It goes without saying that electricity is dangerous so, for those who spend their working lives in proximity to electrical installations, the risk of injury or death is amplified. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the largest number of electricity-related accidents occur during electrical installations and construction, with electrical engineers involved in more accidents than other workers. Accidents involving electricity rank as the fourth most common, with contact incidents causing more fatal injuries than all other incidents combined, involving plant equipment, domestic appliances, and underground cables.
The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a key element of electrical safety training. In this article, we’ll consider why electricians’ PPE is vital for anyone who works in the field.
Mitigating Danger
In electrical engineering, personal safety is a priority. Electrical tasks can expose workers to numerous hazards, including shocks, arc flash, and burns. If the risks are not properly managed, the consequences can be catastrophic. Electrical burns can be severe, causing deep tissue damage and life-threatening complications that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. As well as burns, arc flash can result in blindness, hearing loss, nerve damage, and even death.
Ensuring Legal Compliance
Apart from enhancing engineers’ personal safety, legal compliance is another important benefit of using PPE. In the UK, the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 and Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 mandate the use of appropriate PPE where electrical risks exist. Employers are obligated to provide suitable PPE at no cost to workers, ensuring it protects employees from electrical risks. PPE must be well-maintained, regularly checked, and replaced when needed. All provided PPE should be CE or UKCA-marked which indicates it has undergone rigorous testing and certification.
Reducing Injuries From Arc Flash
Arc flash is particularly dangerous because it releases a sudden and intense burst of heat, light, and energy that can cause severe burns, blindness, and other serious injuries in a fraction of a second. PPE acts as a crucial line of defence, mitigating the severity of trauma or preventing it entirely. NFPA 70E regulations outline the safety requirements for working with electricity, including performing risk assessments to identify the potential for arc flashes. In such scenarios, selecting the appropriate level of arc flash PPE is vital, including flame-resistant clothing, helmets, face shields, gloves, and footwear.
Avoiding Economic Consequences
Finally, the economic benefits of using PPE are significant. Injuries from electrical accidents can lead to a loss of income as electricians will be unable to work for long periods, and high healthcare costs to provide ongoing care in the most serious of situations. Proper PPE helps to prevent injuries, safeguarding workers’ health and financial stability.
Learn More About The Correct Use Of PPE
To find out more about how to use electrical PPE equipment correctly, please get in touch to enrol on one of our specialist courses and give your team the protection they deserve
