Arc Flash & Electrical Safety

Ten Part Arc Flash Video Series Available Free

2010-02-25T13:25:00.000-08:00

Reliability Web has made a Ten Part Arc Flash training video series available on it's web. Each video is about an hour in length. The topics covered are:

Video 1: Infrared Windows - How Important Is Transmissivity?
Video 2: A Comprehensive Approach For Designing and Implementing Arc Flash Mitigation
Video 3: NFPA 70E and CSA Z462
Video 4: World-Class Electrical Safety Programs and Operational Excellence
Video 5: Ten Things You Need To Know About Infrared Windows
Video 6: Standards Implications For Electrical Thermography
Video 7: NFPA 70E / CSA Z462 - Approach Boundaries, Definitions and PPE REquirements
Video 8: The Economics of Infrared Windows
Video 9: Arc Flash - A Survivor's Story
Video 10: NFPA 70E - The Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance

The videos feature the audio recorded at a Reliability Web workshop, with the Power Point slides that were a part of the presentation.

All ten videos are online on Reliability Web

Video - Arc Flash At MobilExxon In Texas

2010-02-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

This video shows the arc flash that occurred at one of the MobilExxon facilities in Beaumont, Texas not long ago.

News From Australia - Company Fined For Arc Flash Injury

2010-01-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

The following is a press release from the government of South Australia:

A Whyalla electrical contractor has been convicted and fined today over an incident, in which a young trainee suffered burns that resulted from an arc flash. In delivering his penalty to ICE Engineering and Construction Pty Ltd, Industrial Magistrate Michael Ardlie said: "The defendant failed in its obligations to a very junior worker. Whilst it had safety systems in place, those safety systems were not utilised."

The SA Industrial Relations Court heard how in April 2007, the then-17 year old male had been engaged as a trainee with the defendant for just three weeks. At the time of the incident, he was at a local business helping with work on a circuit distribution board. When he used an insulated copper wire to touch a live part of a circuit breaker, an arc flash resulted which knocked the youth to the ground and burned his face, neck and arms. While he required hospital treatment, he has since returned to work and remains with the employer.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching section 19(1) of the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986 in failing to provide a safe system of work and appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision.

The court heard that on the day:
• the trainee was supervised by a third year apprentice, not a qualified tradesperson
• no job safety analysis had been done on the tasks the trainee was to do
• the trainee had no understanding of the operation and design of the board and its components.

Magistrate Ardlie fined the company $15,000 after a discount of 25 per cent for its early guilty plea, contrition and remedial action. However he declined an application by the defendant not to record a conviction saying: "The incident … has served as a reminder to the defendant that although it may have systems in place, it does need to implement those systems at a practical level in relation to each work site it attends, especially given the environment in which it works."

SafeWork SA Executive Director, Michele Patterson says it reinforces the view that any workplace safety system must be consistently followed in order to be fully effective.
"Statistically young workers are always at greater risk of harm, and coupled with the hazard of electricity, this incident should emphasise to the electrical services industry that young workers should always enjoy the full protection of a diligently applied safety regime."

Using Ultrasound To Prevent Electrical Failures

2010-01-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

An article by Mark Goodman, UE Systems, Inc., showing how ultrasound can be used to detect electrical failures, appears in Reliable Plant Magazine. It describes how portable instruments can detect potential failures and reveal arc flash conditions -- allowing the arc flash to be prevented.

The article opens by describing how this is possible:

"Arcing, tracking and corona emissions produce ionization. Ionization, a process by which a neutral atom or molecule loses or gains electrons, thereby acquiring a net charge and becoming an ion, occurs as the result of the dissociation of the atoms of a molecule in solution or of a gas in an electric field. Ionization has by-products: ozone and nitrogen oxides. These combine with moisture to produce nitric acid, which is destructive to most dialectics and certain metallic compositions, resulting in corrosion. Airborne/structure borne ultrasound technology is ideally suited for detecting these emissions since the ionization process produces ultrasound."

You can find out how this works and read the entire article in Reliable Plant Magazine.

Incident Prevention Magazine - Confused About Arc Flash Compliance?

2010-01-12T14:06:00.001-08:00

An article in Incident Preventation magazine reveals that electric power utilities are struggling when it comes to developing implementing arc flash protection and prevention plans. The article states:

"A recent survey conducted by Incident Prevention indicated there is no standard method for developing and implementing electric utility arc flash implementation plans. In particular, survey participants identified four areas of uncertainty:
• Selecting and utilizing appropriate engineering software to calculate arc flash data.
• Selecting standard working distances for various types of work performed.
• Developing engineering controls and work rules to reduce energy levels.
• Identifying and developing processes to manage secondary arc flash conditions."

The article looks at each one of these. You can read the entire article at: http://www.incident-prevention.com/component/zine/article/124-confused-about-arc-flash-compliance.html

Chiller Arc Flash Caught On Video

2010-01-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

In this video a worker attempts to air run a chiller and the result is an arc flash that was apparently caused by an unseen short to ground.

