REVIEW OF WORKSHOP ON EMERGENCY RESPONDER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) TUESDAY 1 MAY 2012 QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS

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1 REVIEW OF WORKSHOP ON EMERGENCY RESPONDER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) FOR HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES TUESDAY 1 MAY 2012 QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS 3 rd Annual Electric Vehicle Safety Standards Summit SAE International/NFPA

2 Workshop on Emergency Responder PPE for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles 2

3 Workshop on Emergency Responder PPE for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles 3

4 Workshop on Emergency Responder PPE for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles 4

5 Workshop on Emergency Responder PPE for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Clarification of Voltage & Amperage Vehicle Voltage Levels High Voltage per Article 490 of NEC is voltage exceeding 600 volts Voltage Levels for Built Infrastructure 5

6 Analysis of current manufacturer guidance regarding Electrical PPE Requirements and Manual Service Disconnects

7 15 Manufacturers Sampled for This Survey BMW Chrysler (Dodge) Ford (Lincoln, Mercury) General Motors (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Saturn) Honda Hyundai Kia Mazda Mercedes-Benz (Smart) Mini Mitsubishi Nissan (Infiniti) Tesla Toyota (Lexus) Volkswagen

8 Electrical PPE Requirement for removal of Manual Service Disconnect (MSD) REQUIREMENT Electrical PPE NOT REQUIRED Electrical PPE REQUIRED MSD NOT ADDRESSED RECOMMEND AGAINST First Responder Use of MSD Requirement NOT CLEAR Recommend Electrical PPE For ALL RESPONSE SITUATIONS NUMBER OF MANUFACTURERS (of 15) NOTES One of these manufacturer's vehicles is mechanically identical to another manufacturer's who does not require electrical PPE. Some of the vehicles may not be equipped with a manual service disconnect. Only one manufacturer specifically states that the service disconnect is to be used only by trained service personnel in a service environment. Both manufacturers recommend the use of Electrical PPE in any "high-voltage situation", but do not define what constitutes a "high-voltage situation".

9 DEFINITIONS OF REQUIRED PPE Manufacturer A: Insulating Gloves rated for 1000V+ Safety Glasses Manufacturer B: Manufacturer C: High Voltage Rubber Gloves Face Shield Insulated Boots Protective Raincoat and Apron Additionally, remove jewelry and any metallic object that can conduct electricity. Insulating Gloves rated for up to 1000V Insulated Shoes Face Shield Manufacturer D: Insulating Gloves as per DIN DVE 0680 or EN Additionally, Rescue crews should only disconnect if they have appropriate training and qualifications. Manufacturer E: Insulating Gloves rated for 400V+ Recommended: Rubber Soled Shoes, PPE Pants and Jacket (Standard or Electrical??)

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11 NFPA 70E Standard on Electrical Safety in the Workplace Safety related work practices not covered include 90.2(B)(1) Installations in ships, watercraft other than floating buildings, railway rolling stock, aircraft, or automotive vehicles other than mobile homes and recreational vehicles. 11

12 NFPA 70E Standard on Electrical Safety in the Workplace Automobiles excluded from the scope 70E requires to de-energize equipment before working on it (Electric Safe Work Condition). If you can t...know the hazard and prepare appropriately. 12

13 NFPA 1951 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Purpose Utility provide limited protection for operational settings where exposure to physical and thermal hazards are expected. Purpose Rescue and Recovery provide limited protection for operational settings where exposure to physical, thermal, liquid, and body fluid-borne pathogen hazards are expected. 13

14 NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting Purpose provide limited protection from thermal, physical, environmental, and blood-borne pathogen hazards encountered during structural and proximity fire fighting. 14

15 NFPA 1971 NFPA 1951 Both have: Heat Resistance Flame Resistance Cut, Puncture, Abrasion* Thermal Protective Performance Total Heat Loss Chemical Protection* *Not required on utility ensembles 15

16 NFPA 1971 NFPA 1951 No: -Arc -Shock -Dielectric (except for helmets and footwear). 16

17 Comparison Property 70E 1971/1951 Arc Resistance Chemical Resistance Clothing only X Flame Resistance Shock Resistance (Dielectric) Footwear Shock Resistance (Dielectric) Helmets Footwear Eye and Face Protection Head Protection X VAC VDC 0 VAC Class C 2200 VAC Class G VAC Class E X X X X VAC VAC X X X 17

18 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT There is significant difference in design, testing, use, training and maintenance between the PPE (personal protective equipment) used by the fire service for fighting fires and vehicle extrication, and by electrical professionals for handling energized electrical equipment. The use of improper PPE for a specific hazard, and/or the incorrect use of applicable PPE, can introduce significant hazards to the PPE user. Significant practical barriers involving training, maintenance, fiscal and other factors exist for the broad scale implementation of electrical PPE for use by fire fighters. Fire service helmets and boots are designed to provide protection from electrical shock; consideration should be given to enhancing design requirements in fire service gloves to provide protection similar to helmets and boots.

19 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VEHICLE STANDARDIZATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS Continue efforts to standardize vehicle response guide information Standardize the design and operation of the vehicle manual service disconnect so that it can be safely operated during emergency conditions by fire fighters without any reduction of current fire fighting PPE requirements Consider renaming the control mechanism for the manual service disconnect to emergency service disconnect to clarify use by emergency responders (versus disconnecting for maintenance and similar activities), or provide a separate dedicated disconnect for exclusive use by emergency responders. Maintain focus on standardizing the disconnecting protocol and include a means of verification, to aid emergency responders in verifying power disconnects and mitigate the need for alternative or improved emergency responder PPE. Continue efforts to provide standardized time sequences and handling protocols for the discharge of the vehicle energy power supply.

20 Thank You! Kenneth Willette