What Are The Common Types Of PPE Used For Electrical Safety?

When working with electricity, essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes rubber boots and insulated gloves, full-body arc flash suits, safety goggles, face shields, and flame-resistant clothing to avoid potential electrical hazards like electric shock, arc flash, and burns.

However, it’s essential to wear the right kind of electrical safety PPE equipment based on the nature of the electrical job. Here are the common types of PPE used to ensure electrical safety.

Head Protection:

Hard hats are equipped with insulation resins like density polyethylene (HDPE) to protect the head. The hard shells are designed to prevent the impact of falling objects and do not absorb electricity.

Eye & Face Protection:

Safety glasses have a laminated casing designed to protect the eyes from flying debris, sparks, and other malfunctioning mechanical equipment.

Face shields, on the other hand, provide an additional layer of safety from electrical hazards that erupt suddenly, such as arc flashes or chemical flashes.

Hearing Protection:

Earplugs keep construction workers' ears safe from excessive noise levels that come with the constant use of loud mechanical equipment like drilling machines.

Hand & Arm Protection:

Insulated gloves keep electricians who are at high risk of contacting live wires safe. The rubber gloves absorb the shock, eliminating the risk of electric shock, making them an essential PPE for those involved in electrical work.

Rubber Lineman gloves provide additional protection for electrical workers who are working with high voltage tasks such as the power line poles. Insulated sleeves are designed to protect the arms and further reduce the chances of workers suffering from electrical hazards.

Foot & Leg Protection:

Safety rubber shoes have non-conductive soles that provide insulation for the feet, making them ideal electrical safety PPE for electricians.

Dielectric Overshoes are designed using non-conductive materials that can be worn over normal shoes to provide additional protection against electrical hazards.

Body Protection:

Flame-resistant clothing, made of non-conductive materials such as cotton, is a must for firefighters. It reduces the risk of burns from arc flashes or electrical fires.

Arc Flash Suits typically consist of flame-resistant jackets, pants, and face shields, which protect against the high intensity of arc flashes.

Additional Electrical PPE Facts:

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), electrical injuries accounted for 5.4% of all fatal occupational injuries in the United States in 2021, with 166 deaths. The most common causes of electrical fatalities were contact with overhead power lines (39%), contact with wiring, transformers, or other electrical components (36%), and contact with electric current of machines, tools, appliances, or light fixtures (18%). Source: https://www.safetyfrenzy.com/electrical-personal-protective-equipment/
• According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), the construction industry had the highest number of electrical fatalities (61%) and nonfatal electrical injuries (44%) among all industries in 2021. The most common occupations that suffered electrical fatalities were electricians (32%), construction laborers (17%), and roofers (9%). Source: https://www.esfi.org/workplace-safety/workplace-injury-fatality-statistics/
• According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the use of electrical PPE can prevent or reduce the severity of electrical injuries and burns. For example, wearing flame-resistant clothing can reduce the extent of burns by 50% in case of an arc flash, and wearing insulated gloves can reduce the risk of electric shock by 80% in case of contact with live wires. Source: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03/electrical_safety_manual.pdf
• According to a survey by Fluke, a leading manufacturer of electrical testing tools, 79% of electrical workers said that they were the most responsible for workplace safety, followed by their employer (12%), and their supervisor (6%). However, only 29% of workers believed that most companies provided adequate electrical safety training, and 56% of workers had ideas on how to make the industry safer. Source: https://www.fluke.com/en-us/learn/blog/safety/avoid-the-shock-of-your-life
• According to a report by Global Market Insights, the global electrical PPE market size was valued at over USD 18 billion in 2022, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 5% from 2023 to 2032. The major factors driving the market growth are the increasing demand for electrical PPE in various industries, such as construction, manufacturing, power, and oil and gas, the rising awareness of electrical safety among workers and employers, and the stringent regulations and standards for electrical safety in different countries. Source: https://www.fluke.com/en-us/learn/blog/safety/electrical-safety-stats