Electrician uniforms can be as simple as a cotton shirt and basic pants, but hazardous jobs require specialized clothing and PPE.
Uniforms play an important role for businesses in many different industries. Uniforms offer benefits like improving the customer experience, contributing to brand identity, and creating a better sense of teamwork for employees. In some industries, uniforms are also an important safety tool. When the uniform that your employees wear also has to keep them safe from hazards on the job, from electricity, to chemical contamination, to weather protection, it is important that all of the choices you make in uniform design be researched and thoughtful. This is certainly true of electrician uniforms. Let’s review the OSHA guidelines for electrician uniforms.
Banned Fabrics
OSHA regulations actually prohibit certain fabrics from being worn by anyone working with exposed, electrified components. The reasoning behind this ban is that these fabrics – specifically acetate, nylon, rayon, and polyester – can melt and adhere to the skin, sometimes causing severe burns. Since there is always potential when working with electricity to be burned by exposure to either current or flame, having any highly flammable fabric in your uniform, including as a blend, is very dangerous. The only time these fabrics are allowed is if the employer can show that they have been treated to be flame resistant.
Fire-Resistance and Training
Generally, the fabric that makes up the pieces of the uniform for electricians should be fire-resistant. One of the best base materials is cotton since cotton is slower to ignite than many other fabrics. It is best if the uniform is also treated to be fire-resistant or flame-retardant. In cases where you choose to logo parts of the uniform, the loge should be embroidered, since iron-on logos may melt when exposed to high temperatures.
Arc Flash Suits
Arc flash, or the situation where an electrical current jumps the jap between conductors, is highly dangerous. The potential for arc flash is why conductive materials should not be worn while working— including watches and rings (OSHA allows for these items to be worn if they are rendered non-conductive). Depending on the arc-flash hazard analysis for a job, the required amount of PPE differs. In a very low-risk situation (HRC 0), the requirement is a long-sleeve shirt and pants plus glasses or goggles and hearing protection. In a very high-risk job (HRC 3 or 4), the electrician must wear an arc flash suit plus a fire-resistant shirt and pants or coveralls, plus 2-4 layers of PPE.
Choose Company Uniforms from Ace Uniform
To give your business a clean, professional, and polished look, rely on Ace Uniform. Whether you need uniforms in the food, automotive, industrial, construction, medical, security, or you-name-it industry, we can provide you with the uniforms you need for the price you want. We care about meeting your needs and keeping your employees safe. Give us a call at 1-800-366-1616 or visit us online to learn how we can help meet your needs. Want to get to know us even better? Visit us on social media on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and LinkedIn.