INDICADORES DE ESTABILIDAD Y MADUREZ

Employees shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and protective clothing (see Section 7.4.8) to protect them from hazards of high-voltage apparatus. Employees authorized or required to work on high-voltage systems shall be completely familiar with the PPE and protective clothing they need for adequate protection while working on such systems. (Refer to Appendix C for suggested types of PPE and protective clothing.) (See Figure 7-1 and Table 7-1.)

7.4.1 SHOES

Employees should wear shoes or boots that comply with the requirements of ANSI Z41. No metal parts shall be present in the sole or heel of the shoes where nonconductive shoes are required.

7.4.2 SAFETY HAT

Workers should wear approved hardhats when working aboveground on poles, structures, or buildings or in trees per ANSI Z89.1 and 29 CFR 1910.135.

Workers shall wear hardhats when working on the ground near poles, structures, buildings, or trees in which work is being done. Workers shall wear hardhats when visiting or observing in areas where overhead work is being done.

7.4.3 EYE PROTECTORS

Whenever eyes are in danger of being injured, workers shall wear safety goggles or other eye protectors meeting ANSI standards. When the work being performed dictates, workers should wear

Figure 7-1. Appropriate personal protective equipment and protective clothing shall be worn by electrical

workers to protect them from electrical hazards.

Safety boots High-voltage

equipment

Safety glasses Qualified worker

Rubber insulated gloves

Safety hat

Cotton, wool, or fire resistant clothing

[See 29 CFR 1910.269(l)(6)(iii)]

nonmetallic and nonconductive eye protection. (See ANSI Z87.1 and 29 CFR 1910.133 for more information.)

7.4.4 RESPIRATORS

Workers shall wear the appropriate respirator per 29 CFR 1910.134.

7.4.5 METAL FASTENERS

Workers shall not wear articles such as loose chains, keys, watches, or rings if such articles increase the hazards associated with inadvertent contact with energized parts or can become caught under or snagged while climbing off or on structures, equipment or vehicles.

7.4.6 WORK GLOVES

When insulated gloves suitable for high-voltage are not required, otherwise suitable work gloves should be worn while handling materials and equipment to prevent the possibility of slivers, cuts, and skin irritation.

7.4.7 WORK CLOTHES

Work clothes should be made of natural materials, such as cotton or wool, or fire resistant materials and should have full length sleeves. Sleeves should be rolled down for greatest protection.

Leather protectors (worn over rubber insulated gloves)

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Table 7-1. ANSI/ASPM standards on PPE and protective clothing. Subject Number and Title

Blankets ANSI/ASTM D1048-1988a, Specifications for Rubber Insulating Blankets

Climbing ASTM F887-91a, Specifications for Personal Climbing Equipment Equipment

Dielectric ASTM F1116-88, Test Method for Determining Dielectric Strength of Overshoes Overshoe Footwear

ASTM F1117-87, Specification for Dielectric Overshoe Footwear Eye and Face ANSI Z87.1-1979, Practice for Occupational and Educational Protection Eye and Face Protection

Gloves and ANSI/ASTM D1051-1987, Specifications for Rubber Insulating Sleeves Sleeves

ANSI/ASTM Dl20-1987, Specifications for Rubber Insulating Gloves ASTM F496-96, Specifications for In-Service Care of Insulating Gloves and Sleeves

Hand Tools ASTM F1505-94, Specifications for Insulated and Insulating Hand Tools

Head Protection ANSI Z89.1-1986, Protective Helmets for Industrial Workers Requirements

Leather ASTM F696-91, Specification for Leather Protectors for Rubber Protectors Insulating Gloves and Mittens

Line Hoses, ANSI/ASTM D1049-1988, Specifications for Rubber Insulating Hoods, and Covers

Covers ASTM D1050, Specification for Rubber Insulating Line Hoses ASTM F478-92, Specifications for In-Service Care of Rubber Insulating Line Hoses and Covers

Live Line ASTM F711-86, Specification for Fiberglass-Reinforced Plastic Tools (FRP) Rod and Tube Used in Live Line Tools

Mats ANSI/ASTM D178-1988, Specifications for Rubber Insulating Matting

Protective ASTM F1506-94, Textile Materials for Wearing Apparel for Use by Clothing Electrical Workers Exposed to Momentary Electric Arc and Related

Thermal Hazards

ASTM PS-57, Test Method for Determining the Ignitibility of Clothing by the Electrical Arc Exposure Method Using a Mannequin ASTM PS-58, Test Method for Determining the Arc Thermal

Performance (Value) of Textile Materials for Clothing by Electric Arc Exposure Method Using Instrumented Sensor Panels

PVC Insulating ASTM F1742-96, Specifications for PVC Insulting Sheeting Sheeting

7.4.8 FIRE RESISTANT CLOTHING

29 CFR 1910.269(l)(6)(iii)1 _{states, in part, “…each employee who is exposed to flames or electric} arcs does not wear clothing that, when exposed to flames or electric arcs, could increase the extent of injury that would be sustained by the employee.”

“Note: Clothing made from the following types of fabrics, either alone or in blends, is prohibited by this paragraph, unless the employer can demonstrate that the fabric has been treated to withstand the conditions that may be encountered or that the clothing is worn in such a manner as to eliminate the hazard involved: acetate, nylon, polyester, rayon.”

7.4.8.1 GENERAL

All fire resistant fabrics comply with 29 CFR 1910.269(l)(6)(iii). Untreated cotton and wool comply if the fabric will not ignite and continue to burn under the conditions to which the employee could be exposed. ASTM F1506-94 and 2 new ASTM provisional standards, outline the testing procedures to determine how various fabrics react in the presence of an electric arc on an instrumented mannikin or panel. The new ASTM provisional standards provide testing procedures that expose untreated and fire resistant fabrics to electric arcs. F1506-94 provides testing procedures that expose these same fabrics to a vertical flame test. Also see NFPA 70E, Part II, Ch. 2-3.3.3 for details on flash hazard analysis.

7.4.8.2 ELECTRIC ARC HAZARDS

Electric shock is a widely recognized hazard and involves current flow through or on the body. Burns from electric arcs are not as well recognized. There is no contact required and the burns can be severe if the clothing ignites or melts. The hazards to which the employee is exposed also include the clothing breaking open due to the arc pressure blast, the heat from the electric arc and subsequent secondary fires or explosions.

The extent of the employees’ injury is dependent on the length of the arc gap, available fault current, duration of the arc, the distance of the employee from the arc, percentage of the body burned, the employees age, medical condition, and number of layers of the clothing system. The proper clothing system will minimize or reduce the burn injury.

7.4.8.3 TYPES OF FIRE RESISTANT FABRICS

Chemically dependent fire resistant fabrics are treated with flame retardant chemicals added to the fiber or treatments applied to the fabric. These treatments are activated by heat and produce gases that smother the flame. Typically, these fabrics have a definite life as defined by the manufacturer. This is usually defined by the number of home or commercial washings the garment is exposed. Inherently fire resistant fabrics, by their composition, do not burn in air. The fire resistance of this fabric is not affected by washing.

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