method. Electrical profes- PAGES 3-5
Not Your
get revised. sionals should always evaluate methods for eliminating the Grandfather’s
One often ignored or overlooked requirement is the various hazard, shielding themselves from the hazard, and any other step Protector Glove

audits that are required for a compliant electrical safety program. to keep workers out of the line of fire. If our risk assessment PAGES 6-11
Three primary audits must be periodically performed and docu- results in no other option than being exposed to the potential How to Improve
Electrical Safety
mented. The first one is an audit of the overall electrical safety arc flash hazard, then the employee determines the appropriate Compliance by
40% or More
program. This is required to be done on a three-year interval, PPE needed to execute the task safely.
the same revision frequency as the NFPA 70E, and is intended to An example of managing this mindset to drive a positive culture PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
verify that the program’s principles and procedures comply with can be seen in an approach I have used for voltage-rated tools. Fallacies
the latest NFPA 70E requirements. Employers are also required When managing a group of electrical workers, I provided them Exposed

to audit fieldwork on an annual basis. The objective of this audit with electrical safety training, which included the requirement PAGES 19-22
for voltage-rated tools when working inside the What’s Next

ONE OFTEN IGNORED OR OVERLOOKED REQUIREMENT IS THE

for Smart PPE?
restricted approach boundary (RAB) of exposed ener-
gized conductors. After the training, I was told that PAGES 23-24
VARIOUS AUDITS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR A COMPLIANT they all needed to be provided with individual sets
Arc Flash
Clothing

ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROGRAM. THREE PRIMARY AUDITS MUST of voltage-rated tools because on any given day they
Labeling
Requirements
could receive a maintenance task that would require
BE PERIODICALLY PERFORMED AND DOCUMENTED. performing work inside the RAB. Knowing that I was
PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
is to verify that the electrical workers are compliant with the the author and provider of the electrical safety training that Arc Flash PPE

principles and procedures of the company and the requirements taught them the requirement, you can imagine their surprise PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
communicated in the electrical safety training. The third primary when I declined their request.
audit is for the lockout/tagout (LOTO) program and procedures. I explained that if I provided each employee with their own PAGES 30-34
Personal
This is required to be audited annually on at least one LOTO set of voltage-rated tools, I am implying that I expect them all Protective
that is in progress to verify the accuracy and completeness of to perform repair-type work within the RAB when, in fact, my Equipment:
Then and Now
the program, procedures, and training. All three of these audits expectation is the exact opposite. Instead of individually issued
must be documented. tools, I provided two toolboxes with voltage-rated tools that
were kept locked, and I retained the keys. Working inside the
From the EC&M
THE “PPE FIRST” FALLACY RAB for non-diagnostic tasks requires an energized electrical e-books library

This is the belief that some electrical workers have related to
the idea that their employer gave them the arc flash PPE, so
let’s just put it on and get the work done. PPE should be viewed
as the last line of defense and used only after all other options
have been exhausted. Article 130 of the NFPA 70E requires an
work permit (EEWP). A task that would require voltage-rated A compilation of
tools also required an EEWP approved by me. If the EEWP and technical articles
from EC&M
hazard risk assessment process resulted in verifying that the
task was infeasible to complete in an electrically safe work 17
condition, then I would approve the plan and provide a key to

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
the voltage-rated tools. The result was that those tools rarely hazards and the procedures and technology available, there is
were used because the process worked as intended. Instead of no reason for anyone to ever be injured or killed by an electrical PAGES 3-5
Not Your
jumping right in and executing the task with PPE, we took some hazard. There is always a method for protecting workers from Grandfather’s
time to think about what needed to be done and determine if the hazard. The solution is in driving a culture that prioritizes Protector Glove

there was a way to do the work while minimizing the need for safety at work and home so that taking risks is replaced with PAGES 6-11
PPE. In most cases, we found ways to execute the task with taking time to plan the work to be executed safely. How to Improve
Electrical Safety
significantly reduced exposure to electrical hazards. For more information on arc flash myths, listen to the free Compliance by
40% or More
That scenario demonstrates the goal of the requirements for on-demand webinar presented by Tommy Northcott to the EC&M
an electrical safety program. The goal is to drive a culture of audience in 2021 at https://bit.ly/3A7Zohm. PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
continuous evaluation of how we execute our tasks with the Fallacies
mindset of minimizing our exposure to hazards. The days of Tommy Northcott is a professional engineer licensed in the state of Tennessee Exposed
and a senior power engineer with Jacobs Technology, Inc., in Tullahoma, Tenn.
‘taking risks because we are electrical workers and we knew PAGES 19-22
He is also an NFPA 70E compliance subject matter expert, a principal member
the risk when we signed up for the job’ is over. There is no of the NFPA 70B Committee, electrical safety trainer, certified maintenance
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
task in the electrical industry that is important enough to risk and reliability professional, and certified reliability leader. He can be reached at
Thomas.Northcott@Jacobs.com. PAGES 23-24
our life to execute. Given what we understand about electrical
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

PAGES 30-34
Personal
Protective
Equipment:
Then and Now

From the EC&M

e-books library

A compilation of
technical articles
from EC&M

18

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

© Bashta | Dreamstime.com
PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Compliance by
40% or More

PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
Fallacies
Exposed

PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?

PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

I
PAGES 30-34

WHAT’S NEXT
Personal
f, as the saying goes, necessity is the mother of all invention, then Protective
the environment, health and safety (EHS) market will proliferate Equipment:
Then and Now
in the aftermath of COVID-19.

FOR SMART PPE? Following years, decades even, of fighting for attention, budget
and — if we’re being honest — respect, safety is finally being viewed
From the EC&M
How a confluence of factors, including the in a new light. As a result of the global pandemic, people are hearing e-books library

COVID-19 pandemic, are helping to reimagine the call for safety. And, OK, they might not always be heeding all the A compilation of

safety technology at the workplace.
By Nicole Stempak
advice. But for the most part, there’s a greater sense of awareness technical articles
from EC&M
and recognition that the same EHS professionals who pester them
about filling out paperwork are also the ones trying to keep workers 19
from catching a highly contagious disease.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
COVID-19 is changing the conversation about safety at the There’s a proliferation of devices, fabrics, and platforms that
wo r k p l a ce , a cce l e r a t i n g b u i l d i n g t re n d s s l ow l y a n d q u i c k l y can both solve all and none of your problems at once. Part of the PAGES 3-5
Not Your
demonstrating a return on investment, a critical component to reason is that the smart PPE market has changed dramatically Grandfather’s
management support that has sometimes been intangible. All of over the past decade. Established companies have introduced Protector Glove

that will help build the case for, and hopefully buy in, for more product offerings as have plenty of startups. Sometimes, those PAGES 6-11
prominence in the decision-making process and bigger safety startups attract attention from investors, as was the case when How to Improve
Electrical Safety
budgets to purchase new tools and technology. One area that’s Compliance by
ripe for change: smart personal protective equipment (PPE). SMART PPE REFERS TO SMART WEARABLE 40% or More

Technavio, a global technology research and advisory company, PAGES 12-18

released a report in July 2020 that predicts the global smart PPE EQUIPMENT THAT CONNECTS TO THE INTERNET OR Arc Flash
Fallacies
market will grow by $2.25 billion from 2020 to 2024, and the market OTHER DEVICES, SUCH AS BLUETOOTH, TO DELIVER Exposed

will accelerate at a compound annual growth rate of more than 16%.

REAL-TIME SAFETY INFORMATION TO WORKERS IN PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
THE RISE OF SMART PPE THE FIELD AS WELL AS MANAGERS REMOTELY. PAGES 23-24
Smart PPE is part of the larger movement for the connected
Arc Flash
workforce and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to improve global insurance firm AIG partnered with now-defunct startup Clothing
Labeling
workplace safety and achieve operational excellence. Human Condition Safety in 2016. Requirements
Smart PPE refers to smart wearable equipment that connects to Momentum for smart PPE has been building slowly, aided by
PAGES 25-27
the Internet or other devices, such as Bluetooth, to deliver real- advancements in technology and a decrease in hardware costs. Stop Sharing
time safety information to workers in the field as well as managers There are still plenty of barriers to entry, but the conversations Arc Flash PPE

remotely. These wearables can track movements, send voice mes- surrounding smart PPE are different this time. PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
sages, monitor body temperature, issue alerts, and record audio “Before COVID hit, I’d say there was a growing awareness [of
and/or video. They’re often paired with a cloud-based analytics smart PPE], but the adoption was low,” says Bill Pennington, PAGES 30-34
Personal
platform, and sometimes they pair with a smartphone app, too. research director for EHS at Verdantix. “It was nice to have. Protective
There are thousands of different data points smart PPE can Now, it’s not as much a ‘nice to have’ as it is a ‘need to have.’” Equipment:
Then and Now
capture and track, which can be used to address any number of Pennington says prior to COVID-19, smart PPE was more likely
safety concerns — everything from fever to heat exhaustion to to be deployed by a certain division or for a certain condition
fatigue to improper lifting motions. at a large corporation like Shell or Chrysler. The pandemic is
From the EC&M
“It’s a huge space, and so being honest about what problem demonstrating that smart PPE manufacturers can spur large- e-books library

we’re trying to solve is really critical,” says Rodolphe d’Arju-
zon, Ph.D., co-founder and global head of research and finance
director of Verdantix, an independent research and consulting
firm focused on EHS, operational excellence, smart buildings,
and sustainability technologies.
scale adoption by leveraging their capabilities and reducing costs A compilation of
so small- to medium-sized enterprises can see improvements. technical articles
from EC&M
As smart PPE has gained traction, so too have consumer
wearables. Widespread reception to, and adoption of, smart 20
consumer electronics such as fitness trackers and smartwatches

