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October 2013 25 electrical safety, including CSA Z462. This method requires engineering calculations that determine the inci- dent energy (potential thermal energy created by an electric arc) exposure level based on the working distance for the task to be performed. Once these calculations are complete, employers can select arc-rated FR garments and personal protective equipment (PPE) based on the incident energy provided in cal/cm². Selection criteria requires the arc-rating of the PPE to be the same or higher than the incident energy exposure value. In lieu of completing an incident energy analysis employers can use hazard risk category (HRC) levels, from zero to four, with four being the highest. An HRC level prescribes the minimum arc rating in cal/cm² needed to protect against a particu- lar job-related hazard (the higher the number of calories or hazard risk cate- gory the greater the level of protection required). If an employer were to refer to the task tables (Tables 4A or 4B) in the CSA Z462 standard and discover that the task was HRC level 4, the subsequent table (Table 5) would provide details on the required PPE for that task (for HRC level 4, the minimum protection required is 40 cal/cm²). There are garment systems on the market that provide up to 140 cal/cm². Because the CSA standards explain how to select proper PPE but don't deal with performance requirements, design requirements or labelling of arc-rated textiles or garments, the CSA Z462 standard refers to standards from the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM). The ASTM F1506-10a standard provides a consistent rating system for arc-rated garments across North America. It is a performance specifi ca- tion "for fl ame resistant and arc-rated textile materials for wearing apparel for use by electrical workers exposed to momentary electric arc and related thermal hazards." In North America, most arc-rated FR textiles are tested at the Kinectrics Laboratory in Toronto, which provides testing documentation for single-layer and multi-layer fabric systems. But this standard relates to the tex- tile, not the garment, which means the garment itself may not meet the same standard for closures, stitching, seams and zippers, says Pollard. Another standard, ASTM F2621-12, determines the response characteristics and design integrity of arc-rated gar- ments in an electric arc exposure. This is used to evaluate fi nished products, such as shirts, pants or coveralls — ensuring there are proper closures, stitching, seams and zippers. But since it's hard to fi nd documen- tation on this, it's up to the employer to ask manufacturers for this infor- mation, says Pollard. (It's not listed in CSA Z462-12 or NFPA 70E-12, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace developed by the National Fire Protection Association in the United States). "This standard has not been ref- erenced in best practice standards, so unless the employer knows about it they're not going to ask about it," he says. And there is a separate standard, ASTM F2178-08, for eye or face pro- tective products, and testing is done on both the arc fl ash suit hoods and face shields. ELECTRICAL SAFETY MANAGEMENT Employers should have an electrical safety program in place, says Cicero. The program should be integrated into an overall occupational health and safety management program. An electrical safety program would help employers understand their risks, what type of PPE is appropriate and what training should be provided to workers. Ultimately, electrical equipment should be safe if it's installed correctly and is in normal operating condition, but workers need to know how to do a fi eld-level risk assessment. "The workers themselves need to be engaged, need to be part of that decision-making process," says Cicero, adding that most workers don't understand the labels, proper laun- dering or proper maintenance of their PPE clothing. "I've conducted over 500 audits of sites," says Pollard. "The majority have PPE that's brand new and never been used." It's one thing to buy the right PPE; it's another to show workers how to use it and maintain it, he says. MAKING THE PURCHASE Scott Margolin, international techni- cal director at Chicago-based Westex, recommends employers look at infor- mation beyond arc ratings. They should look at whether the garment passes the test, but also at which number it passes the test. And look at whether a prod- uct or brand has a