Electrical workers must use specific personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure safety and regulatory compliance.

The key PPE items include:

• Protective headwear: Workers should wear protective headwear if there is a foreseeable danger of head injury at the work site and a significant possibility of lateral impact to the head. [5]

• Eye and face protection: Workers whose eyes may be injured or irritated at a work site must wear eye protection appropriate to the work and hazard involved, approved to CSA Standard Z94.3-15. [3]

• Flame-resistant clothing: If a worker may be exposed to flash fire or electrical equipment flashover, they must wear flame-resistant outerwear and other appropriate PPE. Clothing worn beneath flame resistant outerwear should be made of flame resistant fabrics or natural fibers that will not melt when exposed to heat. [4] [4]

• Footwear: Workers must use footwear appropriate to the hazards associated with the work being performed and the work site. If the hazard assessment identifies specific protection needs such as toe protection, puncture resistance, metatarsal protection, or electrical protection, the footwear must be approved to CSA Standard Z195-14 or ASTM Standard F2413-05. [4] [5]

• Gloves of insulating materials: Workers should wear gloves of insulating materials for live working. [1]

• Sleeves of Insulating Material: Workers should wear sleeves of insulating material for live working. [1]

• Hand Tools: Workers should use hand tools for live working up to 1000 V a.c. and 1500 V d.c. [1]

• Hearing protection: Hearing protection is required when there is a risk of arc flash incident. [2]

Employers must ensure that workers are trained in the correct use, care, and limitations of the PPE and that the equipment is in a condition to perform its intended function. Workers also have a duty to properly use and inspect the PPE before use. [3] [3]

For work on electrical equipment with a voltage in excess of 5,200 V between any two conductors or in excess of 3,000 V between any conductor and ground, insulated protection equipment and tools must be used to protect against injury. [6]