Assessing worker exposure and predicting the ignition hazard of 100% cotton clothing worn by distribution line workers for work below 4160 V

This paper describes a method to assess the risk of ignition of 100% cotton clothing. This paper proposes a system to evaluate the ignition hazard and exposure levels for the specific work situation. It provides a method to examine the various levels of controls (engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment). If an ignition hazard exists, then this paper provides a method of examining the factors that influence the probability of ignition of 100% cotton, estimating the arc incident energy for various system voltages, fault currents and arc durations necessary to ignite 100% cotton clothing worn by distribution line workers based on the separation distance from the equipment to the clothing. This paper does not address the potential for thermal burns, although the onset of second-degree burns may occur before the cotton ignites.