Arc Flash & Electrical Safety: July 2006

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

The Dangers of Arc Flash Incidents

"Between five and 10 times a day, an arc flash explosion occurs in electric equipment somewhere in the United States that sends a burn victim to a special burn center, according to statistics compiled by CapSchell, Inc., a Chicago-based research and consulting firm that specializes in preventing workplace injuries and deaths.

That number does not include cases sent to regular hospitals and clinics, or unreported cases and “near misses,” estimated to be many times that number. There are one or two deaths a day from these multi-trauma events, noted Dr. Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer, principal investigator.

The above quote is from an article in Maintenance Technology magazine titled "The Dangers of Arc Flash Incidents".

The article starts by discussing what an arc flash is and what the causes are. It points out that one utility had 2.2 arc flash incidents a year at an average cost of over 15 million dollars per incident. The article then goes on to point out that Safety Programs are a key to eliminating injuries from arc flash. A hazard analysis provides the facts that are needed, then standards such as NFPA 70E are applied to determine safety boundaries, required PPE, work practices, and proper labeling and signage.

Labels: Arc Flash Accidents, Preventing Arc Flash Accidents

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Monday, July 24, 2006

OSHA Answers A Letter About NFPA 70E

A letter written by OSHA to Associated General Contractors of Indiana, Inc., in response to questions sent to OSHA, provides some helpful information for understanding the application of NFPA 70E.

The letter discusses the answers to five questions:

1. Is a general contractor required to oversee a subcontractor's compliance with NFPA 70E? In their responses OSHA discusses the General Duty Clause and the OSHA Multi-employer Citation Policy.

2. OSHA has not incorporated the personal protective equipment portions of NFPA 70E? Does an employer have an obligation under the General Duty Clause to ensure that its own employees comply with personal protective equipment requirements in NFPA 70E?

3. an an employer be cited for violating an OSHA requirement for personal fall protection (PPE) where a properly trained employee decides not to wear the PPE?

4. Are there OSHA standards that state that an owner of a work facility must identify and mark electrical hazards for contractors?

5. How can I distinguish between electrical work that is considered "construction work" and electrical work that is considered "general industry work"?

Labels: Construction, Electrical Hazards

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Thursday, July 20, 2006

FREE Copy of NFPA 70E Code

We're pleased to announce that our new NFPA 70E Arc Flash Labeling Starter Kit includes a free copy of the NFPA 70E code. The code book normally costs $40.

The NFPA 70E Arc Flash Labeling Starter Kit provides everything needed to make arc flash warning labels for your facility. It's based on the DuraLabel 4TTP thermal transfer printer, a popular industrial quality label printer. The DuraLabel printer comes with specialized database software designed specifically for printing and tracking arc flash labels.

The kit also includes a variety of supplies for printing arc flash labels, as well as other types of labels.

Labels: Free Safety Guides, NFPA 70E

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Friday, July 14, 2006

Do You Need NFPA 70E?

This article from Maintenance Technology is subtitled, "Questions and answers about this set of guidelines for workplace electrical safety."

The article provides a brief history of NFPA 70E and discusses in general what NFPA 70E covers. It then introduces the OSHA "general duty clause" and discusses whether compliance with NFPA 70E is mandatory.

Overall this is a good article for those who need to learn about NFPA 70E and arc flash labeling. It concludes with the following points to remember:

• Several of the OSHA regulations are written in general terms leaving the details up to the employer on how to comply. The employer is expected to use consensus standards to help in the selection of the best method to achieve compliance with OSHA regulations. NFPA 70E is a "how to comply" standard for specific OSHA regulations.

• NFPA 70E is not a federal regulation; it is just a national consensus standard like hundreds of other standards that are not laws or regulations. But compliance with 70E will assure compliance with specific OSHA electrical regulations.

• Some OSHA state plans are more restrictive than federal OSHA and as such may have adopted or incorporated NFPA 70E.

• In the event of an injury or death due to an electrical accident, if OSHA determines that compliance with NFPA 70E would have prevented or lessened the injury, OSHA may cite the employer under the "general duty clause" for not using 70E to protect the employee(s)

• It is important to get training on NFPA 70E and to implement it into your electrical safety program.

