PPE MAY 2019
FIT FOR
PURPOSE
PPE is the barrier between the wearer and a hazardous situation.
Yet, all too often, wearers put themselves at risk of injury or death
by donning ill-fi tting or uncomfortable protective equipment
BY MARK LANT, TECHNICAL EXPERT, PROGARM
When it comes to protecting
workers from the dangers posed
by working around high- and
low-voltage electricity on a daily
basis, the importance of PPE is
widely understood by managers
and operatives alike. In fact, most employers
wouldn’t dream of letting their teams on-site
without adequate protection. However, one factor
of PPE that is often overlooked is its comfort, and
this can have a signifi cant impact on the level of
protection provided to the wearer.
Comfort is key
Arc Flash protective clothing has historically been
thought of as uncomfortable. This is primarily
because in the past, the clothing was typically
made from fabrics that provided great protection,
but were often heavy and stiff , and that were
rough against bare skin.
An Arc Flash is when an arcing fault releases
dangerous levels of radiant energy, which
vaporizes metal that spews from the arc. The
air is super-heated, causing
pressure waves that can throw
individuals across rooms and
create a deadly molten shrapnel.
They can be caused by voltage
spikes, worn connections, cable
strikes or gaps in insulation, and
are a risk even in low-voltage
set ups.
With temperatures of up
to 19,500ºC, which is more
than four times hotter than
the surface of the Sun, an
Arc Flash has the potential
to burn an operative’s skin
within fractions of a second.
Treatment for those that survive
an incident can require years of
skin grafts, hospital stays and
rehabilitation – they may never
recover suffi ciently to regain
their lifestyle, meaning PPE
really is the last line of defence
for workers.
A garment can off er the
ultimate protection, but if your
team does not feel comfortable
wearing it, that protection
diminishes when they choose
not to wear the garment
correctly. Every item must
be designed for comfort as well
as protection.
Bulky and rigid PPE is
frequently worn incorrectly. It’s
all too easy to roll sleeves up or
undo a jacket when a garment
is uncomfortable, but all of
this seriously compromises the
safety of an individual against
an Arc Flash. For females
working in these industries,
this problem is only heightened
when combined with the
universal fi t of PPE that many
women are faced with wearing.
An arc fl ash can reach
temperatures up to
19,500ºC
Bulky and rigid
PPE is frequently
worn incorrectly,
running the risk
of serious harm
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