What items are prohibited when working around electrical conductors?

• A. Clothing with metal buckles.
• B. Metal jewelry, metal ladders, and clothing with metal buckles.
• C. Insulated gloves.
• D. Safety glasses.

Answer: (B)

A fundamental safety rule around electrical conductors is to avoid anything that can conduct electricity and create a path for fault current to reach your body. Metal jewelry, such as rings, bracelets, or watches, can become energized or trap a live conductor against the skin, forming a dangerous current path and potentially causing burns or electrocution. A metal ladder can conduct electricity from a live part to you, turning the ladder itself into a live conductor and increasing the risk of shock. Clothing with metal buckles also provides a conductive path; those buckles can heat up under fault current or snag on equipment, bringing current to the wearer.

Insulated gloves and safety glasses are protective equipment that help reduce risk around energized parts, so they are appropriate to use and not prohibited. Therefore, the items that are prohibited around electrical conductors are metal jewelry, metal ladders, and clothing with metal buckles.