Regardless of the fact of wearing ASTM rated Insulated Gloves and Leather Outers.
Does anyone here as an EC use Neoprene Cover sheets to blank out areas of a Live Switchboard (Panel) while working live?.
It's the easiest way of minimising the risk of a Flash accident, by ensuring that you have the bare minimum of exposed live metal near to where you are working.
Sure, you might be thinking that only Line workers should be using that sort of gear,
but take it from me, I've never had an Arc Flash Accident yet.
IMO, these should be used by all Electricians that do Live work.

I carry several sizes of rubber blankets in the van for doing live work. I totally agree with you . Just one more thing to make working safer. Also have the oversize plastic clips to hold them in place.

Tested rubber blankets for work over 600V, clear 20 mill neopreen comes in rolls, and even several layers of clear 6 mil pvc plastic will work in a pinch to provide guarding during maintenance or hot work proceedures.
Before beginning such hot work I usually like to sit down and write out a proceedure. I begin by listing the hazards envolved, special conditions and safety precautions including notifying anyone who may be affected by the work, then move on to the tools and materials required and then manpower. Lastly a general discription of the work to be performed. Before beginning the work I review this information with everyone involved.
In some situations I have had to redo the process several times because as it was being reviewed by those effected new information was brought to bare that signifantly changed the procedure.

Ray,
Sounds like a good plan to me!.
The idea that I was trying to convey, was that the cover sheets, hide any bits in the panel (or whatever you're working on) that could cause a flash or shock hazard.
Live busbars, terminals and large bits of Earthed metal spring to mind.
Just a small question, We have a test bath at work for the Live Gloves we use for line work and I've used it to test my own gloves, but we have to send the Cover Blankets away for testing in Christchurch.
How do they test a sheet of Neoprene?.

For <1kV, this 36-inch flexible sheeting is fairly durable
www.burlingtonsafety.com/es.htm

Here's an acccident that sort of begs the question, could it be prevented with covers?.
Here's the link here , to the story (in PDF format).
The guy should have been wearing gloves too!.

Wow that took a bit of editing!, 5th time lucky.



[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 10-04-2004).]

I don't know about you, but I reckon that that plastic on the pillar box actually caught fire?.
Just to the left on the front of the box.
These boxes are supposed to be fire-proof, although they are rather plastic-looking.
What do you think?.