PPE Against Electric Arcs and Shocks

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Electrical Safety / PPE Against Electric Arcs and Shocks
44  / 
 1 hour

Progress of our online training courses

Autonomous and at your own pace

Each participant in our trainings can follow the training at their own pace, i.e. that he can, at any time before completing it, review the educational capsules as long as he has to, and leave the training platform and pick up where he left off.

Formation failed

In the event of a first failure of the training, each participant is entitled to follow it again; following a 2nd failure, he must be re-registered for training.

Participant allocation

When purchasing a participation in our training courses, you will obtain access codes for the training courses.
In the case of a "User" account, access will be automatically assigned to your account.
For a "Company" account, you will have to assign the codes manually in the management menu provided for this purpose.

PPE Against Electric Arcs and Shocks

44 $ / participant
The purchase of training participations is non-refundable.
Description of the training

PPE Against Electric Arcs and Shocks training based on the CSA Z462 standard

This course provides an in-depth overview of the different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) required when working on live electrical systems, in compliance with CSA Z462 and IEC standards. It differentiates PPE against electrical shocks and arc flashes, detailing categories, proper usage, maintenance, and inspection of clothing, gloves, insulated tools, and measuring devices. This training is essential for any worker exposed to electrical hazards, helping reduce injuries, burns, and fatalities due to improper protection.

What You’ll Learn

  • The differences between electrical shocks and arc flashes.
  • The four arc flash PPE categories and the calorie/cm² method.
  • Proper inspection, use, and maintenance of PPE including gloves and clothing.
  • When and how to use insulating tools and measuring instruments.
  • CSA and IEC standards for voltage protection and equipment certification.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Distinguish between arc flash and electrical shock risks.
  • Select the correct category of PPE based on incident energy.
  • Inspect and maintain PPE for integrity and compliance.
  • Use insulated gloves and tools correctly depending on working distance.
  • Apply safety measures for live work including face shields, balaclavas, and appropriate footwear.
  • Verify and safely use multimeters and voltage-rated probes.

Training details

The pass mark is 70 %
A participant who successfully completes the training receives a certificate of competence valid for 3 years (automatically generated and sent to the email address associated with the purchase)

Training course plan

Chapter 1 – Understanding Electrical Risks

  • Difference between arc flash and electric shock
  • Typical injuries and consequences of each
  • Risk zones and work conditions

Chapter 2 – PPE Categories and Standards

  • Introduction to PPE categories: NA, 1, 2, 3, and 4
  • Incident energy levels (cal/cm²) and applicable gear
  • Overview of CSA Z462 and category requirements

Chapter 3 – Preparation Before Wearing PPE

  • Removing conductive elements (jewelry, metal belts, etc.)
  • Wearing natural fiber clothing underneath arc-rated gear

Chapter 4 – Basic PPE (Category NA)

  • Requirements for energy levels under 1.2 cal/cm²
  • Safety boots, helmets, hearing protection, glasses, and natural fiber clothing

Chapter 5 – Category 1 PPE

  • For energy between 1.2–4 cal/cm²
  • Required garments, gloves, and face shields
  • When to add shock protection gloves (restricted approach)

Chapter 6 – Category 2 PPE

  • For energy between 4–8 cal/cm²
  • Same as Category 1 + balaclava for flashback protection

Chapter 7 – Categories 3 and 4 PPE

  • Category 3: 8–25 cal/cm²
  • Category 4: 25–40 cal/cm²
  • Full suit, arc-rated hood, and comparison of layering

Chapter 8 – Calorie/cm² Method (Alternative)

  • Used when energy exposure is 10–12 cal/cm²
  • Avoiding overprotection by calculating precise exposure
  • Clothing and equipment selection by energy level

Chapter 9 – Caring for Arc-Rated Clothing

  • Lifespan (~150 washes), cleaning instructions
  • Prohibited products (e.g., fabric softeners)
  • Repair protocols, rejection criteria, and storage

Chapter 10 – Gloves for Arc and Shock Protection

  • Arc-rated gloves: >30 cm from energized parts
  • Insulated gloves + leather protectors: ≤30 cm or restricted approach
  • Glove class: 00 (up to 500V), 0 (up to 1000V)
  • Certification, air test, and visual inspection

Chapter 11 – Maintenance of Insulated Gloves

  • Cleaning with soapy water, sweat removal, storage
  • Labeling: class, voltage, certification date
  • Storing in glove box without compression/stretching

Chapter 12 – Insulated Tools

  • Factory-tested under IEC 600601 (10kV for 3 min)
  • Visual inspection by the worker
  • Tool markings: double triangle symbol, 1000V rating

Chapter 13 – Measuring Instruments

  • Multimeter class: typically Category III, 1000V
  • Probe class and TwistGuard tips
  • Pre/post testing procedure, battery check, fuse replacement
  • Standards certification and protective casing

Chapter 14 – Conclusion

  • Summary: match PPE to exposure, inspect before use, maintain after use
  • Emphasis on both correct usage and storage

Progress of our online training courses

Autonomous and at your own pace

Each participant in our trainings can follow the training at their own pace, i.e. that he can, at any time before completing it, review the educational capsules as long as he has to, and leave the training platform and pick up where he left off.

Formation failed

In the event of a first failure of the training, each participant is entitled to follow it again; following a 2nd failure, he must be re-registered for training.

Participant allocation

When purchasing a participation in our training, the individual in charge of the order can assign it to himself, assign it to one of the employees linked to his account or to an existing account (at using the username or email address linked to it), or request the sending of access codes.