The Possibility of Decreasing 50-Hz Electric Field Exposure near 400-kV Power Lines with Arc Flash Personal Protective Equipment.
Various guidelines for the protection of human beings against possible adverse effects resulting from exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been published with a view towards continual improvement; therefore, decreasing exposure is an important research area. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of decreasing electric field exposure with arc flash rated personal protective equipment (PPE), which in this case was a set of coveralls, and to compare the measurement results to calculations using the helmet-mask measuring system. We collected the data under a 400-kV power line. The test person stood on isolated aluminum paper, and the current between the ground and the aluminum paper was measured. When the test subject wore the arc flash PPE, the current to the ground was only 9.5% of the current measured when wearing normal clothes, which represents a clear decrease in exposure.
The Clinical Physiology and Neurophysiology Unit, The North Karelia Central Hospital and Honkalampi Centre, Tikkamäentie 16, FIN-80210 Joensuu, Finland. leenakorpinen@gmail.com.
Leena
L
Korpinen
Fingrid Oyj, Wredenkatu 2, 78250 Varkaus, Finland. herkko.pirkkalainen@gmail.com.
Herkko
H
Pirkkalainen
Fingrid Oyj, Wredenkatu 2, 78250 Varkaus, Finland. timo.heiskanen@fingrid.fi.
Timo
T
Heiskanen
Tampere University of Technology, Korkeakoulunkatu 10, 33720 Tampere, Finland. rauno.paakkonen@gmail.com.
Rauno
R
Pääkkönen
D004560:Electricity; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000067393:Personal Protective Equipment
electric field; exposure; power lines
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