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
have whet wearers’ appetite for more data. They’ve also made companies find a smart PPE solution now while opening the
the general public more comfortable with wearing these devices. door for future conversations down the line. PAGES 3-5
Not Your
In January 2021, analyst firm Gartner, Inc., forecast that worldwide To better understand what companies are planning, Verdantix Grandfather’s
end-user spending on wearable devices will total $81.5 billion interviewed 301 EHS decision-makers across 31 countries and Protector Glove

in 2021, an 18.1% increase from $69 billion in 2020. Gartner, 25 industries for a 2020 survey on EHS budgets, priorities, and PAGES 6-11
technology preferences. Of these respondents, 74% were from How to Improve

PART OF WHAT’S DRIVING THE ALL-TIME HIGH

Electrical Safety
firms with revenues greater than $1 billion, and 71% held titles Compliance by
40% or More
of director or above. When asked how their firm’s spending
DEMAND IS A NEED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE on PPE will change in 2021 compared to 2020, 51% say it will PAGES 12-18
INVENTORY, A CHALLENGE SINCE MANUFACTURERS increase and 47% say it will not change. Of 15 categories, PPE
Arc Flash
Fallacies
reported the most planned increase in budget. Exposed
ARE STILL TRYING TO STABILIZE THE SUPPLY CHAIN. It’s worth noting that the survey category includes all kinds PAGES 19-22
in a news release, acknowledged, “the rise in remote work and of PPE, both smart and traditional. PPE supplies have been What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
an increased interest in health monitoring during the COVID-19 front and center during the pandemic, both for employers try-
pandemic was a significant factor driving market growth.” ing to protect their workers and for workers trying to protect PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
themselves and their families. That has led to unprecedented Clothing
Labeling
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 consumer and business demand for respirators, gloves, safety Requirements
The startup Kenzen focuses on physiological monitoring — heart shields, and other gear to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2,
PAGES 25-27
rate, hydration, and core body temperature — to prevent indus- the virus that causes COVID-19. Stop Sharing
trial workforce injuries caused by heat, overexertion, fatigue, Part of what’s driving the all-time high demand is a need to Arc Flash PPE

and fever. Workers wear an armband that records their data,
which can be accessed by workers themselves via an app and
their managers via a dashboard.
Kenzen Co-Founder and COO Heidi Lehmann says the risks and
costs associated with heat stress are easily understood, allowing
companies to see the return on investment that Kenzen offers.
She has been fielding inquiries from Fortune 500 companies, and
Kenzen is conducting multiple pilots with large multinational con-
glomerates in oil and gas, mining, and the construction industries.
maintain adequate inventory, a challenge since manufacturers are PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
still trying to stabilize the supply chain. There’s also a growing
recognition that it will take longer than initially hoped before PAGES 30-34
Personal
a majority of the population is vaccinated, so these COVID-19 Protective
safety precautions will need to continue for the coming months. Equipment:
Then and Now
In the meantime, employers can face penalties for not protecting
workers, and they will likely be held to higher standards in the
new administration. In President Joseph R. Biden’s first week in
From the EC&M
office, he signed an executive order directing the Occupational e-books library

Early on in the pandemic, Lehmann and her team recognized
their expertise could also be used to detect fevers, a common
coronavirus symptom. That helped reposition the wearable
as a way to reduce COVID-19 transmission at the workplace.
That’s one way that Kenzen and other manufacturers can help
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with issuing new A compilation of
COVID-19 guidance to keep workers safe. technical articles
from EC&M
“The EHS function has been digitizing slowly over the past
several years,” Pennington says. “It’s a laggard compared to 21
operations and other business units, but COVID-19 has actually

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
accelerated it because people have realized they can’t do their investing in smart PPE, they are faced with the same thorny
job the same way without leveraging digital technologies.” questions and concerns that have plagued smart PPE for years. PAGES 3-5
Not Your
How do companies protect worker privacy? What happens if the Grandfather’s
WHAT’S NEXT device malfunctions and an accident occurs? How do companies Protector Glove

d’Arjuzon adds that for months, many companies haven’t been encourage employees to wear and engage with the technology? PAGES 6-11
in a position to pilot or purchase new technologies or smart There are no easy answers to these and other questions. But How to Improve
Electrical Safety
PPE. They’ve leveraged what tools, data, and information they maybe COVID-19 has reminded companies and workers alike Compliance by
40% or More
already had to help mitigate the risk of COVID-19 exposure. As what really matters: Going home and having a family dinner at
the pandemic wears on, employers of all sizes must be more the end of the day. PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
forward-looking while acknowledging an unpredictable future. “The companies that we work with are forward-thinking, and Fallacies
“In an emergency, you don’t necessarily look at cool, cutting-edge what they told us is, ‘If something bad happens, we’re going to Exposed

