Daily Wear PPE: Smarter. Safer. Every Day.

Here’s the deal: In the electrical trades, arc flash doesn’t wait for you to suit up. If your PPE program relies on workers remembering to gear up for every task, you’re gambling with safety.

Task-based PPE? Sure, it’s cheaper upfront. But let’s be real—workers skip it. They forget. They rush. And when an arc flash hits, that’s when you find out who wasn’t protected.

Daily wear PPE? That’s set-it-and-forget-it safety. Modern AR/FR gear is lightweight, comfortable, and looks like regular workwear—so your crew wears it all day, no excuses. No extra steps. No "I’ll just do it quick." Just protection, always on.

NFPA 70E 2018 says human error is a killer. So why leave safety up to chance? Daily wear cuts the risk. Fewer injuries. Fewer fines. Fewer regrets.

Bottom line: Pay a little more now, or pay a lot later. Your call.

Aspect	Task-Based PPE	Daily Wear PPE
Usage	Worn only during specific tasks	Worn throughout the workday
Initial Cost	Lower upfront	Higher upfront
Protection Consistency	Depends on correct usage each time	Continuous protection
Efficiency	Time-consuming to put on/off	Time-saving; always protected
Compliance	Vulnerable to human error	Helps mitigate risk from human error

While task-based programs may appear more cost-effective initially, daily wear PPE offers better long-term protection, efficiency, and compliance. It simplifies decision-making for workers, reduces liability for employers, and aligns with the evolving regulatory environment focused on proactive hazard mitigation.

The Growing Importance of PPE in Electrical Safety

The regulatory landscape increasingly emphasizes hazard mitigation, particularly concerning arc flash incidents. NFPA 70E defines an arc flash hazard as:

"A source of possible injury or damage to health associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc."

Though brief, an arc flash can cause catastrophic burns. To mitigate these risks, NFPA 70E promotes a hierarchy of controls, where arc-rated (AR) and flame-resistant (FR) PPE serves as the last line of defense.

The 2018 edition of NFPA 70E reinforces shared employer-employee responsibility in PPE compliance, requiring a formalized PPE program that ensures workers are protected consistently.

The Compliance Challenge: Human Error & Task-Based PPE

The 2018 NFPA 70E update explicitly requires employers to account for human error in risk assessments:

"The risk assessment procedure shall address the potential for human error and its negative consequences on people, process, the work environment, and equipment."

There are four human error precursors:

1. Task demands (complexity, time pressure)

2. Work environment (distractions, fatigue)

3. Individual capabilities (training, experience)

4. Human nature (complacency, shortcuts)

A task-based program relies on workers remembering to wear PPE, increasing the likelihood of non-compliance. In contrast, daily wear PPE ensures continuous protection, reducing injury risks from human error.

Making the Case for Daily Wear PPE

With NFPA 70E’s heightened focus on human error, daily wear PPE programs provide a more reliable, compliant, and efficient solution than task-based alternatives. By prioritizing long-term safety over short-term cost savings, employers can enhance protection, streamline operations, and reduce liability risks.

Daily wear PPE isn’t just about compliance—it’s about ensuring workers go home safely every day. While daily wear programs may have a higher initial cost, they offer:

✔ Better compliance (workers are always protected).

✔ Improved efficiency (no delays in donning PPE).

✔ Reduced liability (meeting NFPA 70E’s human error mandate).

✔ Higher morale (comfortable, modern AR/FR clothing).

Key Takeaways:

• NFPA 70E 2018 emphasizes human error mitigation—daily wear PPE addresses this better than task-based programs.

• Task-based PPE has hidden costs (delays, compliance risks, natural fiber requirements).

• Modern AR/FR fabrics make daily wear comfortable and practical.

• Daily wear ensures continuous protection, reducing injury severity in arc flash incidents.