OSHA: Cotton Clothing Not Protective Against Electric Arcs

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OSHA’s final rule for electric power generation, transmission and distribution states that untreated cotton can ignite and continue to burn when subjected to incident heat energy above its ignition threshold.

While wearing cotton clothing as a layer in a clothing system can effectively increase the system’s arc rating, OSHA does not consider cotton clothing to be protective.

OSHA offers resources for handling arc hazards and other common electrical hazards online.