PPE for Linemen: The Safety Gear That Actually Gets Worn

Sep 08, 2025

If you're a lineman, your gear isn’t just for show — it’s survival. FR shirts, arc hoods, rubber gloves, EH-rated boots, a full-body harness... this isn’t overkill, it’s standard. Miss a piece, and you’re one bad spark or slip away from a trip nobody wants to take.

Essential PPE for Linemen:

FR Shirt & Pants - NFPA 70E compliant
Rubber Gloves + Leather Protectors
EH-Rated Boots
Full-Body Harness + Lanyards - Z359 compliant
Class E Hard Hat w/ Chin Strap
Safety Glasses - Z87.1
Hearing Protection
Hi-Vis Gear

Most linemen’s gear feels like it was made by someone who’s never been 40 feet up in the heat. At Armed American Supply, we make high-vis workwear that checks the compliance boxes and gets a nod from the guy next to you in the bucket.

Built tough, built smart, and built to make it through a full shift without riding up or wearing out.

Stick with us — we’re breaking down the gear that matters, why you need it, and how not to look like a rookie wrapped in a garbage bag.

What PPE Does a Lineman Actually Need?

When it comes to lineman work, the right gear is survival. You’re dealing with high voltage, high heights, and high-risk environments.

And every piece of PPE on your body has a job to do. Miss one, and you're gambling with your life.

Here’s a full breakdown of what linemen actually need, categorized by the specific hazards they face daily.

Arc Flash Protection

If you’re working near energized lines or electrical panels, arc flash protection is non-negotiable. That means:

FR Shirts and Pants: Flame-resistant (FR) gear helps prevent your clothes from igniting and melting onto your skin during an arc flash. Make sure your gear is NFPA 70E compliant and arc-rated to the appropriate Hazard Risk Category (HRC).
Arc Hoods and Balaclavas: For Category 3 and 4 work, full-coverage head protection with a properly rated face shield is essential.
Layering Matters: Yes, wearing multiple FR-rated layers can increase your protection, but only if they’ve been tested together. Also, cotton underlayers are preferred. Synthetic underwear in an arc flash? Say goodbye to your skin.

Electrical Protection

Getting zapped through your gloves or boots is a nightmare scenario, and it’s avoidable with the right gear:

Rubber Insulating Gloves: Required by OSHA. Use them with leather protectors and inspect them daily. Gloves must be dielectrically tested every six months.
Insulating Sleeves: Same rules apply. They should be worn any time you’re working near exposed energized conductors.
EH-Rated Boots: Your boots need Electrical Hazard (EH) ratings to prevent ground faults from turning you into a conduit. Bonus points for composite toes, slip-resistant soles, and high-voltage dielectric protection.

Fall Protection

If you’re working at heights, whether it’s 4 feet or 120, you need to be locked in. OSHA doesn’t play around with fall protection.

Full-Body Harness: Must be ANSI Z359 compliant. Avoid cheap, one-size-fits-none setups. Linemen need true-to-size harnesses that won’t bunch, pinch, or restrict.
Shock-Absorbing Lanyards & Positioning Straps: These reduce force if you fall and help you work comfortably at elevation.
Hard Hats with Chin Straps: Your head’s not worth risking just because your helmet shifts when you look down. Make sure it’s rated Class E for electrical protection too.

General PPE

This is the day-to-day gear every lineman should wear, even if you’re just replacing a transformer or checking meters.

Safety Glasses: Choose models that meet ANSI Z87.1 with anti-fog and side shields. Add a face shield for arc flash or grinding.
Hearing Protection: Earplugs or earmuffs rated for your work environment (especially near transformers or generators).
Hi-Vis Gear: Whether you’re roadside or in a substation, visibility is safety. Bonus if your gear’s not just compliant but also breathable and designed for the job. (Yes, funny hi-vis gear is legal as long as it meets ANSI/ISEA 107 visibility standards.)

Compliance Snapshot: Know the Rules Before You Buy

Here’s what the big regulatory bodies say about the gear that keeps linemen off the incident reports:

OSHA 1910.269 & 1926 Subpart V: These regulations lay out the minimum PPE required for electric power generation, transmission, and distribution. They mandate arc-rated clothing, electrical protective equipment, fall protection, and training.
NFPA 70E: This standard covers arc flash protection, including Hazard Risk Categories (1–4) and guidance on proper PPE layering. It also emphasizes training and maintenance.
ANSI Z359 Series: The gold standard for fall protection systems, harnesses, anchors, and energy absorbers. Trainees and apprentices: memorize this. It’s your future.