innovations,” he says. “You look at what works, what’s proven, get sued. We would much rather have the opportunity to try to PAGES 19-22
what you already have, what you can make do with, what can find something and fix it before it happens. It’s the right thing What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
be ordered in quantity, and what you can deploy really quickly.” to do, and we think it will make us look better for our employees
We’re by no means out of the COVID-19 woods yet but what’s that we care. We’re trying to be proactive. We’re investing in PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
around the corner is starting to come into focus. technology to try and make them safer,’” says Gabe Glynn, CEO Clothing
Labeling
“Safety leadership can see the light at the end of the tunnel and and co-founder of MākuSafe, an armband wearable that gathers Requirements
a return to normal operations in 2021, including the unthawing real-time data on environmental conditions, potentially hazard-
PAGES 25-27
of the budgeting freezes that affected many organizations in ous human motion, proximity, and other risks. The device also Stop Sharing
2020,” says Robert Thomma, vice president of EHS sales Americas allows workers to record voice memos and other observations. Arc Flash PPE

for Bodytrak. “They have a thirst for new technologies that can Billion-dollar companies still use Microsoft Excel or pen and PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
help them keep their workers safe, and they are ready to start paper to record safety information. Workers probably won’t be
exploring what’s out there.” all decked out in wearables in the next five years. During that PAGES 30-34
Personal
Bodytrak is a wearable for physiological monitoring of key time, the smart PPE market will see plenty of entries, bankrupt- Protective
vital signs such as core body temperature, heart rate, VO2, and cies, mergers, and acquisitions. Hardware advances will refine Equipment:
Then and Now
motion (including fall detection). The in-ear device also provides existing smart PPE and give way to new developments.
two-way audio communications and features both hearing pro- These changes are part and parcel of adopting new technology.
tection and ambient sound transparency. And while seeing the future can feel like walking through heavy
From the EC&M
Thomma says many companies they’ve spoken with deferred buying fog right now—we’re still in the throes of a pandemic, after e-books library

decisions in 2020 because of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19. all—one thing is clear: COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on A compilation of
Now, those that have continued operating throughout the pandemic the adoption of smart PPE for years to come. technical articles
from EC&M
feel comfortable adding Bodytrak to their worker safety toolkit.
T h e re’s o p t i m i s m t o b e s u re , b u t t h e re a re s t i l l b a r r i e r s Nicole Stempak is the managing editor of EHS Today magazine, a sister publication
22
of EC&M magazine. She can be reached at nstempak@endeavorb2b.com.
to adopting smart PPE. As more companies resume or start

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive

ARC FLASH
Summary

PAGES 3-5
Not Your

CLOTHING
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11

LABELING How to Improve

Electrical Safety
Compliance by

REQUIREMENTS
40% or More

PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
Fallacies
Does your arc flash clothing and PPE really Exposed

provide the proper level of protection? PAGES 19-22

What’s Next
By James White
for Smart PPE?

PAGES 23-24

I
Arc Flash
n the late ’70s to early ’80s, the first arc flash suits Clothing
Labeling
began to appear on the market (Photo 1), most of which Requirements
were made from double-layer 6 oz/yd 2 meta-aramid
PAGES 25-27
and featured polycarbonate (plastic) windows for the face Stop Sharing
shield. These suits were considered state-of-the-art until Arc Flash PPE

1996 when arc testing of clothing and PPE began. PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
However, it didn’t take long for the shortcomings of this
type of arc flash protection clothing and PPE to become PAGES 30-34
Personal
evident, especially at higher values of incident energy. Protective
During arc flash testing, it was found that the polycar- Equipment:
Then and Now
bonate window would actually fail at a very low value
of incident energy (approximately 1.5 cal/cm2), causing
it to melt. These clear face shields have no arc rating.
From the EC&M
If you examine the garment label (click to see Photo 2), e-books library

you’ll also see it lacks the required markings (ATPV, ASTM A compilation of
F1506, and NFPA 70E). technical articles
from EC&M
Clothing that has an arc rating but doesn’t comply with
today’s labeling requirements is not considered arc-rated. An 23
Photo 1. One of the first arc flash protective suits made available in the market in
arc rating by itself does not necessarily indicate compliance the late ’70s and early ’80s.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
with the required national
standards, and the compa- PAGES 3-5
Not Your
ny using it may be at risk Grandfather’s
for citation from OSHA. Protector Glove

Photo 3a shows the PAGES 6-11

label from a garment that How to Improve
Electrical Safety
seems to have an arc rat- Compliance by
40% or More
ing, but the label inside
(Photo 3b) only states PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
the garment meets NFPA Fallacies
2112, which is protection Exposed

against flash fires, not PAGES 19-22

arc flash. Clothing can be What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
dual-rated for compliance
with ASTM F1506/NFPA PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
70E and NFPA 2112, but Clothing
Labeling
it has to state this on Requirements
the label.
PAGES 25-27
Unrated arc flash clothing Stop Sharing
and PPE present a very real Arc Flash PPE

threat to the well-being PAGES 28-29

PPE Mistakes
of the person wearing it.
Those wearing it must PAGES 30-34
Personal
not be allowed to work Protective
on or near any electrical Equipment:
Then and Now
power system or device
that may be energized.