Unusual Arc Flash Label Application

2009-12-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

This blog is published by Graphic Products, the company that makes Duralabel printers and DuraLabel supplies. Generally I don't talk much about our products, but instead focus on providing arc flash safety and training related information. But sometimes interesting things come up that deserve to be mentioned... such as yesterday.

We have developed more types of supplies for our DuraLabel printers than you'll find for any other printer. We have a full-time staff of R&D researchers, engineers, test lab technicians, and QA people constantly working to solve labeling and sign making problems.

Yesterday we had a call from someone who needed to apply arc flash labels outdoors, in freezing temperatures. It wasn't a job that could wait for warmer weather. The application temperature range on normal arc flash die-cut warning labels only goes as low as 40 degrees. The problem was turned over to our R&D group. They solved the problem, creating a new low-temperature supply. It was then released to our manufacturing group and within 24 hours of the customer presenting us with the problem, low-temperature arc flash labels were shipped. Problem solved!

That's what DuraLabel is all about... providing unbeatable customer service and solving your labeling and sign making problems. We're here so you can have a happy, relaxed and safe holiday season, because the visual communication supplies you need have been delivered and are performing as promised.

Have a Merry Christmas! And a truly great New Year!!

Water Plant Employee Suffers Burn Injury

2009-12-23T07:16:00.000-08:00

The Roanoke Times reported on Tuesday: "A Western Virginia Water Authority worker was injured Sunday night at the Roanoke Regional Water Pollution Control Plant in Southeast Roanoke. An electrical arc flash-burned the man's hand and forearm about 9:30 p.m. Sunday while he tended to a medium-voltage electrical panel, said Sarah Baumgardner, the authority's spokeswoman"

Thinking back over the past year it seems that arc flash accidents rarely make the news. The danger of arc flash can easily be forgotten, and replaced by assumptions and shortcuts. Arc flash can happen in seemingly a random manner... it may be years before one happens in your facility. Or it could be in just a few minutes. You never know when an arc flash will happen. Don't get complacent. Never relax your safety vigilance.

Arc Flash Safety Hazard Warning Labels. NFPA 70E Compliance & Electrical Safe Work Practices Tips

2009-12-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

I just ran across a good article in the American Chronicle about arc flash labels and arc flash safe practices related to labeling. The article provides an overview of arc flashing labeling. The concluding paragraph states:

"When determining what arc flash hazard labels to use and what to include on them, always focus on the end users – the persons in the field exposed to the hazards. These labels exist to protect them, to give them the information they need to do their work and stay safe. Keep the information brief and easy to read. And always train, audit, re-train. People don´t do what you expect, they do what you inspect. Personnel must understand the purpose of these labels, the safety net they provide, and, as with any other tool or safe work practice, how to use them."

You can read the article here.

Use this link to get a free Arc Flash Labeling Best Practices Guide.

Should Arc Flash Danger Labels Ever Be Used?

2009-12-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

Some say that a DANGER label should be used when the incident energy exposure is greater than 40 cal/cm sq. Others say that DANGER labels never should be used for arc flash because an arc flash is rare, and ANSI code only calls for a DANGER label when the hazard will result in death or serious injury.

What do you think? Should WARNING labels be used in all cases? Are there instances in which as DANGER label should be used?

I'm not avoiding the question, but in this case the right answer is: what do you think?

There is nothing in the NFPA or ANSI code that answers this question. So the answer is that you must do what you think is right, then stick to it as a standard throughout your facility. Then be sure everyone is properly trained on how arc flash labels are being used in your facility.

If you are using both warning and danger arc flash labels, what is the difference? When is a danger label used instead of a warning label? If you are using just warning labels for arc flash, is this consistent with how labels are used throughout your facility and how should workers respond? Or you may choose to always use danger labels for arc flash. Whatever approach you take, establishing a standard, sticking to it, and training people to understand that standard are essential for ensuring a safe workplace.

New York Personal Injury Attorney Says That Electrocution Is A Serious Risk for Workers

2009-12-03T07:15:00.000-08:00

The following is from a press release and provides one law firm's view on electrical injuries. Some of the stronger "sales pitch" language has been edited out.

According to New York Injury Law Firm George W. Ilchert, Esq., a partner with Lurie, Ilchert, Mac Donnell and Ryan, LLP, a recent study conducted by the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has shown that one person dies each workday as a result of an electric accident.

"Whether it is an electrocution, shock, arc flash, arc blast, or other electricity-related accident, emergency rooms across the United States treat nearly 8,000 victims each year, many of whom are injured on the job," says Ilchert. "No matter what the industry, electricity is always present in the workplace and although government regulated safety standards exist, accidents still happen even when safety procedures and guidelines are followed."

Ilchert notes that while the NFPA's standards for workplace safety have created a safer working environment for America's workers, including the mandate that electrical equipment be de-energized prior to being worked with, he and the staff at the Lurie Law Firm have become all too familiar with on-the-job electrical accidents in which clients have suffered serious injury by coming in contact with live electrical currents.

