What PPE is needed for arc flash protection?

OSHA requires employers perform a hazard assessment and PPE selection at 1910.132(d). This, in addition to the electrical safety PPE requirements at 1910.137 would identify the PPE you need. The primary source of arc flash analysis is NFPA 70E, which is a copyrighted publication. OSHA doesn’t adopt it by reference. But they do recognize it has an accurate source of information and can use it as part of a citation. The requirements to perform an arc flash risk assessment are found at 130.5.

The following is OSHA’s position on NFPA 70E from a Letter of Interpretation dated 10/18/2006: “Because OSHA has not adopted through rulemaking the requirements of a more recent edition of NFPA 70E, those requirements have not become OSHA standards. A national consensus standard, however, can sometimes be relevant to a general duty clause citation in the sense that the consensus standard may be used as evidence of hazard recognition and the availability of feasible means of abatement. The general duty clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, is violated if an employer has failed to furnish a workplace that is free from recognized hazards causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm. The general duty clause is used where there is no standard that applies to the particular hazards involved.” There are specific requirements in Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) and (b) that match the type of equipment being worked with the arc-flash PPE category and arc-flash boundary. Also, at Table 130.7(C)(15)(c) indicates the type of PPE required for each arc-flash PPE category.