When it comes to safety, are you on the cusp of epic greatness, or on a one-way electrical highway to disaster? We challenge you to take the following quiz to determine your safety knowledge.

1. You remove your rubber gloves from a sealed, plastic bag. That means they are perfect and you can skip the visual inspection.

1. TRUE - They're fine.

2. FALSE - A sealed bag does not protect them from damage such as improper storage, climate wear; even new goods sometimes have imperfections from the manufacturing process.  ASTM also states visual inspections are required prior to every use (ASTM F496-08, F479-06, F478-06).

2. The best way to prolong the life of rubber goods and prevent further damage is 

1. Storing goods in canvas bags, totes, or tubes

2.  Cleaning with mild soap and water

100.  Wearing leather protectors

500.  All of the above

3. ASTM stands for

1.  American Safety Training Measuremen

2.  A Stitch in Time Management

100.  American Society for Testing and Materials

500.  None of these

4. Fiberglass live line tools should be removed from service every _____ years for full recertification, even if no damage is suspected

1. 1  

2. 2 

100. 3 

500. 4 

5. Per OSHA, the use of a fall-arrest system is required any time there is a risk of fall from an elevated position of

1. 3 feet or more

2. 6 feet or more 

100. 3 stories or more

500. Currently OSHA does not have fall protection guidelines.

6. Arc-Tested materials are designed to 

1. Protect in the event of an arc-related inciden 

2. Used only as a fashion accessory

100. Prevent additional injury in the event of an arc-related incident 

500. Allow additional time to escape an incident

7. Grounding equipment should be removed from use if 

1. clamps are broken or pieces are missing

2. copper fibers are broken

100. cuts or kinking are present in the cabling  

500. A and B only

5. All of the above

8. As long as rubber goods are brand new, straight out of the box, and removed from sealed plastic packaging, they do not require a date stamp inclusive of testing facility, tested voltage, max use voltage, and either the date of the most recent test or expiration date of the goods.

1. True

2. False

9.  FR Clothing can still be used if there is a small pin hole (less than 1mm x 1mm) is present.

1. True

2. False

10.  Visual inspections should occur before every use of

1. Rubber Goods

2. Grounds/Jumpers

3. Fiberglass Tools

4. Arc Flash Equipment

5. Fall Protection

6. All of the above

11. Fall Protection should be removed from the field if

1. Buckles are bent or damaged

2. Ropes are frayed or cut

3. Belt rivets are bent

4. Cracking is present on belts or parts

5. All of the above

12.  Rubber Goods may be used up to one month beyond their expiration date per OSHA and ASTM.

1. True

2. False

Answer Key

1. b

2. d

3. d [ASTM changed its name to "ASTM International" in 2001]

4. b [per OSHA1910.269(j)(2)(ii)]

5. b [(OSHA 1926.959)]

6. b [Arc Rated products are geared to providing actual protection, whereas arc-tested goods are only designed to be non-contributors in the event of an incident.  For example, an arc-tested fall protection device does not protect the wearer from burns in an invent, but has been tested to resist burning and melting up to a certain point.]

7. e

8. b [Per ASTM D-120, OSHA 1910.137 standards, rubber goods must be acceptance tested (also known as proof-tested) before their first use. Therefore, a rubber goods testing lab that performs a full visual inspection in addition to an electrical test, as a part of the initial acceptance process, will rule out initial quality issues with new goods, while also certifying them for use with a fresh date stamp. On average of 12-15% of new goods fail the initial out-of-the-box testing standards; imported rubber goods are often 3-4 times higher.]

9. b [Before use, arc flash clothing should be inspected for any signs of wear, including holes, tears, or wear spots.  Any damage should result in the PPE being removed from use.]

10. f

11. e

12. b [per ASTM F496]

How did you do? If you scored...

12/12:  Congrats! You are a safety god. Your goal is to ensure, "Everyone makes it home safe at the end of the day." We hope that you spread your knowledge and encourage others to reach the same deity-like status. 

10-11:  You're almost perfect. With a little bit more practice, you might actually earn the bragging rights of a true safety professional. (We take some of the credit, because we're awesome.) 

7-10:  OK, you occasionally believe in proper safety. Try to avoid complacency and keep learning because you're teetering right on the cusp of awesomeness.

5-7:  Hmm, looks like you're a bit of a risk taker (that's an understatement) and you just might survive a typical day in the field. For your sake, we highly recommend that you brush up on your Safety Guidelines before you're fined or fried... no, really...why are you still just sitting there...?

0-5:  Wow. Okay. How are you still kicking? Go out and buy yourself a lotto ticket because you must be drenched in pure luck-dust. In all seriousness, we urge you closely review your safety procedures for the well being of you and your team.  After all, we're all accident-free....until we're not. 

K.D. Aiardo serves as the marketing manager of Hi-Line Utility Supply, a division of WESCO and a leader in tools, equipment, safety supplies and services for the electrical industry. K.D. has over five years in the industry and is committed to creating a quality customer experience based on education, the importance of standard compliance, and safety. 

HiLine | www.hilineco.com