Safety on the Line: What Kind of Protective Workwear a Lineman Needs

Utility linemen have a dangerous job to do, and in order to make it home safe at the end of every day, they need the proper tools and protection to carry out their jobs safely and efficiently. A huge part of that protection is the appropriate protective workwear. Not just uniforms, protective garments are a key piece of safety equipment for linemen.

A Standard of Safety

Linemen can encounter a variety of risks depending on the region in which they operate and the time of year, but the main hazards they’ll face are fire and arc flash. Whether it’s an electrical fire, a flash fire, or a wildfire, fire is the number one enemy to a utility lineman. Whereas in other industries, chemical spills or splashes may be greater risks, linemen working on energized equipment need protection that covers as much of their bodies as possible in the event of a fire. 

Flame resistant workwear has long been a standard for linemen, while in other industries like oil and gas, there are fewer folks who are required to wear FR all the time. The unpredictability of an event like an arc flash or flash fire means that linemen need to be prepared at all times for the worst-case scenario.

The specifics of the garments a lineman may wear can differ depending upon the environment they work in. In colder weather, they may need additional layers while working outdoors, which also need to be rated for the same level of protection as their base layer of garments. Wearing non-FR over FR pretty much defeats the purpose of the FR. 

With such dire consequences on the line for unprotected linemen, it’s all the more important that linemen and their organizations treat FR clothing as not just shirts and pants, but as a critical piece of safety equipment. That means spending the necessary time and resources ensuring garments meet the protective requirements of the job, that they are worn correctly, and maintained properly. 

Mobility for Safer Work

Beyond protection, linemen need protective garments that are durable and move with them. Linemen are very physically active as they work in abrasive environments, climbing up poles, reaching up overhead, traipsing through underbrush, and maneuvering in tight spaces. Garments that impede those movements are not only a hindrance to a lineman’s efficiency and productivity, but it can also lead to major safety compromises. 

Proper Wear Is Key

If a shirt won’t stay tucked in while a lineman is reaching overhead, in the event of a flash fire, the blast will blow the fabric up and expose the lineman’s torso to potentially catastrophic body burns. Or if a lineman has to roll their sleeves up to get a better range of motion, again, their arms are now exposed to much greater risk.

Durability for Abrasive Environments

FR fabrics have come a long way in comfort in recent years, with stretch, increased breathability, lighter weights, and softer textures available in increasing varieties. And while linemen need comfortable FR that moves with them, particularly with a good amount of stretch, they also need their garments to withstand the snags and scratches of their work environments. Luckily, many of the latest advances in FR fabrics are not only more comfortable, but they are also more durable than their less comfortable predecessors. 

Higher Quality Does Not Always Mean Most Expensive

Quality can certainly come at a cost, but when considering what to spend, it’s worth noting that saving five or ten dollars today could mean you’ll spend two to three times as much in the long term by having to replace cheaper products more frequently. Investing in higher quality protective gear on the front end usually leads to saving money overall, not to mention having high-quality protection. 

And if you haven’t surveyed the market in a while, you may be surprised: there are frequently newer products with more advanced tech that cost the same as or even less than an old standby. 

Extraordinary Environments

Some utility linemen do get dirtier on the job than others if they work on mechanical pumps or other equipment that can transfer highly flammable grease onto their FR. It’s important for linemen to take that into account if they encounter flammable substances like grease with regularity because that will affect their product selection. 

Making Protective Workwear Easy to Navigate

Whether you’re a utility lineman, an independent electrician, or a safety manager, you don’t have to go it alone when you’re researching and selecting your protective workwear. It is too important a piece of safety equipment to leave things to chance.

Get in touch

At TenCate Protective Fabrics, we are here as a resource in the value chain to help ensure everyone gets home safe at the end of the day. That means you can reach out anytime and ask us questions; leverage our years of experience and expertise in the industry to make your selection process easier and your safety program stronger.