510 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 1-8

Sections

5-8. General Requirements.

Full-Body Protection Responsibilities

Workers must select appropriate body protection based on task, conditions, duration, and identified hazards, ensuring only exposed body parts are covered.
Protective clothing material varies, offering protection against specific hazards like dust, splashes, abrasions, or chemicals. Manufacturer guidance must be followed.
For specific tasks like chainsaw operation, protective leg chaps meeting ASTM F1897 standards are required.

Electrical Protective Equipment Duties

Inspect, test, and maintain electrical protective equipment according to manufacturer's instructions.
Air tests for rubber insulating gloves must be performed before each use.
Periodic electrical tests for rubber insulating gloves before first issue and every 6 months thereafter.
Perform periodic electrical tests on rubber insulating blankets and sleeves before first issue and every 12 months thereafter, or when the insulating value is suspect.
Workers exposed to electrical hazards must use appropriate protective gear like gloves, sleeves, and arc-rated clothing, adhering to standards like ASTM Committee F18.
Protective clothing and other PPE must be provided for persons entering the arc flash protection boundary and the limited approach boundary.
Tools and equipment for electrical work must meet specific standards and be tested accordingly. Live-line tools require certification and proper handling.

Lifesaving Skiffs Requirements

Lifesaving skiffs are mandatory during construction activities near water. They provide a backup for fall protection systems.
Personnel must be trained in skiff operations, with drills conducted before work initiation and periodically after. Skiffs must be capable of quick rescue, especially in hazardous conditions.
Required equipment on skiffs includes oars, boat hooks, ring buoys, PFDs, fire extinguishers, and navigation lights, with provisions for additional skiffs and power boats based on specific conditions and tasks.

8-9. Figures and Tables.

See Figures/Tables Checklists/Forms

8-10. Checklists and Forms.

Not applicable.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

5-10. How often must air tests be conducted on rubber insulating gloves?

Daily

Weekly

Before each use

Monthly

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EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 5-8.

5-8. General Requirements. (j.–l.).

j.  Full-Body Protection.  Full-body protection is required when there is a potential for bodily injury from, to include but not limited to, radiation, temperature extremes (air or water), hot splashes from molten metals and other hot liquids, impacts from tools, machinery, or materials, or hazardous chemicals or substances.  (5-8.j)

(1)  Select appropriate body protection based on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the body protection relative to the task(s) to be performed, conditions present, duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.  Employers must ensure that their employees wear PPE only for the parts of the body exposed to possible injury.  Examples of body protection include laboratory coats, coveralls, vests, jackets, aprons, surgical gowns, and full body suits.  Working near or over the water, protection may include full body anti-exposure suit or dry suit with PFD.

(2)  Protective clothing comes in a variety of materials, each effective against particular hazards, such as:

(a)  Paper-like fiber disposable suits provide protection against dust and splashes.

(b)  Treated wool and cotton adapts well to changing temperatures, is comfortable, and fire-resistant and protects against dust, abrasions, and rough and irritating surfaces.

(c)  Duck is a closely woven cotton fabric that protects against cuts and bruises when handling heavy, sharp, or rough materials.

(d)  Leather is often used to protect against dry heat and flames.

(e)  Rubber, rubberized fabrics, neoprene, and plastics protect against certain chemicals and physical hazards.

(f)  Check with the clothing manufacturer to ensure the material selected will protect against the specific hazard.  Manufacturer information must be available onsite.

(g)  Chemicals with designations “prevent skin contact” or “skin” indicate there is a potential dermal hazard.  For situations where direct skin contact may occur, chemical protective clothing providing resistance to permeation, penetration, and degradation is recommended.

(3)  Protective leg chaps made of cut-resistant material must be worn by workers who operate chainsaws.  Protective leg chaps must meet the specifications in ASTM F1897.

(4)  For personal fall protection equipment, including lineman’s equipment (electrically rated harnesses), see chapter 21.

(5)  If a hazard assessment indicates a need for full body protection against toxic substances or harmful physical agents, the clothing should be carefully inspected before each use, it must fit each worker properly, and it must function properly and for the purpose for which it is intended.

k.  Electrical Protective Equipment.  Electrical protective equipment (for example, tools, PPE) is required when persons perform work that involves exposure to electrical hazards. (5-8.k)

(1)  Inspect, test, and maintain all electrical protective equipment in safe conditions according to the manufacturer’s instructions and table 5-7 (see para 5-5).

(a)  Perform an air test on rubber insulating gloves before each use.

(b)  Perform periodic electrical tests on rubber insulating gloves before first issue and every 6 months thereafter.

(c)  Perform periodic electrical tests on rubber insulating blankets and sleeves before first issue and every 12 months thereafter, or when the insulating value is suspect (rubber insulating covers) according to 29 CFR 1910.137.

(2)  Employees must use electrical protective gloves, sleeves, blankets, covers and line hoses as required by special conditions for work on energized components. Rubber goods provided to protect employees who work on energized components must meet ASTM Committee F18 standards or equivalent as determined by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) (see chapter 11).

