Intelligent Power Today Magazine

When it comes to on-the-job safety, footwear serves as the
main point of contact between workers and their environment.
Because of the key role safety boots play in personal protective equipment (PPE), it is important to consider the various safety, performance, and comfort features as they relate to your job, work environment, and personal fitting requirements.

In safety footwear, there are a few key specifications that electrical workers need to consider. Generally speaking, the environments that this industry works in require a safety toe designed to protect against the impact of heavy objects falling onto, or rolling over the toes...

I recently viewed a destroyed 600-volt electrical panel board that had exploded when an operator reset an 800-ampere (A) breaker. His leather-palmed gloves had synthetic backs that ignited and seriously burned the back of his hands. His flame-resistant (FR) shirt was untucked and he was burned on his right side.

It is unfortunate that he was not following Canadian Standards Association’s CSA Z462 standard: “Workplace Electrical Safety” clause 4.3.7.3.10 (d). It is incredibly fortunate that his employer provided arc-rated clothing, as only a few years ago, he would have been wearing cotton coveralls.

Consequently, this incident would have resulted...