Electrical Safety Equipment and PPE

by Team Tradify, April 28, 2025

Electrical work comes with serious risks. From electric shocks and arc flashes to falls and equipment-related injuries, the job demands the right protective gear and responsible leadership.

It’s not just about ticking a box — it’s about making sure everyone gets home safe. Electrical businesses who invest in quality PPE are less likely to face downtime, missed work, or get stung by costly injury claims.

When accidents occur, be prepared with our free Incident Report!

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Insulated gloves
Safety glasses & face shields
Electrical safety boots
Flame resistant clothing, arch flash gear & high-vis clothing
Lockout/tagout kits
Voltage detectors
Clamp meters & multimeters
Hearing protection
Respiratory protection
Hard hats

Why electricians need safety equipment

From contact with live wires to working at heights or in confined spaces, there’s no shortage of potential hazards for sparkies at work. If you’re not supplying your team with proper PPE, you’re not just risking fines or losing your licence — you’re putting yourself and your team in danger. Running a businesses, even if it's just you, means taking every possible chance to keep your team safe.

Check out: How to Run an Electrical Safety Toolbox Talk

Legal compliance for electrical PPE

In Australia and New Zealand, electrical businesses must comply with AS/NZS 4836 and local WorkSafe guidelines, which outline the requirements for using PPE when working near live or exposed equipment.
In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) enforces the PPE at Work Regulations 2022, which legally require employers to provide and maintain suitable protective gear for their workers.
In the USA, electricians follow OSHA regulations and NFPA 70E standards. These focus heavily on arc flash protection, risk assessment, and procedures like lockout/tagout for live systems.

Health

The long-term effects of electrical injuries can be devastating. Burns, nerve damage, repetitive strain injuries, and even hearing loss from arc blasts are all possible without the correct gear. Even for lower-risk residential work, hazards like falling objects, dust inhalation, and slips require PPE to stay safe.

Protective equipment also plays a key role in mental wellbeing. Knowing you’re properly protected reduces stress and builds confidence — particularly when tackling complex or high-voltage jobs.

Explore more: Electrical Health: What You Need to Know | Health and Wellness Tips for Tradespeople

Insurance

If you're running your own electrical business, ensuring your team is equipped and trained in safety gear and providing the correct safety gear can affect your insurance cover. Many providers require evidence of PPE use and safety training as part of their terms. If an accident occurs without proper protective gear provided, it could result in denied claims or legal disputes.

Related: Why Electricians Need Life Insurance

1. Insulated gloves

When you’re working near live wires, insulated gloves are non-negotiable. They protect your hands from electric shock — simple as that. Whether you’re fault finding, testing circuits, or working in switchboards, gloves protect your ability to get the job done safely.

Depending on where you're based, you’ll need gloves that meet local safety standards:

AU/NZ: AS/NZS 2161.3
UK: EN 60903
USA: ASTM D120

Gloves are rated for different voltage levels, so make sure you’re using the right class for your work. And don't forget about leather outer gloves — these protect the rubber from cuts, scrapes, and wear and tear.

Quick tip: Inspect your gloves before every job. Even a small tear can make them unsafe.

Need help choosing? Here's our guide to The Best Gloves for Electricians.

2. Safety glasses & face shields

Your eyes are too important to risk. Safety glasses or face shields should be a standard part of your kit — especially when cutting conduit, drilling, or working in switchboards where arc flashes or flying debris are a risk.

Basic safety glasses are great for most day-to-day tasks, but for high-risk work, a face shield adds another layer of protection. Look for gear that meets your local safety standards and fits comfortably — if they fog up or slide down your nose, you’re less likely to wear them when it counts.

Quick tip: Keep a spare pair in your tool bag. Scratched or cracked lenses are no good to anyone.

For our favourite pairs, check out Stylish Safety Glasses

3. Electrical safety boots

You’re on your feet all day — and often working in unpredictable environments. Electrical safety boots protect you from way more than just stubbed toes. With non-conductive soles and impact-resistant toes, they reduce the risk of electric shock and keep your feet safe from falling tools, sharp objects, and slippery surfaces.

Most regions have their own certification standards:

Look for boots that tick both boxes: electrical insulation and comfort. You’ll want sturdy soles, strong ankle support, and breathable materials that can handle tough conditions. Bonus points for waterproofing and slip resistance.

Quick tip: Worn treads or cracked soles? Time for a new pair — don’t wait for a close call.
Need a shortlist?

Check out our picks for the Best Electrical Safety Shoes and Best Work Boots for Electricians.

4. Flame-resistant clothing, arc flash gear & high-vis clothing

Working with electrical systems brings the risk of arc flash — and the injuries can be life-threatening. That’s why flame-resistant (FR) or arc-rated clothing is a must for high-risk environments. It protects your body from burns if something goes wrong with a switchboard or cable, and in many cases, it’s required by law.

