It is well known that any personnel that works with electricity or energised equipment needs to be suitably protected by the correct PPE/PPC. Protection against the risk of an arc flash requires specialised Personal Protective Clothing or safety gear – that includes inner and well as outer layers. CHARNAUD® is a supplier and manufacturer of specialised personal protective equipment and clothing designed for employees who are at threat of an arc flash. The specialised arc flash range of PPE from CHARNAUD® SURVIVE-ARC® includes head-to-foot® protective garments and equipment that are arc-rated, flame-resistant, and fully certified to international safety standards.
Wearing the Wrong PPE May Cost You Your Life
Significant attention is given to electric arc flashes, and how best to protect workers from the resultant negative thermal effects. In many industries, including the electronic vehicle (EV) industry, a DC (Direct Current) arc is also a threat. It is crucially important that employees in this industry wear the correct PPE for the hazards they face in the workplace. People who work in the EV industry are generally required to wear high-visibility (hi-vis) outerwear. A problem arises when the requirement to wear hi-vis outerwear and/or vests, because in many instances the hi-vis outerwear is not arc rated. By not wearing arc rated hi-vis outerwear, employees are exposed to greater risk resulting in serious injury and even death. This article outlines some of the reasons why it is not safe to wear non-AR hi-vis outerwear.
Why Is Non-Arc Rated Outerwear A Risk?
As previously mentioned, EV industry employees are at risk of DC (Direct Current) electric arcs. For this reason, their hi-vis outerwear must be arc-rated. When an arc flash occurs, flammable materials or substances will ignite and burn, and as long as there is a fuel source, the blaze will continue to burn. Hi-vis non-AR vests and outerwear are highly flammable, and when a DC arc flash occurs the vest or outerwear instantaneously ignites. Equally dangerous is that when a DC arc flash happens, non-AR underlayers may also combust and burn for as long as there is a fuel source. In this scenario, efforts to extinguish the blaze may prove fruitless, as garments may reignite, as a result of environmental conditions. As a likely result, the victim will be severely burned and possibly killed. On the flip side, a scenario like this needn’t be a reality if employees are wearing the correct PPE for the hazards of the job – including AR outerwear.
Partner with CHARNAUD® for Quality You Can Trust
Employees who work with electricity in any capacity are at risk of suffering the negative effects of an arc flash. The good thing is that it is possible to walk away from an arc flash event unscathed – but only if employees are protected by their PPE. It is not worth having arc flash casualties if they can be avoided by wearing the correct personal protective equipment. Contact CHARNAUD® to know more about their comprehensive PPE and CHARNAUD® SURVIVE-ARC® arc-rated PPE/C range.
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