ppe requirements

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chigger

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The company i work for is implementing new arc flash requirements . so far it seems to be a cluster can any one simplify what ppe needs to be worn and when ? as it is right now to be in a 120/208 panel we are having to wear a hard hatw/ dark green face shield more like a grinding sheild w/ no head sock and a welders shirt. is a clear sheild as good cant see what im doing in the dark green. any help apreciated
 
Check NFPA70E tables in Article 130 to determine what you need. As far as the faceshield it needs to be arc flash rated, just because the one you have is tinted does not make it that. Salsibury is a good place to get one and I believe the newer AS1000HAT faceshields have a lot lighter tint then they used too.
 
anyway to break it down

anyway to break it down

ive been in the trade 18 years more of a mechanic then policy maker as far as hot work ive done about it all usually i decide safe or not safe but im asking real world as a service tech when and what ppe should be worn. as i see it i would rather wear a head sock and safty glasses vs a tinted grinding sheild in fear of a mistake due to sight . speaking in 120/208 200a panel adding a breaker . now in a tap can i would rather wear a suit. im asking if there is a basic standard for what to wear and when
 
There is a basic standard, it's described in NFPA70E. If you don't have that document then I highly recommend you purchase it. NFPA70E requires an arc rated faceshield for anything at category 2. I understand the visibility issue because we had the same problem when we began following the standards. The newer faceshields are not nearly as tinted as the ones we initially purchased. Even the ones we initially bought were not that bad, they just made distinguishing colors difficult.
 
I always wear safety glasses when I work in 277 panels. But from the looks of it I guess its not enough ppe. Even so i would get a little ribbing from some of the gys for even wearing those.
 
Let them rib you tonyou812 and get some training or at least research NFPA70E as Zog suggests. I feel sick to my stomach when I look back at how things were done 20 years ago when I started out.
 
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Yeah I had a plain ol' 120v intermatic timer arc about 3 inches in front of my face once, it was my fault and I saw green spots for hours and was really worried I damaged my vision, ever since then I wear lightly tinted safety glasses whenever I am near things of that nature.

Unfortunately I was never lucky enough to have an employer who implemented ANY of 70E at all.......

It is belonging to this forum that has made me want to go get the 70E training.

I am going to purchase the book/handbook in the very near future, and as far as the training, I just need to find it somewhere around here.
 
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Mr. Sparkle
I already have the patent on the lefthanded screwdriver...and pliers. They have strategically place arc-,marks... ;)



For those of you who have worked for years not using PPE, consider yourselves lucky and fortunate.
Now that the "curve" is most likely on the backside, it would be a good time to start with the PPE, even if it is for limited types of work.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Mr. Sparkle
I already have the patent on the lefthanded screwdriver...and pliers. They have strategically place arc-,marks... ;)
Click to expand...


Oh, you mean like this?

Point005.jpg


That IS the screwdriver I was using at the time, let it be noted this was a RIGHT HANDED version, hence the accident and catalyst for the inception of my LEFT HANDED design.
 
Pierre C Belarge said:
Is it too late to say I am sorry? ;):grin:

Hey, I am not sorry, I have had to deal with being left-handed in a right-handed industry for way too long. Okay, now I am sorry.
Click to expand...

In 2007, researchers discovered LRRTM1, the first gene linked to increased odds of being left-handed. The researchers also found evidence that possessing one particular form of this gene slightly raises the risk of psychotic mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Hmmmm....makes ya think don't it? :wink:
 
chigger said:
The company i work for is implementing new arc flash requirements . so far it seems to be a cluster can any one simplify what ppe needs to be worn and when ? as it is right now to be in a 120/208 panel we are having to wear a hard hatw/ dark green face shield more like a grinding sheild w/ no head sock and a welders shirt. is a clear sheild as good cant see what im doing in the dark green. any help apreciated
Click to expand...

You would want to make sure that the face shield is rated for electrical work and not just a general duty face shield (grinding splatter resistant).

We had a representative from a major fuse manufacturer give us Arc-Flash and PPE information. We were shown a video of two "dummies" dressed in various PPE. One dummiy had all electrical (fire-resistant) PPE, and the second dummy had on cotton clothing and a general duty face shield.

They staged an actual arc-flash incedent about two feet (arms length) typical of electrical work, in front of the two dummies side-by-side. Immediately after the flash, the second dummies face shield was FULLY afire, and blobs of flaming dripping plastic were falling all down the front of dummy #2. This video is etched deep into my memory.

Early in my career, we often did 480v high current hot work. I had one arc-flash accident (NO PPE). I was for the most part unharmed, however a few hours later, I got "welders-eyes", very painful, but nothing a hospital could fix. The pain subsided after a few hours. I am extremely lucky. I am now grateful for the arc-flash / PPE awarness training. I will NEVER be exposed to those hazzards again.
 
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