Working with electricity in full safety

It is expected that in the coming years electricity will meet a growing share of the world's total energy demand at the expense of fossil fuels. By 2030, one out of three cars in Italy could be powered by electricity. REGELTEX provides a full range of safety products for the electrical sector.

This view of the future underscores to what extent electricity has become, and will become, more and more essential in people’s everyday life. We know that electricity is not available ready for use in nature and has to be produced from primary sources through power plants. Once produced, electricity has to be transmitted and eventually distributed to our homes. In any event, workers exposed to the electrical hazards face very serious risks.

Technicians who assemble and maintain systems, electricians who work on switchboards or industrial control panels: many are the workers engaged in live electrical work that poses electrical risks. Of particular interest nowadays is the growing use of electric vehicles, which entails the need to protect an ever greater number of workers.  

Working safely in the presence of electrical hazards

In the case of activities that expose the workers to dangerous electrical voltages, the electrical risk may consist of:

• Electrocution (or electric shock): this is the passage of an electric current through the body, which can have different consequences. If mild, it may cause a slight tingling sensation, but if it passes through major organs, it can even lead to cardiac arrest. The most common injuries are burns.
• Arc flash: this is a severe hazard on account of the heat generated, the very high temperature and the emission of ultraviolet rays. The consequences for the body can be thermal and mechanical, i.e., burns and fractures, respectively, or even damage to internal organs.

The most important PPE for workers exposed to electrical hazards

The risk assessment document for electricians lists the personal protective equipment that must necessarily be worn by those performing tasks exposed to electrical risks.

Some of the indispensable protections provided for are:

• Insulating gloves: the most important device for live electrical work, whose main characteristics are set out in standard EN 60903.
• Helmet and visor: indispensable to protect head and face.
• Insulating footwear: must meet the requirements provided for in EN 50321. Overboots are also available for emergency work.
• Arc flash protective clothing: to be determined after taking into account several parameters and making an accurate risk assessment. 
• Insulating sleeves: to prevent the upper arm from coming into contact with live parts.
• Equipment: mats, tools, insulating rods, insulating sheets, as well as earthing systems or electronic safety tools such as voltage detectors.

REGELTEX: our partner for electrical safety products

As of this year, Lanzi Safety Distribution has entered into a partnership with REGELTEX for the distribution of insulating gloves, PPE and electrical hazard protection equipment. REGELTEX was established in the 1970s in France, where it continues to manufacture insulating gloves made of latex and composites through a sustainable water-based process.  Its range of insulating gloves offers a wide choice of sizes and lengths.

REGELTEX belongs to the ESP (Electrical Safety Products) division, which provides a full range of safety products for the electrical sector: footwear, helmets, mats, tools, insulating rods, sheets and, in general, all the protections necessary to work on live electrical equipment. The Lanzi Group, which operates two automation divisions, was able to transfer its electrical and electronic expertise to Lanzi Safety Distribution in order to target the market for electrical hazard protection products.

For further information on REGELTEX/ESP products write to marketing@lanzigroup.com.