What to Look for When Buying PPE (Or Supplying It)

Not all PPE is created equal; you'd better know what to look for. The wrong gear doesn’t just make you sweat, itch, or trip.

It flat-out doesn’t protect you. Here’s how to dodge junk gear and invest in the stuff that actually gets worn.

Don’t Get Screwed by Cheap PPE

If a piece of PPE looks like it was stitched together in someone’s garage, or slapped with a sticker that screams “certified” with no real testing, it probably won’t hold up when it counts. Here’s what to watch for:

No Third-Party Testing: If you can’t verify a product’s ANSI, NFPA, or ASTM certifications with actual documentation, run.
Sticker-Only Labels: Legit PPE has tags, specs, and traceable manufacturing details. Stickers that say “ANSI compliant” without showing which ANSI rating? That’s not safety, it’s marketing.
Melting Materials: If it feels like a plastic poncho, it probably reacts like one in an arc flash. Cheap rain gear or “flame-resistant” shirts made of synthetic junk can melt onto your skin. That’s a lawsuit (and a hospital stay) waiting to happen.
Sloppy Stitching or Sizing: If the seams are crooked or the sizing is inconsistent, it’s not built for abuse. It’s built to cut corners.

You don’t want to be the guy who bought a pallet of garbage gear because it saved a few bucks, especially when your crew starts sourcing their own stuff behind your back.

The Features That Matter Most to Linemen

If it doesn’t fit right, doesn’t breathe, or feels like a punishment to wear, it’s not going to get used. Period. Here’s what actual linemen are looking for:

True-to-Size Fit: Gear that’s too tight messes with harnesses, pinches under tool belts, and restricts movement. Too loose? Catches on hardware and snags on everything. That’s why Armed American Supply makes gear from XS to 5XL, because real guys come in real sizes.
Breathable + Durable = Wearable: FR gear that breathes in 90° heat but still survives jobsite abuse? That’s the holy grail. Our cotton/poly blends are soft, rugged, and don’t feel like you’re wearing a welding curtain.
Cotton/Poly Blends Beat Stiff 100% Cotton FR: 100% cotton FR gear feels like you’re wrapped in a canvas tarp. Cotton/poly blends give you comfort, flex, and shrink-resistance, so your sleeves don’t suddenly stop two inches short and mess with your glove seal.

For Trainees: What You Need Day One

Starting out as a lineman is equal parts exciting and intimidating. Whether you’re fresh out of trade school or just landed your first apprenticeship, showing up prepared says more than any resume ever could.

You want to earn respect, not eye-rolls. And that starts with showing up in the right gear and knowing how to wear it.

Your Starter PPE Checklist

Before you even think about climbing a pole or hopping in a bucket truck, here’s what you need on day one:

Insulated Rubber Gloves + Leather Protectors: Your primary defense against live wires. These aren’t optional, they’re life-saving.
Safety Glasses: ANSI Z87.1 rated with side shields. Bonus if they don’t fog up every time you breathe.
EH-Rated Boots: No, gym shoes won’t cut it. You need dielectric, slip-resistant boots with solid ankle support.
Hi-Vis Shirt or Vest: ANSI-compliant and bright enough to be seen from orbit. And yes, it can be funny, as long as it’s legit.
Basic FR Kit: A good FR shirt and pants, compliant with NFPA 70E, are your starting uniform for arc flash protection.

Mistakes to Avoid Early

There’s no shame in being new, but there’s plenty in being unprepared. Here’s how to avoid rookie PPE screw-ups:

Wearing Synthetic Layers Under FR Gear: This is a big one. Your base layers matter. Synthetic shirts or underwear can melt onto your skin in an arc event. Stick with cotton.
Skipping Fit Checks on Gloves or Harnesses: PPE that doesn’t fit won’t protect you. Too loose? It slips. Too tight? You’ll avoid wearing it altogether. Make sure everything from your gloves to your harness is true to size, especially when you’re still growing into the job.
Improper Storage Habits: Rolling up your gloves and tossing them in your bag? That’s a fast track to cracks and insulation failure. Keep your rubber gear flat, dry, and out of direct sunlight.

Ready to Gear Up?

Don’t settle for stiff, boring PPE made by someone who’s never set foot on a job site. Grab hi-vis gear that actually fits, holds up, and cracks a few smiles while keeping you safe.

👉 Shop Armed American Supply, because safety doesn’t have to suck.