(3)  Protective clothing and other PPE must be provided for any person entering the arc flash protection boundary and the limited approach boundary based on the electrical hazard risk assessment (see chapter 11).

(a)  Do not wear synthetic clothing (for example, acetate, nylon, polyester, rayon), either alone or in blends with cotton while in the arc flash protection boundary.

(b)  Employees must wear protective eye equipment when identified within the electrical hazard assessment.

(c)  Employees must wear arc-rated clothing whenever they may be exposed to potentially energized components (see table 5-8).

(c-1)  Arc-rated suits and their closure design must allow easy and rapid removal.
            (c-2)  The entire arc-rated suit, including the window, must have energy-absorbing characteristics suitable for arc flash exposure.

(c-3)  Clothing and equipment required by the degree of electrical hazard exposure can be worn alone or be integrated with normal apparel.

(c-4)  Protective clothing and equipment must cover associated parts of the body and all normal apparel that is not flame-resistant, while allowing movement and visibility.

(d)  Employees must wear rubber-insulating gloves where there is a danger of hand or arm injury from electric shock or arc flash burns due to contact with energized components. Gloves made from layers of flame-resistant material provide the highest level of protection. Leather glove protectors should be worn over voltage-rated rubber gloves.

(4)  Dielectric footwear is required where step and touch potential protection is necessary based on the electrical hazard assessment.

(5)  Protective equipment of material other than rubber must provide equal or better electrical and mechanical protection

(6)  Other protective equipment needed when performing electrical work (for example, insulated tools, fuse or fuse holder handling equipment, temporary protective grounds (TPG), fiberglass rods, ladders, protective, rubber insulation and guard equipment) must be manufactured to meet the standard specifications listed in NFPA 70E.  Test all protective equipment using the standard testing methods listed in NFPA 70E.

(7)  Only live-line tool poles having a manufacturer's certification to withstand at least the following test may be used: 100 (kilovolts) kV AC per ft (305 mm) of length for 5 minutes or 75 kV AC per ft (305 mm) for fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) tools. Maintain records for all live-line tools to demonstrate satisfactory accomplishment of laboratory and shop test.

(8)  Wooden tools are not authorized for use.

(9)  When using live-line tools, workers must use voltage rated gloves and not place their hands closer than necessary to energized conductors or to the metal parts of the tool.

(10) Use only tools and equipment intended for live-line bare hand work on transmission lines. The tools must be kept dry and clean and must be visually inspected before use each day.

(11) Tools must be insulated and manufactured to meet ASTM F18.  The insulating portion of tool must be made of FRP.

(12)  Tools must be insulated and manufactured to meet ASTM standards as referenced in table 5-7 or equivalent as determined by the AHJ.

l.  Lifesaving Skiffs.  A skiff ensures prompt rescue of employees that fall into the water, regardless of other precautions taken to prevent this from occurring.  A skiff supplies a backup to potential failures of fall protection devices, the use of fall protection systems is not a substitute for the skiff.  (5-8.l)

(1)  Lifesaving and/or safety skiffs are required during construction activities where work is performed over or immediately next to water irrespective of the fall protection provided.  During any operations and maintenance activities that cause an employee to work outside the designated permanently installed safety controls (that is, guardrails) at least one lifesaving skiff should be immediately available.

(2)  Provide personnel trained in launching and operating the skiff readily available during working hours. Lifesaving personnel must perform a lifesaving drill to include the launching and recover of the skiff before the initiation of work at the site and periodically thereafter as specified by the USACE supervisor/KO or COR (at least monthly or whenever new personnel are involved).  (See paragraph 5-3)

(3)  An employer must have a lifesaving skiff available that could, at the minimum, retrieve an employee from the water no more than three to four minutes from the time they entered the water. However, if there are any additional hazards, such as very cold water, rapids an employee could be swept into, etc., the lifesaving skiff would have to
    be able to retrieve an employee before they sustained injuries because of those additional hazards.

Note. If the water is so shallow that rescuers could simply run in (and a skiff would foul on the bottom anyway), a skiff may not be required.

(4)  Required equipment onboard must meet or exceed USCG requirements and the requirements of chapter 19 of this manual.  Skiffs must be equipped as follows:

(a)  Four (4) oars, or two (2) if the skiff is motor powered.

(b)  Oarlocks attached to gunwales or the oars.

(d)  One (1) ring buoy with 60 feet (18.3 m) of three-eighths (3/8) inch (1 cm) solid braid polypropylene, or equivalent, line attached.

(e)  PFDs in number equaling the skiff rating for the maximum number of personnel allowed on board.

(f)  Fire extinguisher.

(5)  In locations where waters are rough or swift, or where manually operated boats are not practical, provide a power boat suitable for the waters and equip it for lifesaving.

(6)  Skiffs and power boats must have buoyant material capable of floating the boat, its equipment, and the crew.

(7)  Vessels without permanently mounted navigation lights (for example, skiffs), must be equipped with portable battery-operated navigation lights and use them during night operations.

(8)  Provide additional skiffs as necessary based on the task, hazards, availability,