Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can mean the difference between life and death. Ryan Sundquist’s recent experience is evidence of that. Sundquist is a 13-year member of Local 369 and a veteran underground splicer. In early October, he was working in a manhole, installing cable hangers and re-racking cables — a task he had performed countless times before. Although leather gloves were the only requirement for the drilling work involved, Sundquist made a critical decision that day: he chose to wear rubber gloves, anticipating that he would be drilling and handling energized cables.
This decision proved lifesaving. While drilling, his equipment unexpectedly contacted a concealed 13,800-volt live line within a duct bank in the wall. The conductor was only 2.5 inches deep in the wall, which is not standard construction. The rubber gloves he wore served as a shield against what could have been a fatal electrical shock. Placards have since been installed on the manhole wall, warning against drilling due to this hazardous condition.
Sundquist’s story underscores an essential truth about PPE: it’s not just about following rules; it’s about returning safely to loved ones at the end of the day. No matter how routine or familiar a task may seem, the choice to wear the appropriate protection is a decision every worker should prioritize. PPE is not simply a guideline — it is a lifeline. In hazardous work environments, taking that extra moment to wear the right PPE is a life-preserving choice that no worker, regardless of experience level, should ever overlook.