PPE

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for the protection of workers operating in areas at risk for an arc flash. Given the nature of the forces present in one of these events, the correct PPE can directly determine whether workers caught in an arc flash survive. The type of PPE required for workers depends on the nature of the work to be performed and their proximity to energized electrical equipment.

Though it is vital for the protection of the worker, PPE acts as the last line of defense against arc flash hazards. All measures available at the engineering, administrative, and procedural levels should be taken prior to a worker approaching the equipment.

PPE must conform to applicable state, federal, or local codes and standards, such as:

• Conformity Assessment: All suppliers and manufactures of PPE must demonstrate conformity with an appropriate product standard by one of the following methods:
  • Self-declaration with a Supplier's Declaration of Conformity
  • Self-declaration under a registered quality management system and product testing by an accredited laboratory and Suppliers Declaration of Conformity
  • Certification by an accredited, independent, third-party certification organization

To learn more about Arc Flash Safety visit our OSHA Construction Arc Flash Safety Online Training web page.