Transforming Arc-Rated PPE Standards with GORE-TEX Pyrad® Innovation

Time is critical when working with electrical hazards, and dangerous situations can arise instantly without appropriate equipment. Occupational electrocution and electricity-based injuries continue to occur, despite the implementation of national regulations designed to protect employees in high-risk environments.

Protective Industrial Products (PIP) has partnered with GORE-TEX Pyrad^® to develop a specialized range of personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to mitigate risks from electrical hazards while maximizing wearer comfort.

Common Electrical Hazards

Workers may encounter four primary categories of electrical injury, with each having a potentially life-changing impact:

1. Electrocution (fatal)
2. Electric shock
3. Burns
4. Falls as a result of contact with electrical energy

These injuries may be sustained through direct contact with electricity, arc-induced flash burns, arc discharges to a victim at ground potential, or flame burns from ignited materials or clothing.¹

The Importance of Adequate Protection

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported a total of 14 occupational electrocutions in 2024, with over $40,000 in penalties issued due to PPE-related violations.²

A 20-year review of electrical incidents reveals that this is a common, consistent pattern, with inadequate or absent PPE identified as a contributing factor in many accidents.³

Occupational electrocutions contribute to 8.5% of all build site casualties. OSHA has placed electrical hazards second in their Fatal Four OSHA, just behind fall accidents, further highlighting the dangers associated with electrical hazards.⁴

Even if the injured worker survives, recovery from electrical accidents is typically prolonged and expensive, with such injuries requiring complex treatment.⁴ Electrical injuries resulted in 2,380 workers requiring time off in 2020 alone, highlighting the considerable operation and financial burden placed on employers and employees.⁵

Electrical workers are placed at significant risk of life-threatening injuries if proper protective gear is unavailable. This includes arc-rated clothing, insulated gloves, face shields, and dielectric footwear.

Image Credit: Protective Industrial Products, Inc

Combining Comfort and Protection with GORE-TEX Pyrad^® PPE

Protective Industrial Products’ partnership with GORE-TEX has enabled the development of a robust ARC-rated clothing range specifically designed for electrical workers in hazardous conditions.

This advanced PPE is ideal for use in even the most demanding working environments, from foremen performing emergency repairs in high winds and utility workers facing heat stress caused by confined spaces to electricians exposed to energized switchgear.

The clothing range incorporates three-layer laminate technology within a single ply and has been manufactured with revolutionary Pyrad^® fabric from GORE-TEX Labs. The fabric forms a protective carbonaceous char during an arc flash, mitigating heat transfer while also shielding the wearer’s skin.

It has been tested in line with NFPA 70E standards, meaning that these garments are lightweight, waterproof, flame-retardant, and ARC-rated with a PPE Category 4 rating (ATPV ≥ 40 cal/cm²).

Each Pyrad^® Fabric by GORE-TEX Labs Arc Flash Kit contains the following:

• Pyrad^® jacket
• Pyrad^® bib overall
• Pyrad^® lift front hood
• Hard hat
• Safety glasses
• Apparel bag

This Pyrad^® PPE is also 20% lighter than comparable products, offering its wearers unparalleled comfort and the least burdensome 40-cal arc protection with a weight of less than 10 ounces.

Its breathable design has been validated in accordance with the Hohenstein Institute’s RET value rating, ensuring effortless wearability even during extended use. Its lightweight construction also reduces muscular fatigue and strain.

This PPE features a fully launderable jacket, offering users cost savings while helping to reduce landfill waste and minimize the PPE’s environmental impact.

PIP^® Pyrad^® by GORE-TEX Labs represents a new standard in electrical personal protective equipment, offering electrical workers a powerful combination of protection, comfort, and sustainability.^6,7

References and Further Reading

1. NIOSH. Worker deaths by electrocution : a summary of NIOSH surveillance and investigative findings. (online) Available at: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/6385.
2. OSHA. (2024). Accident Search Results | Occupational Safety and Health Administration osha.gov. (online) Available at: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/AccidentSearch.search?p_logger=1&acc_description=electrocution&acc_Abstract=&acc_keyword=&sic=&naics=&Office=All&officetype=All&endmonth=01&endday=01&endyear=2024&startmonth=11&startday=23&startyear=2024&InspNr= (Accessed 7 Jan. 2025).
3. Campbell, R. and Dini, D. Occupational Injuries From Electrical Shock and Arc Flash Events Final Report. (online) Available at: https://efcog.org/wp-content/uploads/Wgs/Safety%20Working%20Group/_Worker%20Safety%20and%20Health%20Subgroup/Electrical%20Safety%20Task%20Group/Documents/REPORT%20-%20Arc%20Flash%20Occ%20Data%20FINAL.pdf.
4. OSHA. (2021).‘FATAL FOUR’ Leading Cause of Deaths in the Construction Industry. (online) OSHA Outreach Courses. Available at: https://www.oshaoutreachcourses.com/blog/fatal-four-osha/.
5. Coache, C. (2023). (Online) A Better Understanding of NFPA 70E: Part I – Comparing Four Decades of Electrical Injuries and Fatalities. NFPA. Available at: https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/blogs/2023/09/19/comparing-four-decades-of-electrical-injuries-and-fatalities.
6. Protective Industrial Products (2025). PIP^®: Pyrad Fabric by Gore-Tex Labs Arc Flash Kit - 40 C. (online) Protective Industrial Products. Available at: https://us.pipglobal.com/en/products/?scID=2565&ccID=11644&sID=28186&ssID=80054&pID=156741&utm_source=AZO+Network&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=Electrical+Safety (Accessed 7 Jan. 2025).
7. Protective Industrial Products. PIP. Sales Sheet: Single Layer 9.5oz Pyrad^® Fabric By Gore-Tex^® Labs – 40 cal/cm². Available at: https://us.pipglobal.com/archive/pim/Original/34/PIP-PPE-4-40-Cal-ArcSalesSheet-102024%20(1).pdf

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Protective Industrial Products, Inc.

For more information on this source, please visit Protective Industrial Products, Inc.