• • • EDITOR’S CHOICE • • • GORE-TEX PYRAD pioneers
protection in electrified industries As the world shifts towards a decarbonised and more sustainable future, electricity is becoming the primary energy source for many industries and applications
battery and electric vehicle manufacturing and data centres.
T In its wake come new professions that demand
a shift in how we think about workplace safety. GORE-TEX PYRAD product technology offers bespoke protection for workers in these electrified industries. Revolutions always come with challenges, and the electrification of industries is no exception. Workers in these professions are confronted with a range of risks that require new ways of protection, for example:
Operating within the realm of high-voltage equipment, workers are exposed to the imminent dangers of electric shock, arc flashes, arc blasts and explosions.
The use of high-voltage batteries in electric vehicles can lead to the development of new types of fires, requiring specialised methods for detection and extinguishing.
The use of hazardous chemicals in battery manufacturing introduces the risk of chemical splashes.
Contact with hot equipment and heat conductive materials poses a significant risk of burns.
he renewable energy sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, ushering in industries such as solar and wind power generation,
Workers in power plants or substations may be susceptible to heat-related illnesses due to high ambient temperatures. Workers operating wind farms, often offshore, face exposure to unpredictable and extreme weather conditions, including high winds, cold and extensive wet conditions.
The combination of risks calls
for new ways of protection It is not only the risks themselves, but their combination that poses an additional challenge. For instance, the manufacturing of car batteries with high density often uses chemicals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and other hazardous material compounds, making the batteries highly flammable and explosive if not handled properly. Workers are potentially also exposed to extremely dangerous arc flash incidents.
Renaissance of Direct Current (DC)
One hazard that stands out in all the new professions is the renaissance of direct current (DC) as the dominant electric current in new applications and industries. Many renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaics and wind power, initially generate DC. It can be more
efficient for transmitting electricity over very long distances, such as from offshore wind farms, because it has fewer line losses. And because electric vehicles need DC to charge their batteries, the charging infrastructure and on-board systems of the vehicles are based on DC power technology.
‘Contact with DC is more dangerous than alternating current (AC),’ explains Oliver Polanz, head of health, safety, environment and quality at SPIE Germany and Central Europe. ‘DC can cause continuous muscle tetanus, making it more likely to ‘freeze’ a victim in a shock scenario. Thus, we make an extra effort to sensitize and train our employees for DC-related dangers.’
Understanding the
new challenges ‘Across all electrified industries, extensive research is underway to better understand the risks associated with DC. This includes reviewing emerging standards and conducting risk assessments in the field,’ says Miguel Calixto, product specialist for GORE-TEX Professional Fabrics. ‘We are working closely with electrical industry partners and health and safety experts to have a clear understanding of the new hazards and risks in the workplace and the safety requirements for appropriate PPE to keep electrical workers safe.’
Forming a stable carbon layer to
protect electrical workers With all understanding and protection, it is the technology in several millimetres of garment that to make the new work more productive and improve employee s safety when potentially exposed to electrical hazards. GORE-TEX Professional Fabric’s PYRAD product technology offers bespoke protection for workers in electrified industries. The technology is based on a physical effect and consists of countless small reactive dots homogeneously distributed over the membrane. When the dots are strongly heated by a sudden flame or arc incident, they react and expand by more than 10 times their original size to form a stable, gapless carbon layer that effectively inhibits heat flow.
As society charts its course toward an electrified future, it’s important to keep sight of the human element - the men and women who are driving this transformative change. More research needs to be done on the hazards that come with it to protect those who make it work in their daily jobs. Not only for their safety, but to enable society’s journey to a decarbonised world.
https://www.gore-tex.com/ 40 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • JULY/AUGUST 2024
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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