Tuesday, August 26, 2008
PPE: Better safe than sorry
A recent article in the NFPA Journal discusses the thorny question of whether, and in what circumstances, personal protective equipment should be worn when there are no live, exposed electrical parts. Technically, when there are no exposed parts, there is no flash protection boundary—but there may still be a risk of injury. Equipment doors can be blown open and panels blown off by an arc flash explosion, and hot gases can escape through louvers or cracks and cause burns.In a facility using the PPE tables provided in NFPA 70E, there are a few instances where PPE is required even though no live parts are exposed. For instance, Table 130.7(C)(9)(a) lists the required PPE for "Circuit breaker (CB) or fused switch operation with doors closed" as hazard/risk category 2. However, even for facilities which do not rely on the NFPA 70E tables, safety-consciousness will often suggest wearing more PPE than is explicitly required.
In the 2009 edition of NFPA 70E, a new fine-print note will be added, which will state in part, The collective experience of the task group is that in most cases closed doors do not provide enough protection to eliminate the need for PPE for instances where the state of the equipment is known to readily change, i.e. doors open or closed, rack in or rack out.
While a fine-print note is not a formal requirement, arc flash safety isn't about following the letter of the law. True safety consciousness requires taking appropriate steps to minimize all hazards—and wearing PPE is often one of those steps.
Labels: Arc Flash, Arc Flash PPE, NFPA 70E
posted by Daniel Nighting
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Thursday, August 21, 2008
New Arc Flash Web Site
Graphic Products, Inc. has announced a new website offering invaluable resources for anyone who is concerned with arc flash. The Arc Flash Information Resource Center, located at www.ArcFlash.me, provides employers, plant managers, and safety personnel with a clear guide to arc flash safety regulations and procedures in an easy-to-follow format.“There are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings about arc flash.” says Steve Hudgik, Internet Marketing Manager for Graphic Products, “We hope that the Arc Flash Information Resource Center will be a source of information that helps improve safety—and save lives.”
The web site covers topics including arc flash regulations, performing an arc flash analysis, selecting PPE, protection boundaries, arc flash warning labels, and various safety products and devices. Also included are links to dozens of other helpful sites, such as articles, product vendors, and regulatory agencies.
The Arc Flash Information Resource Center is perhaps the single most thorough and informative site relating to arc flash safety on the web. We highly recommend it to all of our readers.
posted by Daniel Nighting
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Arc flash survivor's story
Bill Giffen was hit by an arc flash incident last year while working as a Master Electrician. The resultant injuries have left him permanently disfigured, and have had a serious impact on his personal life. On his web site, www.arcflashsurvivor.com, Bill tells his story and provides photos of the accident's aftermath.Bill sees his first-hand experience with the dangers of arc flash as giving him a mission to help inform other electrical workers of the importance of safety consciousness. He offers a presentation designed, in his own words, "to bring the very real face of an accident to you, your employees and your co-workers." More than a run-through of dry safety procedures, Bill's presentation is designed to provide a wake-up call to the importance of using well-planned, safe procedures every time--because it only takes one lapse of judgment to change a worker's life forever.
A portion of the proceeds from Bill's presentation is donated to trauma and burn centers.
posted by Daniel Nighting
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Tuesday, August 12, 2008
System maintenance a key part of arc flash safety
An article in IMPO Magazine, written by Joseph Weigel of Square D Services, Schneider Electric, discusses the important role that electrical system maintenance plays in protecting against arc flash.Fault clearing time is central to mitigating the danger posed by an arc flash. However, without proper maintenance, upstream overcurrent protective devices may not be able to respond adequately in the event of an arc fault. Weigel writes,
When these devices are not maintained on a regular basis, their clearing time may increase, allowing more energy to be released in an event. If maintenance is deferred long enough, it may result in a worst-case condition that may render the device completely inoperable, meaning it will not open to clear a fault of any magnitude.
An improperly maintained electrical system may look safe on paper, but pose significant dangers in reality. Malfunctioning protective devices can greatly increase the incident energy released by an arc flash; devices which don't function at all may as well not exist.
NFPA 70B, "Recommended Practice for Electrical System Maintenance," provides a useful guide to ensuring that protective devices maintain full functionality. Unfortunately, NFPA 70B compliance is far from universal, as it is a voluntary standard not required by OSHA.
Labels: Arc Flash, Electrical Hazards
posted by Daniel Nighting
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Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Hazard Assessment: In-House or Outsource?
An article by Larry Altmayer of Littelfuse, published at PlantServices.com, outlines the expertise and resources needed to perform an adequate electrical safety assessment and arc flash hazard analysis. The article addresses the important issue of whether to take on the cost of hiring an electrical safety consulting firm, or to face the considerable task of performing an analysis in-house.Electrical engineering know-how is, of course, a key factor. Altmayer states, "Electrical hazard assessments are complex, and unless you understand the special expertise required you risk falling short of OSHA requirements." Engineering expertise, and familiarity with your facility's electrical systems, are necessary for a hazard assessment, but they're not enough. In-depth understanding of OSHA, NFPA 70E, and IEEE 1584 requirements and procedures is needed in order to ensure accuracy and compliance with the relevant codes.
Expertise isn't the only thing to consider in deciding whether to outsource or work in-house. A thorough hazard analysis is time-consuming and can be costly. Also, specialized equipment such as arc flash software and Category 4 PPE (for use while determining device characteristics) may be necessary to complete the assessment, while the ability to produce warning labels in large quantities is necessary for implementing the study's results. Liability for the safety of assessment workers is another concern. A final factor to consider is training: do you have the staff and resources to fully train workers on the hazards they will encounter in your facility?
Labels: Arc Flash, Electrical Hazards
posted by Daniel Nighting
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