From the EC&M

Photos 3a (top) and 3b (bottom). What does
Photo 2. This old style of label from an early flame-resistant clothing suit ATPV mean in this case? Not much, in this
doesn’t show today’s required markings. author’s opinion.
James White, who passed e-books library
away in 2021, was the
longtime director of training for A compilation of
technical articles
Shermco, based in Irving, Texas.
from EC&M
His extraordinary career in the
electrical industry spanned
decades with a specialty in 24
training and education.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Compliance by
40% or More

PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
Fallacies
Exposed

PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?

PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

S
PAGES 30-34

STOP SHARING
Personal
haring is not caring… when it comes to arc flash PPE. For Protective
decades, workers have been sharing arc flash personal pro- Equipment:
Then and Now
tective equipment, including suits, hoods, and face shields,

ARC FLASH PPE but — to protect the safety and health of our workers — this age-
old practice must stop immediately.
From the EC&M
How the electrical industry must Workers who share PPE are at a higher risk of being exposed to e-books library

work together to reduce the spread the virus that causes COVID-19. In this regard, sharing is not car- A compilation of

of the virus that causes COVID-19. ing. Actually caring about our workers requires employers to issue technical articles
from EC&M
individually assigned equipment. Any PPE, tools, or equipment that
By Jim Pollard
must be shared among workers must first be cleaned and disinfected 25
before each use.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
SHARING VS. INDIVIDUALLY ISSUED information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for
The best way to protect workers from cross-contamination is a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different PAGES 3-5
Not Your
to stop sharing arc flash PPE. Suit hoods and face shields are conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the Grandfather’s
particularly high-risk due to their proximity to the worker’s mouth environment).” Protector Glove

and nose. Every time you exhale, cough, or sneeze, your bodily PAGES 6-11
fluids can be deposited onto the interior surface of the shield CAN ARC FLASH PPE BE DISINFECTED? How to Improve
Electrical Safety
and/or fabric. Even outerwear garments, such as suit coats, There are both porous and non-porous surfaces with which we Compliance by
40% or More
can become contaminated when workers dutifully and consci- should be concerned. Equipment should be cleaned first before
entiously cough or sneeze into their arm. The safest solution it can be disinfected. Hard, non-porous surfaces, such as arc PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
is to individually assign all arc flash PPE and prohibit workers flash face shields, suit hood shield windows, hard hats, and Fallacies
from sharing any PPE that cannot be effectively cleaned and other plastic components can be disinfected using disinfectant Exposed

disinfected before each use. PAGES 19-22

CURRENT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE COVID-19 What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
CLEANING VS. DISINFECTING
In all situations where PPE, tools, and equipment are used by VIRUS CAN SURVIVE ON ARC FLASH PPE AND REMAIN PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
workers, employers must ensure all surfaces that can be touched VIABLE FOR HOURS UP TO DAYS. Clothing
Labeling
have been cleaned and disinfected. However, cleaning is not Requirements
the same as disinfecting. The Centers for Disease Control and sprays or wipes. Consult with the manufacturer before using any
PAGES 25-27
Prevention (CDC) define cleaning vs. disinfecting as follows: disinfectants because non-durable surfaces could be damaged. Stop Sharing
Cleaning refers to the removal of germs, dirt, and impurities For porous surfaces, such as arc-rated fabrics, proper cleaning Arc Flash PPE

from surfaces. Cleaning does not kill germs, but by removing can be an effective way to “wash out” the COVID-19 virus from PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. clothing. All arc-rated garments must be removed from service
Disinfecting refers to using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. and cleaned as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This process PAGES 30-34
Personal
This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove might include fully disassembling arc flash suit hoods to separate Protective
germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can the fabric portion from the other hood components. The gar- Equipment:
Then and Now
further lower the risk of spreading infection. ments and the hood fabric portion should be washed according
to the product labels and thoroughly dried before its next use.
CAN THE VIRUS SURVIVE ON ARC FLASH PPE?
From the EC&M
Current evidence suggests the COVID-19 virus can survive on arc HOME VS. INDUSTRIAL LAUNDERING e-books library

