Arc Rated Clothing and Electrical Hazard Footwear

Paul Chamberlain, Asplundh Engineering Services, LLCColumns, Safety Corner, Summer 2019 Columns

Everyone wears clothes, at least when out in public. However, not everyone needs to wear clothes specially designed and tested to protect them from hazards they could find in their workplace. If your employees work on or near electric power, generation, transmission, and distribution equipment, specialized clothing is necessary for certain tasks.  OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 states that employers must …

Sulfur Hexafluoride Gas Hazards

Paul Chamberlain, Asplundh Engineering Services, LLCColumns, Safety Corner, Spring 2019 Columns

Sulfur hexafluoride, also known as SF6 gas, is a commonly used and excellent insulator found in many medium to large circuit breakers protecting transmission and distribution equipment. It has been argued that gas-filled breakers are superior to those filled with oil, air, or a vacuum. They operate cooler and with no noise or gas emissions and are considered relatively low …