A boot for an articulable electrosurgical instrument having a conductor is disclosed. The boot has: a first layer having a flexible substantially non-conductive material; a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer having a flexible conductive medium configured to be electrically coupled to at least one shield conductor, whereby the boot is configured to transmit normal current and fault current to a reference potential; and a third layer disposed on the second layer, the third layer having a flexible non-conductive material.