flash PPE and remain viable for hours up to days. The World Health
Organization (WHO) provides additional guidance on survivability:
“It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19
survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronavi-
ruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary
Both home laundering and industrial laundering services are A compilation of
acceptable. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and consult technical articles
from EC&M
with the applicable ASTM Standard to ensure you don’t compro-
mise the protective properties of your equipment; ASTM F2757 26
for Home Laundering and ASTM F1449 for Industrial Laundering.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
The CDC continues to update their website resources for non-porous. For now — and for any future viruses — the safest,
cleaning and disinfecting, including a section on how to launder most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases PAGES 3-5
Not Your
clothing. As time progresses, more information is becoming and keep our workers healthy is to individually assign arc flash Grandfather’s
available, and new studies are being published. Follow the CDC PPE to every worker requiring it. We must all work together to Protector Glove

for updates and best practices. help stem the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS (Note: This article is reprinted with permission, and was originally Compliance by
40% or More
The global pandemic acutely highlights the necessity to stop published on the author’s Linkedin page. It is based on the Oberon
sharing arc flash PPE. We are dealing with a sober reality: Sharing whitepaper titled, “Can Arc Flash PPE Be Shared Between Workers.” ) PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
PPE between workers should be prohibited, unless it can be Fallacies
cleaned and disinfected between uses. The risk of cross-con- Jim Pollard is the owner of Unlimited PPE, Inc. in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada. Exposed
He started the company in 2008 to provide specialized solutions including
tamination between workers is simply unacceptable. PAGES 19-22
performing as an agent for Oberon Company.
There is currently no consensus as to how long the COVID- What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
19 virus can remain on arc flash PPE surfaces, either porous or
PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

PAGES 30-34
Personal
Protective
Equipment:
Then and Now

From the EC&M

e-books library

A compilation of
technical articles
from EC&M

27

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive

PPE
Summary

PAGES 3-5
Not Your

MISTAKES
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11
Avoid making these How to Improve
Electrical Safety
PPE mistakes Compliance by
40% or More

D
PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
o you make any of these mistakes Fallacies
with personal protective equip- Exposed

ment (PPE)? PAGES 19-22

• Tr e a t i n g P P E a s yo u r f i r s t l i n e o f What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
defense. First reduce the hazards as
much as practical, then choose the PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
PPE that protects you in the reduced Clothing
Labeling
hazard situation. Requirements
• Assuming it has 100% integrity, rather
PAGES 25-27
than inspecting before each use. A Stop Sharing
pinhole in a rubber blanket or insu- Arc Flash PPE

lating glove can prove lethal. Climbing
and fall protection gear are also
prime examples of PPE that must be
inspected before each use.
• Substituting what you have for what
you actually need. If you don’t have
the correct PPE, “close enough” won’t
make you safe. Use the correct PPE
or don’t do the work.
• Using it incorrectly. Examples include instead of replacing them. Damaged PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
wearing your hardhat with the bill to lenses cause eye strain and fatigue,
the back, wearing safety glasses on two conditions that reduce your level PAGES 30-34
Personal
top of your head, and wearing colored of safety. Protective
lenses under the wrong conditions • Removing your safety glasses because Equipment:
Then and Now
(e.g., amber lenses in daylight). the poor lighting in the cabinet makes
• Waiting until you’re in your work area it hard to see. If your glasses are in
t o w e a r yo u r s a fe t y g l a s s e s. T h i s good condition (see above), this unsafe
From the EC&M
doesn’t make them last longer, but it act won’t improve visibility, but using e-books library

• Tossing it in the gang box, rather
than putting it away properly. Items
such as insulating gloves can easily
be ruined by improper handling and
storage.
does put your eyes at risk from the a portable light will. A compilation of
time you enter the gate (or plant door) • Using safety glasses as your only form technical articles
from EC&M
until the time your glasses are on. of eye protection. Depending upon the
• “Saving time” (or money) by using hazards, you may need goggles (e.g., 28
scratched (or pitted) safety glasses chemical splash) or a face shield (e.g.,

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
• Blowing into electrical gloves to test
them. Your breath puts moisture inside PAGES 3-5
Not Your
the glove. Use the roll-up method, Grandfather’s
instead. Protector Glove

• Removing and reinserting foam roll-up PAGES 6-11

earplugs while working on equipment. How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Any contaminant that’s on your fin- Compliance by
40% or More
gers will be on those earplugs when
you roll them up again. If your ears PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
itch with the plugs in, it’s probably Fallacies
because you made this error. Wash Exposed

your hands, and replace the earplugs PAGES 19-22

with a new set. What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
• Wearing a dust mask when the sit-
uation calls for a charcoal canister PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
filter mask. Any kind of respirator Clothing
Labeling
mistake can have permanent con- Requirements
sequences. If you’re working around
PAGES 25-27
drywall finishers, that dust mask will Stop Sharing
help protect you from breathing in Arc Flash PPE

