Dielectric Footwear
Dielectric footwear is electrically insulating safety footwear (boots or overshoes) designed and tested to isolate workers from ground and prevent current flow through the feet during contact with energized conductors, especially at medium- and high-voltage or step/touch-potential exposures. It is tested to withstand higher voltages than standard EH footwear, per ASTM F1117 and F1116 standards, and is used in utility and industrial settings for additional insulation.
On a shop floor, dielectric footwear is used in high-voltage equipment rooms, substations, and wet or conductive areas where step/touch potential hazards exist. Workers wear dielectric overshoes over standard safety boots when racking breakers, performing live testing, or grounding equipment. It supplements engineering controls like lockout/tagout and is integrated with insulating gloves, mats, and FR clothing. Selection requires hazard assessment per WorkSafeBC Part 8 and Part 19, considering voltage levels, environmental conditions, and need for toe/puncture protection. Dielectric footwear must be visually inspected and periodically tested per ASTM F1116 to maintain integrity.
How is dielectric footwear different from EH footwear in terms of standards, ratings, and use limits?
EH footwear under ASTM F2413 is tested to withstand at least 18 kV under dry conditions and is intended as supplemental protection for incidental low-voltage contact. Dielectric footwear per ASTM F1117 and F1116 is designed for higher voltages and step/touch potential, often with a minimum 15 kV rating, and typically has no metal components. EH footwear is inadequate in wet or conductive environments, where dielectric footwear is required.
When does WorkSafeBC explicitly require dielectric footwear, and how should you document that determination in a plant?
WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation Part 8 requires dielectric protection where hazards exist, based on a hazard assessment considering voltage, environment, and step/touch potential. Documentation should include task details, voltage level, justification for energized work, environmental conditions, and PPE requirements referencing Part 8, Part 19, and CSA Z195. This ensures traceability to regulation.
How should dielectric footwear be selected and combined with CSA-compliant safety footwear on a shop floor?
Baseline safety footwear must meet CSA Z195 for toe, puncture, or metatarsal protection. For occasional HV tasks, use dielectric overshoes over safety boots, rated per ASTM F1117 to at least the expected exposure voltage. Fully dielectric boots with non-metallic protective toes are used in high-risk environments, with engineering controls to mitigate impact risks.