Electrical Safety & PPE
Safeguards for Personal Protection
Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Electrical protective equipment appropriate for the work must be provided and used to protect employees.
Protective equipment must be maintained in a safe, reliable condition, and be periodically inspected or tested. If the equipment is insulated, the insulation must be frequently inspected to ensure it remains capable of providing adequate protection (for example, an outer covering of leather is sometimes used for the protection of rubber insulating material).
Specialized hard-hats, eye or face protection, and gloves may be required if there is a danger of head injury from electric shock or burns due to contact with exposed energized parts, from arc flashes, or from flying particles due to an electrical explosion.
Tools and handling equipment must be insulated if it is likely they will be in contact with live parts. Specialized equipment and tools may be required to remove or install fuses. Any rope or handlines must be made of non-conductive materials.
Protective shields, protective barriers, or insulating materials may be required to protect employees from shocks, burns, or other electrically related injuries while working near exposed energized parts or where dangerous electric heating or arcing might occur. When live parts or circuitry that are normally enclosed are exposed for any reason, they must be guarded by barriers or shielding to prevent employee contact.
~ Safety signs, safety symbols, or special tags may be necessary to warn employees about electrical
hazards that may endanger them.
~ Barricades (non-conductive) may also be required in conjunction with safety signs to prevent
employees from being exposed to live electrical hazards.
~ Attendants may need to be stationed to warn employees where signs and barricades do not provide
sufficient warning and protection.
Eye Safety
Each day more than 2000 people injure their eyes at work and 10-20% of those will have temporary or permanent vision loss. It is estimated that 90% of these eye injuries could have been prevented.
Common Causes Of Eye Injury Include:
~ Flying objects
~ Chemicals
~ Dust
~ Bright light
~ Tools
Safety Glasses, Goggles Or Face Shields Should Be Used:
~ When using chemicals for any splash hazard
~ When using hand or power tools
~ For welding, grinding or cutting
Using The Appropriate Protection:
~ Safety Glasses: Provide the least amount of protection of all eyewear; they have impact resistant
lenses and should have side shields
~ Safety Goggles will protect from dust, splashes and impact.
~ Face Shields are normally used for chemical splash protection but do not provide adequate eye
protection from impact. Must be used with either glasses or goggles to protect the eyes.
~ Welding shields: Must be used when welding, brazing, soldering or cutting
Remember:
~ All eye protection equipment should be inspected daily and fit properly. If there are cracks or
breaks anywhere do not use them.
~ KEEP THEM CLEAN
~ Never look at welding without proper protection
~ Don’t use tinted safety glasses inside
~ Normal street glasses are not Safety Glasses. Tell your optometrist you need industrial safety
glass lenses.
If you have something in your eye:
~ Do not try to remove something from your eye, seek medical attention.
~ Chemicals in the eye require flushing with water for at least 15 minutes and then get medical attention.
Foot Protection
While proper footwear is important for all employees, regardless of their job, some jobs require specific protection. When working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, objects piercing the sole or where employees feet are exposed to electrical or chemical hazards, proper footwear is required.
We are all aware of safety shoes, but there are other protective items that might be needed such as leggings, metatarsal guards, toe guards, and even more specialized protection for those working around electricity. In some cases the only protection required is a slip resistant sole. Your supervisor or manager will tell you which is required for your job.
Sometimes employees may question the need for safety shoes. "If my foot gets run over by a forklift, the shoe won't do any good," said one worker. This is true. However, they are being used to protect against other hazards, such as heavy boxes falling off of storage racks. Actually, OSHA says that the typical foot injury is caused by objects falling from heights of less than four feet.
Once you have the right protective foot-wear it is important: to conduct a pre-use safety check each day to include:
~ No holes or tears
~ No separation between the sole and upper part of shoe
~ Shoes are not wet or damp
~ Shoes have good tread
~ Laces are not too long, or frayed
Other things to consider:
~ Keep your socks dry
~ Keep feet away from rolling equipment
~ Select footwear with good ankle support
~ If working in wet areas, wear slip resistant boots
Hand Safety
Dressing, eating, driving, reading, writing, helping your child… all these require the use of your hands. They are one of your most valuable possession and need protection.
Hazards include:
~ Sharp objects
~ Chemicals
~ Extreme heat or cold
~ Electricity
~ Machines
~ Vibration
Hazard controls include:
~ Gloves
~ Machine Guards
~ Proper Tool Handling
~ Lockout/Tagout
A smart worker will:
~ Look for hand hazards before performing a task
~ Never use a machine or tool without its guards in place
~ Check gloves before use and replace as necessary
~ Wear gloves that fit properly
~ Use the correct glove
~ Wash their hands after using any chemical
~ Use push sticks or shut down machine and lock out before un-jamming or cleaning machinery
~ Store sharp tools properly
Never put your hands where you cannot see them without checking for hidden hazards. Get immediate first aid for all cuts and bruises.
