Back to an old thread from last year. Gloves for 120V testing.

[Timbert]

I think a lot of the problem stems from misunderstanding the requirements or trying to simplify them. This leads employers that say you always have to wear an arc flash suit whenever you might come near electricity rather than actually taking the time to analyze the risk. An example is using an arc flash suit to measure an outlet. The employers need to have a reasonable policy and only require what is necessary for employee protection and not go too far down the "better safe than sorry" path. A big part is having the arc flash study numbers computed so that workers aren't wasting time donning unnecessary equipment.

That being said, the workers have to be willing to change old habits.

As for PPE, where I work, we are halfway there because the protective equipment: safety glasses, hard hat, hearing protection, leather safety boots are required of everyone every day. As for arc-rated clothing, class 2 clothing is available that is not any different than what you would expect from street clothing. I wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt just like everyone else, the only difference is they are arc-rated. So from normal day-to-day work wear all I need to do is don a face shield or balaclava and make sure my gloves are on and I'm ready for class 2. This is hardly an onerous requirement.

 

[kwired]

I'm not sure if anyone is picking up what I am putting down here. Maybe you all are and I am just mis-reading it. I am not against PPE for Panel Boxes, switch gear, ect.... I am against the over zealous use of it on a 120v outlet or a 277v fluorescent fixtures. To Hot dead Hot test it, I really don't see the purpose in an Arc flash suit. I really don't think you can get a flash from any single phase circuit (under 20 amps) that requires a suit, leather gloves I have no problem with. I just feel the suit you are protecting against a threat that isn't there.

I have a few machines here in my plant that are fed with 240v 20 amps single phase, I personally feel the same way with them. The arc flash suit is over kill for a HDH test on them. Inside these control boxes there are no large buss bars or anything like that which would make it easier to buck phases. You would really have to be trying to short these controls out or bucking phases.

As for the 120v killing people with what ever it was .01 amps or something like that. I have a congenital heart condition and have an implanted defib/pacemaker. I have been hit by 120v more times than I can even imagine counting, 277v twice(2 to many times for me), and even 240 a few times. Even got hit by half of a 15000v neon transformer once, didn't dig that! I'm still kicking. Yeah My heart doc cringes when I talk about getting bit.

I just think that just like a little common sense goes a long way. The problem is the people writing the rules and regs are not people doing it for a living and just really don't know any better. I figure they are fancy Corporate people and Lawyers(bad combo). I know the dangers of my job and would never risk my life to cut corners. I just wish we could stop protecting against threats that are not there.

You might be right with some of what you said there. Arc flash suit may be overkill in some instances where they are required, but some might see it as being simpler to just put on the suit then to determine exactly how high of a arc flash hazard level exists. Once you have confirmed the circuit in question is dead you no longer need the suit. Safety glasses at the very least is a good idea even low level fault current availability.

Many 20 amp circuits will have a much lower possible incident energy level at the outlet then at the source end of the circuit. But circuit length does make a big difference so you can't just say the level is low at any point in a 20 amp circuit.

You are free to cut all the corners you want, if you have an employer however they can refuse to accept liability you bring with not following the rules and can you. If you do get killed on their time, your next of kin and or your life insurance, attorney, OSHA, etc. will be after the employer, and you won't care because you are dead.

Many of us have been hit by 120 volts, some many times. Most of the time you are reasonably well protected just by your shoes, or maybe the shock just travels through your hand or something like that. That one time when you are well grounded somehow is the time that will kill you, and it happens faster then you will ever be able to react.