operating a grinding wheel). What
other conditions require protection
beyond what safety glasses can pro-
vide? Always make that determination
before entering a given area.
• Wearing polyester clothing. Be careful
here, it’s also marketed as “microfiber.”
Raincoats, shirts, and other items are
often made of this material. Inspect
disfiguring. Why is this a PPE mistake? particles. However, it won’t protect PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes
Because even though you are wearing you against the solvent fumes you’re
all the right PPE, this clothing puts breathing around painters. PAGES 30-34
Personal
you at risk for severe injury. • Wiping your safety glasses on your Protective
• We a r i n g r u b b e r e l e c t r i c a l g l o v e s shirt. Most people use the recommend- Equipment:
Then and Now
without the outer shell. These are ed amount of laundry detergent when
not “work gloves,” they are insulators. washing; it’s actually far more than
Safeguard the protective insulation you need. The result is your shirt (and
From the EC&M
by wearing the outer shell. If you just other clothes) fibers contain laundry e-books library

the labels, and either leave the cloth-
ing at home or, better yet, don’t own
any to begin with. Polyester will melt
into your skin, not just onto your skin.
The burn is hugely more painful and
need work gloves, don’t grab rubber detergent. Smearing this detergent A compilation of
e l e c t r i c a l g l ove s ; t h ey d o n’ t o f fe r onto your glasses leaves a vision-ob- technical articles
from EC&M
the same mechanical protection as scuring film. Use lens-cleaning cloth/
work gloves, and they are relatively paper instead. 29
expensive to replace. If so, it’s time to adjust your thinking.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Compliance by
40% or More

PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
Fallacies
Exposed

PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
for Smart PPE?

PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

PAGES 30-34
Personal
Protective
Equipment:

THEN AND NOW

Then and Now

Take a look at how the items used to protect workers on the job have changed over the years. From the EC&M
e-books library

L
A compilation of
et’s face it, the electrical industry can be a pretty dangerous as possible while on the job. This photo gallery explores how PPE technical articles
from EC&M
place to work. Luckily, there’s a lot of great personal protec- has evolved from the use of animal bladders (eww) and beeswax
tive equipment (PPE) out there to help keep workers as safe to the high-tech items that help protect today’s employees. 30

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

Reload_Studio/iStock/Thinkstock

chiravan39/iStock/Thinkstock
PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Compliance by
40% or More

PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
HARD HATS NOW Fallacies
Exposed
HARD HATS THEN Modern hard hats are mostly constructed from high-density
In 1919, the E.D. Bullard Co. patented the “Hard-Boiled Hat,” which polyethylene (HDPE) or advanced engineering resins. According PAGES 19-22
What’s Next
was made of steamed canvas, glue, and black paint. In the 1930s, to OSHA, protective headgear must meet ANSI Standard Z89.1- for Smart PPE?
it became mandatory for construction workers to wear hard hats 1986 (Protective Headgear for Industrial Workers) or provide an
PAGES 23-24
on the Hoover Dam and Golden Gate Bridge construction projects. equivalent level of protection. Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements
bizoo_n/iStock/Thinkstock

Huntstock/Thinkstock
PAGES 25-27
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

PAGES 30-34
Personal
Protective
Equipment:
Then and Now

SAFETY GOGGLES THEN SAFETY GOGGLES NOW

Powell Johnson, an African-American inventor, patented his Most people who are required to use eye protection on a regular
From the EC&M
“eye protectors” in 1880. In his patent, Johnson wrote that his basis would probably agree that today’s safety glasses are far more e-books library

"invention relates to certain improvements in eye-protectors
for use of furnace men, puddlers, firemen, and others exposed
to glare of strong light, as well as persons of weak sight." (In
case you’re wondering, a “puddler” is someone who turns pig
iron into wrought iron.)
lightweight, fashionable, and comfortable than their predecessors. A compilation of
In addition, OSHA states that employers must use and provide for technical articles
from EC&M
employees eyewear that is constructed in accordance ANSI Z87.1-
2015 (American National Standard for Occupational and Educational 31
Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices) or their proven equivalent.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

Auremar/iStock/Thinkstock
PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Compliance by
Marilyn Barbone/Hemera/Thinkstock 40% or More

HEARING PROTECTION THEN PAGES 12-18

Arc Flash
The first recorded mention of earplugs occurred in the Greek epic Fallacies
The Odyssey, when Odysseus was advised to fashion beeswax HEARING PROTECTION NOW Exposed

earplugs for himself and his ship’s crew so they wouldn’t be Today’s hearing protection typically offers a noise reduction PAGES 19-22
lured to their deaths by the Siren’s song. Ray and Cecilia Benner rating (NRR) of between 26 and 33 decibels. For more informa- What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
invented the first moldable pure silicone ear plugs in 1962. Ten tion on how to safeguard your hearing, visit ANSI's Noise Safety
years later, Ross Gardner invented foam earplugs. Standards webpage. PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
Clothing
Labeling
Requirements
SAFETY Copyright Helmut Kretz, Getty Images

