Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense against arc flash and electrical shock injuries. For workers at Georgia manufacturing plants — from automotive assembly lines to food processing facilities to paper mills — understanding what PPE is required before approaching energized electrical equipment is not just a regulatory matter. It can be the difference between walking away from an incident and a life-altering injury or fatality.
NFPA 70E is the standard that governs PPE requirements for electrical work in the United States, and Georgia manufacturing employers are required to comply with both NFPA 70E and OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S. OSHA provides comprehensive guidance on personal protective equipment requirements. Bowtie Engineering, headquartered in Cumming, GA — Atlanta metro area — trains Georgia manufacturing teams on proper PPE selection, use, and maintenance as part of their comprehensive electrical safety programs.
Two Methods for Determining PPE Requirements Under NFPA 70E
NFPA 70E provides two methods for determining the correct PPE for a given electrical task:
Method 1: Incident Energy Analysis
An incident energy analysis (arc flash study) calculates the actual energy at a specific piece of equipment in calories per centimeter squared (cal/cm²). The worker must wear PPE rated at or above that incident energy level. This is the most accurate method and requires an engineering study of your facility’s electrical system. Bowtie Engineering conducts these studies for Georgia manufacturing facilities — explore their arc flash study service and provides arc flash labels for every piece of equipment with the required PPE rating.
Method 2: PPE Category Method (Arc Flash PPE Categories 1–4)
If an incident energy analysis has not been performed, NFPA 70E provides PPE category tables that assign required PPE based on the type of task and voltage level. Categories range from 1 (minimum 4 cal/cm² arc rating) to 4 (minimum 40 cal/cm² arc rating). This method has been implemented when customer fail to implement the incident energy method and applies only to systems meeting specific conditions.
What PPE Is Required at Each Arc Flash PPE Category?
PPE Category 1 (Minimum 4 cal/cm²)
- Arc-rated shirt and pants or arc-rated coverall
- Arc-rated face shield or arc flash suit hood
- Arc-rated jacket, parka, or rainwear (as needed)
- Hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection
- Leather gloves with arc-rated liner, or rubber insulating gloves with leather protectors
- Leather work boots
PPE Category 2 (Minimum 8 cal/cm²)
- Arc-rated shirt and pants or arc-rated coverall rated at minimum 8 cal/cm²
- Arc flash suit hood or arc-rated face shield with balaclava
- All Category 1 items
PPE Category 3 (Minimum 25 cal/cm²)
- Arc flash suit with hood rated at minimum 25 cal/cm²
- Arc-rated shirt and pants worn under the suit
- All Category 1 and 2 applicable items
PPE Category 4 (Minimum 40 cal/cm²)
- Arc flash suit with hood rated at minimum 40 cal/cm²
- Arc-rated shirt and pants worn under the suit
- All other Category 1 applicable items
Rubber Insulating Gloves and Shock Protection
In addition to arc-rated PPE for arc flash protection, workers performing electrical work must also protect against electric shock. Rubber insulating gloves rated for the voltage class of the equipment are required, worn with leather protector gloves over them. NFPA 70E specifies voltage-class ratings for rubber insulating gloves from Class 00 (up to 500 volts) through Class 4 (up to 36,000 volts). Georgia manufacturing workers must match their glove class to the maximum voltage they could contact.
What About Face Protection?
A common PPE gap in Georgia manufacturing facilities is inadequate face protection. Safety glasses alone do not provide arc flash protection. An arc-rated face shield is required for tasks where arc flash risk exists, and a full arc flash suit hood provides the highest level of face and head protection for Category 3 and 4 tasks. Bowtie Engineering’s training programs cover the specific face protection requirements for each category and teach workers how to properly inspect and maintain their arc-rated equipment.
PPE Maintenance and Inspection Requirements
Arc-rated PPE must be inspected before each use and properly maintained to retain its protective rating. Damaged, contaminated, or improperly laundered arc-rated garments may not provide the protection their cal/cm² rating indicates. NFPA 70E requires that arc-rated clothing be inspected and maintained per the manufacturer’s instructions.
Bowtie Engineering educates workers on inspection procedures and helps facilities establish PPE protocols — this is covered in depth as part of their onsite NFPA 70E training program. Contact Bowtie at 866-730-6620 to schedule training for your Georgia manufacturing team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular work gloves instead of rubber insulating gloves for energized electrical work in Georgia?
No. Regular work gloves provide no protection against electric shock or arc flash. NFPA 70E requires rubber insulating gloves rated for the voltage class of the equipment, worn with leather protectors. Using improper gloves is a common OSHA violation in Georgia manufacturing facilities.
Does my Georgia facility need an arc flash study before selecting PPE?
An incident energy analysis is the preferred method for PPE selection under NFPA 70E because it produces the most accurate PPE requirements. Without a study, you are running blind. Bowtie Engineering recommends all Georgia manufacturing facilities invest in a proper arc flash study.
Are arc-rated and flame-resistant garments the same thing?
Not exactly. All arc-rated garments are flame resistant, but not all flame-resistant garments are arc-rated. NFPA 70E requires arc-rated clothing for electrical work, which means the garment must have a tested and certified arc rating in cal/cm². Standard FR clothing used in oil and gas or other industries may not meet the arc-rated requirement.
How does Bowtie Engineering teach PPE selection during their Georgia training programs?
Bowtie Engineering’s instructors cover both the incident energy method and the PPE category method during their 8-hour onsite training. Workers learn to read arc flash labels, match PPE to incident energy levels, properly don and doff arc flash suits, and inspect their equipment before each use.
What happens if a Georgia worker is injured because the employer did not provide proper PPE?
The employer can face OSHA citations for PPE violations, potential workers’ compensation claims, and in cases of willful neglect, civil or criminal liability. Under OSHA’s General Duty Clause, employers are required to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards — including arc flash — even when a specific OSHA standard does not address every scenario.