How should non-electrical personnel be protected when work near energized equipment is required?

• A. Keep them out of hazard zones, provide barriers/signage, ensure awareness and training, or reassign tasks to qualified personnel.
• B. Keep them in hazard zones with only basic PPE.
• C. Ignore hazards if the task is brief.
• D. Disable all equipment before personnel approach.

Answer: (B)

Protecting non-electrical personnel means preventing their exposure to energized hazards rather than relying on basic PPE alone. The best approach is to keep them out of hazard zones around energized equipment, use physical barriers and clear signage to define restricted areas, and make sure they are aware of the risks through training. If a task must be done near energized equipment, it should be assigned to qualified personnel who have the proper training and authorization, and the work should follow safe procedures, including de-energizing the equipment when feasible and using appropriate protective measures. Relying on basic PPE alone does not adequately control the arc flash or shock risks, since these hazards can overwhelm simple protective gear.