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CLOTHING
Being Prepared Involves Wearing the Right Clothing
By Tania Henvey
In the fraction of a second it takes for an electric arc to occur, tremendous heat capable of igniting surrounding fires is created. Workers must be prepared for accidents, and the best way to be ready is to protect themselves with adequate clothing. Over the past 40 years, there have been significant advances in the manufacture of safety clothing for electricians.
The creation of flame-resistant materials in modern industry began in the 1960s. US steel industry workers faced serious injuries from the iron and steel they produced since the metals reached temperatures of over 2000°F. In the 1970s, the US Military and DuPont developed an instrumental, mannequin system. Today, electrical safety garments are tested at DuPont on a life-sized mannequin known as "Arc-Man". The model is kept at the Ontario Power Technologies High Current Lab to demonstrate the importance of protective wear.
Clothing designed specifically for the electrical industry has changed since the early days, although one thing has remained - cotton is the fabric of choice. One hundred per cent cotton garments are treated with chemicals and certified to ensure fire resistance, even after more than 50 residential or industrial washes, according to Westex Inc., manufacturer of the Proban/FR-7A label. In addition, the attire can remain effective even after these cleanings, providing the correct procedures are followed. And although cotton is effective, it is not the only choice of fibre. Often wool or linen can be used, as these fibres are also useful if specially treated.
If inadequate clothing is worn, a severe burn could result within seconds. Fabrics must be treated to prevent ignition and most important, if they do catch fire, they must be designed to stop burning. Clothing can be tested to see how it will hold up when faced with an electrical arc flash, fire or molten metal splashes.
Electricians need to be aware when choosing their type of protective clothing. Apparel that responds to flash fire testing may not be effective when dealing with electrical arc flash protection. Chemicals should be embedded into the core of the cotton fibres and then oxidized for durability. These articles of clothing are flame resistant, which means that when exposed to an ignition source, they will not continue to burn, shrink, melt or drip molten residue. By adding extra layers of material, more protection is available, allowing for more time to escape the clothing should an accident occur.
Covering the body with pants, shirts, gloves, coveralls, a jacket or other attire is important, but safety clothing must also include safety glasses. Although it seems obvious that goggles are important, most of the focus in the past years has been on clothing, not on facial gear. An electrical arc flash can produce flying metal and molten. Shields provide protection from thermal energy, and this coverage is more effective when the electrician is also wearing a hood.
There are standard testing performances for safety clothing, and since 1993, the Canadian Electricity Association has applied industry programs in standardization to promote common standards and guidelines among Canadian electrical utilities. By following the care instructions for the clothing, electricians should be safe in the event of an accident. And if the garments worn by "Arc-Man" can take the heat, electricians can be certain they will also walk away from unexpected accidents. ET
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