Essential Safety Gear Every Utility Crew Should Have
Electric cooperatives keep power flowing across rural communities, often working in challenging conditions like storms, heat, and difficult terrain. For lineworkers performing maintenance, outage restoration, and energized electrical work, the right personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical. Proper PPE helps reduce the risk of arc flash injuries, electrical shock, and physical hazards on the jobsite. This checklist covers the essential PPE every co-op lineworker should have before heading into the field.
Why PPE Matters for Utility Lineworkers
Working around energized equipment exposes lineworkers to serious hazards including arc flash, electrical shock, falling objects, and environmental conditions. OSHA standards require employers to provide appropriate PPE and ensure it is used correctly when employees are working near electrical hazards.
Typical electrical PPE systems include flame-resistant clothing, insulating gloves, eye protection, and head protection to reduce the risk of injury during energized work or equipment maintenance.
For co-ops managing distributed crews and remote infrastructure, maintaining a consistent PPE checklist helps ensure workers stay protected regardless of the task.
The Lineworker PPE Checklist
1. Arc-Rated FR Clothing
Arc flash hazards are one of the most serious risks in utility work. Arc-rated flame-resistant (FR) clothing is designed to protect workers from thermal energy released during an electrical arc event.
Typical FR clothing includes:
- Arc-rated long sleeve shirts
- FR work pants or coveralls
- Arc-rated jackets or outerwear
- FR rainwear for storm conditions
Explore arc-rated protective clothing
FR garments must match the potential incident energy exposure and should always be inspected for damage or contamination before use.
Electrical Insulating Gloves
Rubber voltage gloves are one of the most important pieces of PPE for lineworkers. They provide protection against electrical shock when working near energized conductors.
OSHA requires insulating gloves and leather protectors when working within the minimum approach distance of energized parts.
For example, Class 2 Rubber Voltage Gloves are designed for electrical protection and are labeled with their maximum voltage rating.
Leather protectors must always be worn over rubber gloves to prevent mechanical damage such as cuts or abrasions.
Durable Leather Work Gloves
In addition to electrical insulating gloves, lineworkers often wear heavy-duty leather gloves for material handling, rigging, and general utility work.
Lineman gloves are designed with reinforced palms and durable leather to handle ropes, cables, and hardware safely.
Recommended lineman gloves:
· Majestic Leather Lineman's Gauntlet Glove
· HexArmor - Impact, Cat 2 Leather Glove
· Leather Drivers Glove - A-Grade
Novarlo also offers a full range of work gloves designed for industrial and utility environments
Hard Hats and Head Protection
Hard hats protect lineworkers from falling objects, electrical hazards, and accidental head impacts. OSHA requires head protection when workers are exposed to falling object hazards or electrical risks.
For utility work, Class E electrical hard hats are commonly used because they provide dielectric protection against electrical contact.
Head protection should be inspected daily and replaced if it shows signs of cracks, UV degradation, or impact damage.
Recommended Class E Hard Hats:
· HexArmor - Class E Type II Full Brim Safety Helmet - Ceros® XT400E
· Zero Pinnacle Exo Chinstrap Helmet - Voltage & Molten Metal Protection
· Bullard - CEN10 Safety Helmet
Eye and Face Protection
Flying debris, energized equipment, and arc flash events can all pose a risk to workers’ eyes and face.
Lineworker eye protection typically includes:
- ANSI Z87+ safety glasses
- Arc-rated face shields
- Arc flash hood systems for higher energy exposure
These systems protect workers from impact hazards and radiant heat during electrical incidents.
Recommended Eye & Face PPE:
· HexArmor - Safety Glasses - MX300 TruShield
· OEL 12 CAL Hard Hat & Freedom Shield
· National Safety Apparel Arc Flash Hood with Faceshield and Universal Adapter
High-Visibility Apparel
Lineworkers often work near roadways or in low-visibility environments such as storm restoration sites. High-visibility garments help ensure workers are visible to vehicles and heavy equipment operators.
Common hi-vis PPE includes:
- Class 2 or Class 3 safety vests
- Hi-vis FR shirts for electrical crews
- Hi-vis rainwear for storm response
Visibility is especially important during nighttime repairs and roadside utility work.
Recommended Hi-Vis Apparel:
· Hi Vis Mesh Vest ANSI 2, Type R, Zipper
· DRIFIRE Hi Vis FR T-Shirt CAT 1 Arc Flash, Short Sleeve
· DRIFIRE DuoStorm FR Rainwear Kit
Fall Protection for Pole and Bucket Work
Many lineworkers perform tasks at height using utility poles or aerial bucket trucks. Fall protection equipment is essential for preventing serious injuries.
Common fall protection gear includes:
- Full-body harnesses
- Positioning lanyards
- Self-retracting lifelines (SRLs)
- Pole climbing gear
These systems must be inspected before each use and replaced if damage or wear is found.
Recommended Fall Protection:
· Miller® H500 Industry Standard Full-Body Harness
· Arc Flash Lanyards - EA Nylon, Loop on One End with Various Hooks
· Miller Falcon+ Edge Self-Retracting Device
· Arc Flash Harness - Nylon, Soft D-Ring, Steel QC Buckles
PPE Inspection Tips for Utility Crews
Before each shift, lineworkers should perform a quick inspection of their PPE.
Key checks include:
✔ Inspect FR clothing for tears or contamination
✔ Air-test rubber voltage gloves and verify test dates
✔ Check leather gloves for cuts or worn stitching
✔ Inspect hard hats for cracks or UV damage
✔ Confirm eye protection lenses are clear and undamaged
Routine inspections ensure that PPE continues to provide reliable protection during demanding electrical work.
Equip Your Lineworkers with Novarlo
Electric co-ops depend on lineworkers who face hazardous conditions every day. Equipping crews with high-quality PPE helps reduce risk, maintain OSHA compliance, and ensure workers return home safely.
Novarlo supplies electrical safety equipment designed for real-world utility environments from arc-rated clothing and voltage gloves to durable work gloves and protective gear.