SAFETY
GLOVES THEN PAGES 25-27
GLOVES NOW Stop Sharing
Although gloves have
Today, electrical work- Arc Flash PPE
been around since the
ers can choose safety PAGES 28-29
time of Vikings (the word
PPE Mistakes
gloves made from a
“glove” comes from Old
variety of materials to PAGES 30-34
Norse), the first glove Personal
help protect their hands
used for safety purposes Protective
against everything from Equipment:
was invented by William Then and Now
cuts to burns to electric
Stewart Halsted in 1889.
shock. To help ensure
The first chief of surgery
safety and performance,
at Johns Hopkins Hospital, From the EC&M
safety gloves should e-books library
Halsted invented rubber
meet and/or exceed
gloves to prevent medical A compilation of
the requirements of technical articles
staff from developing from EC&M
ASTM D120-14a – Standard Specification for Rubber Insulating
dermatitis from surgical
Gloves. Gloves should also be electrically tested following ASTM 32
chemicals.
D120-14a and International Standard IEC 60903:2014.

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary

tiero/iStock/Thinkstock
Copyright Three Lions, Getty Images

PAGES 3-5
Not Your
Grandfather’s
Protector Glove

PAGES 6-11
How to Improve
Electrical Safety
Compliance by
40% or More

PAGES 12-18
Arc Flash
Fallacies
RESPIRATORS NOW Exposed

RESPIRATORS THEN Luckily, using animal bladders to safeguard your lungs is a thing PAGES 19-22
Like gloves, respirators have been around since ancient times. of the past (or so we hope). Workers today who need protection What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
Did you know the first respirator was pioneered in the first from harmful contaminants can choose from two types of res-
century A.D. by Pliny the Elder, who recommended Roman min- pirators: air-purifying versions, which force contaminated air PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
ers use animal bladders to protect themselves from inhaling through a filtering element, and air-supplied, which deliver an Clothing
Labeling
poisonous dust? alternate supply of fresh air. Requirements

PAGES 25-27
Apelsinca/istock/Thinkstock

ljpat/iStock/Thinkstock
Stop Sharing
Arc Flash PPE

PAGES 28-29
PPE Mistakes

PAGES 30-34
Personal
Protective
Equipment:
Then and Now

From the EC&M

e-books library

FOOTWEAR THEN A compilation of

Wooden boots, called sabots, were one of the first types of foot FOOTWEAR NOW technical articles
from EC&M
protection. European workers and farmers wore them to help Wood you believe that modern protective footwear offers safety
keep their feet and toes safe from falling objects and the stray toe guards, metatarsal guards, electrical hazard ratings, and 33
cow hoof. During World War II, steel toe boots came into use. electro static dissipating ratings (bad pun intended)?

www.ecmweb.com
 PAGE 2
Executive
Summary
FALL PROTECTION
THEN PAGES 3-5
Believe it or not, fall Not Your
Grandfather’s
arrest devices have Protector Glove
been in use since the
PAGES 6-11
early 20th century. The How to Improve
Electrical Safety
first prototypes used Compliance by
rope lanyards made of 40% or More

natural fibers, such as PAGES 12-18

Manila hemp, and sim- Arc Flash
Fallacies
ple body belts with no John Mcallister/Hemera/Thinkstock Exposed
shock-absorbing prop- FALL PROTECTION NOW PAGES 19-22
erties. Clarence W. Rose, This form of PPE has come a long way in the past 100 or so years, What’s Next
for Smart PPE?
who started his career which is a good thing, considering that falls from height are one
Copyright Douglas Grundy, Getty Images
as a window washer, of the leading causes of death in the workplace. Contemporary PAGES 23-24
Arc Flash
pioneered fall protection when he founded the Rose Mfg. Co. in versions consist of an anchor point, connecting means, energy Clothing
1934 and began producing safety belts and lanyards. absorbers, and body holding devices.
Labeling
Requirements

PAGES 25-27
PROTECTIVE

gilas/iStock/Thinkstock
Copyright Reg Speller, Getty Images

Stop Sharing
CLOTHING NOW Arc Flash PPE
Dozens of manufactur-
PAGES 28-29
ers offer FR clothing PPE Mistakes

and suits made from PAGES 30-34

Nomex, polybenzimid- Personal
Protective
azole (PBI), Kevlar, and Equipment:
even wool, which ignites Then and Now

at a higher temperature
than cotton and some
From the EC&M
synthetic fibers, has e-books library

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING THEN a lower rate of flame

A compilation of
As far back as the 18th century, alum and ammonium were used spread, lower rate of technical articles
from EC&M
to make fabrics resistant to fire. The discovery of tetra hydrox- heat release, lower

ylmethyl phosponium chloride (THPC) in 1953 helped advanced heat combustion, and
34
the process of making fabrics flame-resistant. it doesn’t drip or melt.

www.ecmweb.com