Labels: NFPA 70E, Understanding Arc Flash

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Electrical Safety in the Workplace

I've found a very interesting arc flash article published by the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. It describes and analyzes, including providing detailed photographs, an arc flash accident at NSLS. This is an excellent paper that can be used for training and giving people a better understanding what what arc flash is and the danger it represents.

The paper is available at:
http://www.nsls.bnl.gov/organization/ESH/highlights/pdf/nfpa_presentation.pdf

The paper provides a brief introduction to arc flash and describes the IEEE arc flash tests. It then describes the accident and the causes of the accident. The final section, which is about half of the paper, is an excellent source of information about preventing arc flash hazards and providing the proper PPE.

Labels: Arc Flash, Work Place Safety

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Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Free Guide to Arc Flash Label Information

A free one page guide to the information typically on an arc flash label was just made available on our web site today.

NFPA 70E does not specify what should go on an arc flash label, so labels will vary in different facilities. This guide provides an overview that covers the more common information on labels. Not all of the following information may be included on the arc flash labels in your facility.

All arc flash labels should include boundary information. This is the key information that tells people how closely they may approach. The guide provides definitions of the various types of boundaries such as the: Flash Protection Boundary; the Limited Shock Approach Boundary; the Restricted Shock Approach Boundary; and the Prohibited Shock Approach Boundary.

In addition arc flash labels may specify the PPE that is required and provide information about the current, energy and voltage shock hazard. These are described on the Arc Flash Information Guide.

This guide is available free. It is a printed guide that is available either laminated or unlaminated. There is no postage or handling charge.

Labels: Free Safety Guides

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Monday, July 03, 2006

Implementing NFPA 70E At Your Facility

This article from the June issue of Occupational Health and Safety magazine provides a concise overview of the safety related work practices outlined in the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Standard For Electrical Safety in the Workplace--2004 Edition.

The article opens with this statement:

"Some 600 workers are electrocuted annually and electrocution is the fourth leading cause of workplace fatalities in the United States. If you have employees working on or near exposed energized electrical parts, electrical safe practices are essential."

The article then summarizes the requirements in four chapters of NFPA 70E that describe what should be included in written procedures those working on electrical equipment must follow.

Chapter 1: Safety-Related Work Practices

Chapter 2: Safety-Related Maintenance Requirements

Chapter 3: Safety Requirements For Special Equipment

Chapter 4: Installation Safety Requirements

The article concludes by pointing out that "The likelihood of an incident with one of your workers involving an electrocution or electric arc flash is significantly reduced by maintaining a safe electrical work environment that includes three major components: proper installation, safe electrical work practices, and an effective, ongoing electrical maintenance program"

Labels: NFPA 70E, Preventing Arc Flash Accidents

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Saturday, July 01, 2006

Doing It The Right Way: NFPA 70E

"Sad stories abound. Money can be wasted. Ensuring electrical safety in the workplace is not an option--it's one of the most important things you'll ever do." A noted expert on electrical safety, John C. Klinger, P.E., offers several suggestions for effective compliance in an article in the May 2006 issue of Maintenance Technology magazine.

Using a bullet point list of do's and don'ts, Mr. Klingler provides a comprehensive introduction to implementing and following the requirements and standards of NFPA 70E. He starts by discussing why NFPA 70E is important:

"NFPA 70E is the most comprehensive electrical safety standard available today. There are other excellent electrical safety standards including the National Electrical Code, but NFPA 70E is the only on that addresses electrically safe work practices, electrical maintenance safety, special electrical equipment and electrical installation safety in one document."

He goes on to explain that NFPA 70E not only results in complete compliance with OSHA requirements, it addresses the need for electrical protection for your employees, vendors, contractors and others who work in your facility.

The article provides a series of practical suggestions that both improve safety and eliminate waste, and thus reduce costs. It covers topics such as proceedures, PPE, training, documentation, labeling and evaluation.

Labels: NFPA 70E, Preventing Arc Flash Accidents

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