Working with electricity can be dangerous. Engineers, electricians, linesmen, maintenance men, and other professionals work with electricity directly, including working on overhead lines, cable harnesses, and circuit assemblies. Others, such as office workers and salespeople work with electricity indirectly and may also be exposed to electrical hazards. Electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard. OSHA’s electrical standards are designed to protect employees exposed to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. That is why Working Person’s Store carries protective EH footwear to keep you safe in times of need.
The following standards set forth ways to minimize potential hazards on the job by ensuring that equipment and systems are properly designed and used. Electrical hazard protective soles and heels are designed to keep you safe from electrical hazards. The sole construction of Electrical hazard footwear is designed to reduce the hazards due to the contact of the sole with electrically energized parts and to provide secondary electrical hazards protection on substantially insulated surfaces.
The soles of electrical hazard footwear are designed to reduce the potential of electric shock when soles are exposed to open circuits (600 volts AC or less). However, electrical hazard non-conductive footwear may not be worn near explosives or in other work environments that require conductive footwear. The ANSI Z41-1991/1999 Footwear Standard was finalized and published, effective April 1991, and was subsequently adopted by the U.S. Department of Labor as an integral part of the new PPE Regulations – OSHA 1910.132 and specifically OSHA 1910.136 Footwear Section for General Industry. OSHA 1910.136 establishes the requirements that industry must follow for selecting safety footwear for their employees and specifically defers to the ANSI Z41 Standards, which all safety footewear sold in the United States, must conform to.
Effective December 1999, the ANSI Z41 Committee issued a revision of the ANSI Z41-1991 Standard which is titled, ANSI Z41-1999 Revisions. Safety footwear manufactured in accordance with ANSI Z41-1991 does and will comply with OSHA Regulations until December 2001. Safety footwear manufactures in compliance with either ANSI Z41-1991 or ANSI Z41-1999. Revisions are both equally in compliance with both OSHA and ANSI regulations for safety footwear. The revisions, which were made to the standard, were of a technical nature relating to testing procedures. The Departments of Labor of all 50 states subsequently adopted the new OSHA 1910 Regulations, 29 CFR Part 1910 Personal Protective Equipment for General Industry, which included 1910.136 Safety Footwear with the ANSI Z41 referenced standards. Electrical Hazard footwear is a good means for protecting yourself from electrical hazards on the job.