On top of your FR gear, you’ll often need to wear high-visibility clothing when working on commercial, construction, or roadside sites. Hi-vis gear doesn’t just help others see you — it’s a site requirement in many regions, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK under safety planning rules.

Standards to know:

AU/NZ: AS/NZS 4836 for arc flash, AS/NZS 4602.1 for high-vis
UK: IEC 61482 for FR, EN ISO 20471 for high-vis
USA: NFPA 70E (arc flash), ANSI/ISEA 107 (hi-vis)

Quick tip: Don’t wear synthetic base layers under your arc-rated gear — they can melt. Go for natural fibres like cotton instead.

Need help choosing? Check out The Best Clothes for Electricians

5. Lockout/tagout kits

Before you start any electrical work, you need to make sure the power is off — and stays off. A lockout/tagout (LOTO) kit are designed to physically isolate circuits, switchgear, or machinery so no one can accidentally re-energise them while you're working.

They’re especially important on commercial or industrial sites where multiple people may be accessing the same system. A good kit includes padlocks, lockout hasps, circuit breaker lockouts, tags, and sometimes cable lockouts for isolating larger equipment.

In the USA, LOTO procedures are a legal requirement under OSHA regulations. In the UK, they fall under HSE best practices, and they're strongly recommended in Australia and New Zealand under WorkSafe and AS/NZS 4836 guidance.

Quick tip: Don’t rely on just turning the switch off — always lock it out and test before you touch.

6. Voltage detectors

Before you touch anything, you need to know if it’s live. A voltage detector is one of the simplest tools you can carry — but it’s also one of the most important. These devices help you quickly and safely check whether a wire, outlet, or circuit is energised.

There are two main types: contact and non-contact voltage testers. Non-contact models are great for a quick check and can easily fit in your pocket or tool belt. For more accurate readings or confirmation before lockout/tagout, a contact tester is the better option.

While these tools are useful on their own, they should always be used alongside a full testing procedure — especially before beginning any electrical work.

Quick tip: Test your voltage detector on a known live source before and after every use to confirm it’s working properly.

Find our top pick for voltage detectors and more in Top 10 Tools for Electricians

7. Clamp meters & multimeters

Clamp meters and multimeters are your go-to tools help you safely measure voltage, current, resistance, and continuity — all without the need to disconnect wiring or break into a circuit.
A clamp meter is ideal for measuring current, especially in live systems, as it lets you work without direct contact. A multimeter offers a broader range of readings and is great for pinpointing faults or checking the health of a circuit. Most electricians carry both.

Whether you're troubleshooting, testing installations, or verifying power supplies, reliable readings are non-negotiable. Look for models that meet CAT III or CAT IV safety ratings depending on the environments you work in.

Quick tip: Cheap meters might cut costs upfront but can be unreliable — or unsafe. Invest in quality, especially when you're working live.

Need recommendations? Check out The Best Clamp Meter for Electricians.

8. Hearing protection

Power tools, demolition work, and even some plant rooms can create noise levels high enough to damage your hearing — especially over time. Hearing protection, like earmuffs or earplugs, is required when noise exposure exceeds safe thresholds (typically 85 dB across an 8-hour shift).

If you're grinding, drilling, or working in a commercial or industrial setting, make sure hearing protection is part of your standard PPE.

Hearing protection is legally required in:

AU/NZ: WorkSafe regulations
UK: Control of Noise at Work Regulations
USA: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95

Quick tip: Keep a backup set in your glovebox — they’re small but easy to forget.

9. Respiratory protection

In some situations, like working in ceiling cavities, old switchboards, or dusty environments, a standard dust mask or respirator can help protect your lungs from airborne hazards.
This is especially important when dealing with insulation, mould, silica dust, or potential asbestos exposure. Respiratory protection is required if there’s a known risk and no other way to control the hazard (like ventilation).

Respiratory protection is requirement under:

Quick tip: If your glasses fog up while wearing a mask, it’s probably not fitted correctly — look for respirators with an adjustable nose seal.

10. Hard hats

A hard hat is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself — and often one of the most overlooked. It shields your head from falling tools, bumping into beams, or even electrical contact, depending on the type you use.

In many commercial and industrial jobs, wearing a hard hat isn’t just smart — it’s mandatory. Look for models rated for electrical work (Class E in the USA, AS/NZS 1801 in Australia and New Zealand, EN 397 or EN 50365 in the UK/EU). Some also come with chin straps, which are essential for work at height.

Quick tip: Inspect your helmet regularly. UV exposure and wear and tear can weaken the shell over time — if it’s cracked or over five years old, replace it.

Tradify makes it easier to manage your electrical business from anywhere. From job scheduling and quoting to safety compliance and team coordination, we help sparkies stay organised and on top of the admin — so you can focus on getting the job done safely.