proven history and whether the manufacturer backs it if there's a problem. "Compliance is not enough," says Margolin. "The compliance standards are the minimum bar required to get in the game." The arc-rating test is self-submitted and is rarely ever checked again, years later. The test is done under perfect laundering conditions and doesn't give employers a sense of the durabil- ity of the FR properties over years of wear-and-tear under less-than-perfect laundering conditions, as well as shrinkage, abrasion and other issues. "It's a buyer-beware market," says Margolin. "The ratings are a starting point — then you've got to do your homework beyond that." Vawn Himmelsbach is a Toronto-based freelance writer. She can be reached at vawn_h@yahoo.ca. Congratulations to the following OHS professionals who have recently been granted the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP)® Professionnel en sécurité agréé du Canada (PSAC)® designation. The BCRSP is a self-regulating, self-governing organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada to ISO 17024 (Personnel Certifi cation Body) and by BSI Management Systems to ISO 9001 (Quality Management System). Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals/Conseil canadien des professionnels en sécurité agréés 6519-B Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON L5N 1A6 905-567-7198, 1-888-279-2777, www.bcrsp.ca Abdelmoneim, Mohamed Aikoroje, Abraham Allen, John Ambrosio, John Arslan, Ty Ballard, Allan Bararuk, David Barhurst, Brent Barrett, Kevin Bellisario, Elena Bondarenko, Svitlana Boxall, Leea Branicki, Linda Brown, Greg Brown, Jay Bryantowich, Dan Edward Bulbeck, Christine Burke, Chad Byrne, Trina Cain, Dallas Catallo, David Cattoi-Demkiw, Carolin Cheeseman, Bradford Chorabik, Peter Clark, Lindsey Clarke, Matthew Clarke, Wesley Clingersmith, Adam Comaren, Pamela Corbiell, Patrick Cormier, Paul Joseph Creelman, Stephen J Dales, Kimberly Davidson, Jaclyn Davis, Gregory Davis, Jerad Deck, Daniel Dewar, David Dhaliwal, Kirnjeet Dixon, Treena Dziaduck, Darla Eberle, Ryan Evans, Jennifer Fagarasanu, Mircea Falguera, Victor Farooqui, Tahir Fisk, Bob Fraser, Mark Fraser, Scott Fudge, Lisa Gao, Xiao Shu (Angel) Gardner, Joel Gendreau, Roger Gillam, Andrew Gillis, Erin Ginter, Shellie Golbabai, Alireza Goodburn, Adrian Grande, Bernardino Grondzil, Tanya Guignard, Roland Hampson, Lara Hannon, David Hawkins, Tammy Henriquez, Angelo Hogan, Livia Holt, Michael Horbach, Nolan Hurley, Christopher Isber, Karen Jakus, Osvald Jangizi, Roghieh (Rukky) Janke, Fred Jay, Michelle Johnson, Phillip Johnston, Michael Robert Kaci, Rafi k Kerr, Duncan Khalil, Ibrahim Klein, Theressa Kon, Deborah Konate, Letenemeni Krill, Maureen Kuznak, Christine Lacey, David Lemieux, Julie Lerner, Nicole Leung, Michael Li, Vincent Lizotte, Brian Loodu, Gurjit Maddia, Sarah Maguire, Laura Martin, Chris McCarter, Philip McComber, Ken McCullagh, Michael McCullough, Rebecca McDonald, Susan McGovern, David McIntosh, Iain McKenna, Kimberley McMillan, Douglas Miller, Dale Mills, David Moffatt, Tanys Mooney, Christopher Morrison, Peter Munro, Paulette Nagle, Shaun Nauss, Scott Neitling, Christopher Anthony Newhouse, Steven Noordhof, Yvonne Ogden, Aaron O'Neill, Kerri Osborne, Colin Park, Allan Paterson, Robert Penney, Todd Perras, Rick Pierce, James Powell, Ronald Pozniak, Darlene Rapp, Marilla Rettinger, Erin Rex, Sherry Lynn Rizvi, Syed Kamil Robichaud, Nicholas Romo, Jesus Armando Ross, David Rowe, David Russell, Amanda Ryan, Dylan Sakvarelidze, Giorgi Sanghera, Tejinder (Terry) Saunders, Keith Raymond Sazonova, Olga Schaumberger, Peter Sering, Melanie Sherring, Terry Shyback, John Simeniuk, Christopher Simpson, Lindsey Singh, Gurdev Smith, Aimee Smith, Craig Smith, Dan Smith, Mike Sohani, Sunil Sokalski, Stephen Sonder, Theresa Spielmann, Brian Stack, Christopher Stojke, Edward Stoker, Stephanie Strachan, Jennifer Swan, Jason Traynor, Randy Urbanowski, Derrick Van Driel, Robin van Regen, Erin Vojtassak, Eduard Vuckovic, Nada Wagner, Andrea Walker, Andrew Wang, Yingying (Shirley) Wegernoski, Barbara Welling, Leslie Wells, Steven Wiebenga, David Williamson, Kathy Wu, Carmen Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals PHOTO: ESPS ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROGRAM SOLUTIONS An arc fl ash can result in a possible explosive An arc fl ash can result in a possible explosive event including fl ying shrapnel, hot molten event including fl ying shrapnel, hot molten metal and toxic smoke.