It’s simple: both Santa Claus and the KBR employee have personal protective equipment, or PPE for short. Both use it intensively – but for different purposes. While Santa Claus has a recognition value (and possibly protection against the winter cold) thanks to his PPE, PPE in the electrical industry fulfills a different purpose: to ensure the safety of employees.
Background knowledge: The human body
The human body would not function without electrical impulses. Nerve pathways transmit the signals from the brain to the muscles so that we can move. Without regular electrical impulses, our heart would not pump blood through our veins. It’s not for nothing that there are defibrillators which, in the event of cardiac arrest, get the heart beating again with a “current pulse”.
Otherwise, the human body is not designed for an externally applied electric shock. Above a certain level, an electric shock can lead to a wide variety of reactions in the body:
- Cramping of the muscles
- The heart gets “out of step”
- Cardiac arrest
- burns
- etc.
We must be aware of the possible consequences of an electrical accident whenever we work in the vicinity of live parts. KBR therefore conducts an annual one-day training course with employees on “Measuring under voltage” to raise their awareness.
Solution: The PPE
PPE is the personal protective equipment of every KBR employee who carries out live measurements.
KBR employees are provided with the following equipment for the installation of measuring devices in accordance with our risk assessment of the work:
- Helmet with face protection
- Switching jacket
- Electrically insulating gloves up to 1000 V
- Insulating mat for site insulation
First, let’s take a look at the helmet with face protection. This protects the eyes and face in the event of an electric arc by means of a short circuit. A modern face shield is closed at the bottom to protect the chin and neck. It also has a darkened visor to protect the eyes from the flash of light.
The protective cover also protects the body from an electric arc. Thanks to its flame-resistant material, it prevents an electric arc from burning the skin or igniting clothing.
In my opinion, the most important utensil is the VDE safety gloves. These prevent a dangerous current flowing through the body if live parts are touched unknowingly. The glove acts as insulation between the skin and the live component and prevents the worst from happening.
The last component of PPE is the insulating mat. Like the gloves, this prevents a harmful or fatal current flowing through the body via the legs. Therefore, if a live part is touched with the bare body, the current cannot flow through the feet into the ground.
Conclusion
Due to everyday routine, the dangers of electric current are usually no longer recognized. However, even small currents through the body can cause lifelong damage. This is why wearing PPE and regular instruction is the greatest life insurance.