Hearing Safety
Someone says “I Love You”, someone says “Look Out!”. Did you hear them? Will you hear them in 5 years? Hearing loss is something you can never regain once it is lost, and hearing loss creeps up slowly. As a normal part of aging you will probably lose half your hearing by your 65th birthday, but what about if you are exposed to high noise levels repeatedly when you are younger? The loss will be quicker and more severe if you don’t take action now. Even temporary hearing shifts do not totally recover.
High Noise Exposures:
The rule of thumb is if you have to shout or yell to be heard, the noise is too loud. Some example of high noise exposures are machinery, loud music, lawn mowers, power tools, firearms. Hearing loss depends on how loud the noise is and how long you are exposed.
Safe Workers:
~ Obey rules regarding hearing protection at work
~ Wear hearing protection when working with power equipment at home
~ Use the appropriate protection (plugs, ear muffs or a combination)
~ Keep the protection clean and replace as needed
~ Participate in their company’s hearing protection program
Warning Signs:
~ Ringing or buzzing in the ears after exposure to loud noise
~ Sound is “ muffled” for a time
To be effective hearing protection must be used when needed, used properly, clean and in good condition.
Equipment Access and Maintenance
Supplies, storage, and access to PPE must be available to you when it is required for a specific work area or operation.
PPE must be maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition. Damaged or defective PPE must be taken out of service and not used. Contaminated clothing and PPE must be disposed of or cleaned properly.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wear your eye protection!
You only have one set of eyes.
Protect them!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Protect your hands!
Use the correct type of gloves.
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Use your hearing protection!
Noise you are exposed to today,
if it does not have an immediate effect,
may not be noticed for up to ten years.
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General Information
~ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be used in areas where there is potential exposure to
hazards that cannot be adequately controlled.
~ PPE is considered the last line of defense against exposure to chemical hazards, radiation hazards,
biological agents, temperature extremes, noise, electrical energy, mechanical forces, irritants, or
projectiles that can produce injury or illness.
Gloves and Hand Protection
Gloves, gauntlets, and protective sleeves are designed to protect the hands and arms of individuals who may be exposed to skin hazards from chemical or biological agents, cuts or lacerations, abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, or harmful temperature extremes.
~ Chemical-resistant gloves must be appropriate for the type chemical used.
~ Barrier creams cannot be used as protection against chemical contact unless specifically approved by
a medical professional.
~ Laundering of gloves used for chemical or biological protection is prohibited.
~ Jewelry should not be worn with gloves.
~ Gloves must be removed properly to ensure an unprotected hand or part of the arm is not exposed.
~ After removing gloves, hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and water.
~ When sharing gloves, use disposable gloves as a liner.
~ Cuff the ends of gloves when feasible.
~ At a minimum, disposable gloves used for splash protection must be disposed of at the end of each
working day. Chemical contact, signs of physical wear, or loss of glove integrity requires more frequent
disposal.
~ Gloves should be properly stored away from sunlight, direct artificial light and electrical equipment.
~ Lay the gloves flat and avoid temperature and humidity extremes during glove storage.
~ Employees with allergies may require powder-free gloves or gloves made of non-latex materials.
Hard Hats and Head Protection
Hard hats are designed to provide protection against impact and penetration from falling objects. The type and classification of required hard hats must be documented, and all equipment must comply with ANSI-Z89.1.
~ Bump Caps provide protection from impact against stationary objects but do NOT protect against
impact or penetration from falling objects or electrical shock hazards.
~ Hard Hats provide protection from impact against stationary objects and against penetration from most
falling objects. Some specially rated hard hats also protect against electrical shock hazards.
~ Welding Helmets provide protection against ultraviolet, infrared, and visible radiation sources during
welding operations.
~ Fire Fighting Helmets provide protection from extreme heat encountered during a fire or similar
conditions.
~ Hair Nets or Hats protect employees from entanglement hazards, such as equipment with moving
parts.
Head protection must be kept clean and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Protective Clothing
Clothing such as suits, aprons, coveralls, coats, and pants must be made available to protect the torso and body of individuals who may be exposed to skin absorption from chemical or biological agents, cuts or lacerations, abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns or harmful temperature extremes.
~ Materials used in the manufacture of such clothing must be matched in resistance to the chemicals or
materials being handled.
~ Laundering of company-issued work clothing must be provided whenever there is a potential for
chemical contamination, such as asbestos, lead, cadmium, arsenic, sensitizers, or biological hazards,
so employees will not need to launder clothing at home.
Signs and Warning Devices
Signs must be posted to warn employees and other personnel when protective equipment is required.
