An Air Traffic Organization (ATO) workplace representative recently informed PASS that the agency may be telling some employees during training that the agency will soon begin implementation of “new” requirements for electrically insulated hand tools that have recently appeared in industry consensus standards.

This is disconcerting as the standards for insulated hand tools have remained relatively unchanged for years. NFPA Standard 70E Electrical Safety in the Workplace refers to ASTM F1505, Standard Specification for Insulated and Insulating Hand Tools, for information regarding the manufacturing, testing, and care of electrically insulated hand tools. Neither standard has changed in that regard since at least 2010.

Anyone that has been issued insulated hand tools should review PASS Electrical Safety Bulletin – Insulated Electrical Hand Tool Safety for information on how to determine if those tools have been properly manufactured and tested for the temperatures that they are intended to be used in, and how to proceed if they have not. More information and details can also be found here. If you have questions, please contact National ATO Safety Representative Ray Baggett or one of the PASS regional safety representatives.