Arc Flash & Electrical Safety News

Monday, March 30, 2009

New Curriculum Addresses Electrical Hazards in the Workplace

The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) has announced the 2009 release of the Contren® Learning Series Managing Electrical Hazards module.

Developed to help organizations respond to the 2009 edition of national consensus standard, NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, this new module introduces trainees and their supervisors to electrical hazards in the workplace and how to avoid these hazards. Topics also include how to select specialized personal protective equipment for electrical work, how to analyze and document shock and arc flash hazards, and how to plan and conduct work around them.

NCCER worked with subject matter experts representing the electrical industry and academia across the country to introduce relevant industry material into the curriculum.

"The purpose of this module is to provide an effective toolkit of awareness and behaviors that students can apply toward their own electrical safety behaviors and principles," said Jim Mitchem, technical services manager, The Industrial Company, Steamboat Springs, Colo. "Managing Electrical Hazards serves as an excellent study guide to understanding significant safety topics outlined in the NFPA 70E, in which OSHA bases its electrical safety mandates."

Managing Electrical Hazards also offers technical hints and tips from the electrical industry, presenting real-life scenarios similar to those one might encounter on the job site. Additional features include a list of trade terms and a module trade term quiz.

Students successfully completing Managing Electrical Hazards through an NCCER Accredited Training Sponsor will earn industry-recognized credentials through NCCER's National Registry.

NCCER develops the Contren® Learning Series curriculum in partnership with leading textbook publisher, Pearson.

The following subject matter experts contributed to this curriculum: Tim Dean, Central Ohio ABC; Tim Ely, Beacon Electrical Contractors; Danny Liggett, Amber, L.P.; Jim Mitchem, The Industrial Company; Michael J. Powers, Tri-City Electrical Contractors, Inc.; Ted Thomas, South Carolina Electric & Gas; and Wayne Stratton, ABC of Iowa.

NCCER is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) education foundation created by the construction
industry to develop standardized curriculum with portable credentials and to help address the skilled construction workforce shortage. NCCER is recognized by the industry as the training, assessment, certification, and career development standard for the construction, maintenance, and pipeline craft professional. For more information, visit www.nccer.org or contact NCCER customer service at 888.622.3720.

Labels: Electrical Safety Training, Preventing Arc Flash Accidents

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Friday, March 13, 2009

The Fine Print Notes In NFPA 70E 2009

The two most recent issues of the NFPA Journal include columns by Bill Buss about the fine print notes in NFPA 70E. He says this about the fine print notes:

"Section 90.5(C) of NFPA 70E, Electrical Safety in the Workplace®, defines fine print notes (FPNs) as explanatory material that is informational in nature. They are not a part of the requirements, but they do alert users to the technical committee’s concerns and provide additional information that helps users apply the standard. They should also be considered when developing a site safety program and doing the hazard/risk analysis for work tasks."

The first article is in the January/February issue and is called In 70E, the small print can be just as important as the big print. It points out fine print notes that discuss arc flash hazards when an enclosure has louvers, as well as fine print notes on training, hazard/risk evaluation, lock out/tag out, and electrical safety programs.

The second article is in the March/April issue and discusses topics such as fault clearing time and PPE. The topic of NFPA 70E fine print, arc flash and PPE was also discussed in the July/August 2008 Bill Buss column, but you must be a member of NFPA to read back issues. Non-members can read the current issue and the three most recent back issues.

Labels: Arc Flash, NFPA 70E

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

NIOSH Arc Flash Video

A 26 minute Arc Flash Awareness video, created by NIOSH, is available as a free download from the NIOSH web site. The video presents the personal stories of three experienced electricians who were injured in two separate arc flash incidents. They tell about the sudden and destructive power of arc flash and discuss how these injuries affected their lives.

Labels: Arc Flash Accidents, Arc Flash PPE, Arc Flash Training

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