Arc Flash & Electrical Safety News

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Global Arc Flash Safety Standards: Electrical Safety Industrial & Utilities Regulatory Compliance

An article by Hugh Hoagland in today's edition of the American Chronicle discusses arc flash PPE and various standards that apply to PPE. The article opens by stating:

"Multinational corporations are causeing electrical safety work practice standards to become more global by taking best practices from one part of the world and transplanting them. When safety standards are global, the corporations can have the same training, engineering, and PPE standards in more countries. Multinational corporations, by international law, cannot have lower safety standards in another country without repercussions. Those companies and their workers win."

It then proceeds with a multi-national look at arc flash, arc flash PPE, and how PPE standards are becoming globalized.

You can read the entire article here.

Related past posts:
OSHA Could Fine Workers For PPE Violations
Is Your Electrical PPE Adequate?
Failing To Follow Safety Rules

Labels: Arc Flash PPE, NFPA 70E

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Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Negligence Factor In Russian Power Plant Accident

On August 17th at Russia's largest hydro-electric facility, part of an overstrained hydro-turbine unit, weighing 1,500, tons snapped off its restraining bolts and sailed 45 feet into the air. The result was flooding, short circuits and wreckage that crippled the plant and doomed dozens of workers in seconds.

The Associated press reports that Russia's top industrial safety oversight official, in a 140 page report, stated that negligence was a major factor in a devastating accident at Russia's biggest hydroelectric power plant.

Read the AP news report, providing details about the accident and the damage, here.

Related past posts:
Electrical Safety In The Workplace
Lax Lockout Procedure Result In Arc Flash Burns
Arc Flash Safety, History & Requirements

Labels: Safety Inspections, Work Place Safety

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Arc Flash Training & PPE Protection

Hugh Hoagland has an article in Occupational Health & Safety magazine that discusses why meeting OSHA and NFPA requirements for PPE does not always provide adequate protection. The article defines the problem with this example:

"I received a call recently from a large electric utility. A line worker, we'll call him Bill, had been badly burned while performing work near a 69kV piece of equipment."

"The worker was in a 50 cal/cm² rated winter suit. The undergarments and outer garments were provided by the company, but workers were given a lot of latitude on undergarments as long as the outer shell was compliant with the company's clothing policy."

"The worker chose not to wear an arc-rated sweatshirt even though this was commonly available in the company's clothing catalog. Instead, the worker was wearing a non flame-resistant T-shirt under the sweatshirt. Though this system was in compliance with NFPA 70E, NESC, and OSHA 1910.269, it was not the best choice for the worker."

You can read the entire article here: OSHOnline Articles

Related Past Posts:
PPE: Better Safe Than Sorry
The myths and Reality of Arc Flash Protection
NFPA 70E Clothing Requirements

Labels: Arc Flash, Arc Flash PPE, Electrical Safety

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