Ilchert stated, "The injuries that we see among our clients are typically quite severe and, at times, a work-related electrical accident can even result in death," says Ilchert. "The more serious injuries often require an immense amount of medical treatment and cause lifestyle changes that prevent victims from returning to work, sometimes indefinitely."

According to Ilchert, the lawyers from his firm, like any reputable NY accident lawyer, seek to recover the necessary compensation for the pain, suffering, loss of income, or medical treatments that their clients deserve as a result of an electrical work-related injury. The Lurie Law firm lists the most common work-related electrical injuries as electrocution, electric shock, and burns.

"A quality personal injury lawyer will use a team of experts to determine what, if any, compensation an accident victim deserves," says Ilchert, "and to ensure that anyone responsible is held accountable.

Arc Flash In J.C. Penny Store Store Injures Electrician

2009-11-19T15:33:00.000-08:00

It's not just industrial workplaces that present arc flash hazards. Here's a report from Mass Live (Springfield Republican):

"An electrical explosion Wednesday morning at the J.C. Penney store on Boston Road sent an electrician, a 35-year-old Chicopee man, to Baystate Medical Center with for treatment of burns to his face."

Read the complete story.

OSHA Proposes $88,200 In Fines For Arc Flash Injury

2009-11-19T15:26:00.000-08:00

OSHA has cited O'Connell Electric Co. Inc. of Victor, N.Y., for 14 alleged serious violations of safety standards after a company employee was burned in a May 18 electrical arc flash on the North Campus of the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo. The electrical contractor faces a total of $88,200 in proposed fines.

The incident occurred as O'Connell employees were performing maintenance on 34,500 volt electrical switches and transformers in the basement of Baldy Hall. OSHA's inspection found that one of the switches had not first been de-energized, as required, before employees began their work, nor had the switches been properly barricaded and tagged to prevent exposure to live electrical parts.

OSHA also determined that the injured worker and other employees had not been adequately informed about and supplied with adequate personal protective clothing. In addition, they had not been adequately trained in electrical safe work practices and in proper hazardous energy control procedures.

"This is a clear example of the grave consequences that can result when basic electrical safeguards are not provided and used," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "Electricity can injure and kill almost instantly, which makes it vital that power sources be de-energized and locked out, and workers be properly trained and equipped before electrical work is performed."

OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

"One means of preventing hazardous conditions and the accidents that can result from them is to establish an effective safety and health management system through which employers and employees work together to proactively evaluate, identify and eliminate hazards," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.

O'Connell Electric has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, participate in an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Buffalo Area Office; telephone 716-551-3053.

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

2009-10-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

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

Negligence Factor In Russian Power Plant Accident

2009-10-07T07:06:00.000-07:00

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

Arc Flash Training & PPE Protection

2009-10-07T06:50:00.000-07:00

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

ASTM Issues Standard For Arc Protective Blanket Testing

2009-08-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Arc protective blankets are used in many electrical applications to protect workers who are stationed near energized electrical parts. While these blankets have been used for years, there have been no testing criteria for their evaluation. A new ASTM International standard will be used to determine the effectiveness of arc protective blankets in suppressing the combined effect of an arc flash and an arc blast. The new standard, ASTM F2676, Test Method for Determining the Protective Performance of an Arc Protective Blanket for Electric Arc Hazards, was developed by Subcommittee F18.65 on Wearing Apparel, part of ASTM International Committee F18 on Electrical Protective Equipment for Workers.

"Now companies have the ability to evaluate blankets with a repeatable standard that can be done at many test labs using an electric arc and a high speed camera," says Hugh Hoagland, technical consultant, ArcWear.com and e-Hazard.com, and a member of F18.

"Research showed the most critical factor was the current in amps and the time exposed," says Hoagland. "Now blankets can be compared." Hoagland also notes that, while ASTM F2676 will be initially used by utility companies, many electricity users in heavy industry will also benefit from being able to reference the new standard.

Subcommittee F18.65 is continuing its research in blanket use and care, and it next plans to investigate how blanket installation affects protection and how to further quantify protection. The subcommittee encourages participation, particularly from utilities, in its standards developing efforts.

ASTM International standards are available for purchase from Customer Service (phone: 610-832-9585; service@astm.org) or at www.astm.org. For technical information, contact Hugh Hoagland, ArcWear.com, Louisville, Ky. (phone: 502-314-7158; hugh@arcwear.com). ASTM Committee F18 meets Nov. 8-11 during November committee week in Atlanta, Ga.

Reduce Arc Flash Accidents Using Totally Integrated Automation

2009-08-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

An article in Design World, written by the Design World staff, describes the sad results of several arc flash explosions, and discusses how a Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) architecture created by Siemens can provide information that helps reduce exposure to potential arc flashes. The article states:

"By integrating all the relevant equipment, such as the motors, drives and switchgear, with the communications network in what Siemens calls a Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) architecture, operators are able to monitor and pull diagnostic information, perform trend and root cause analysis and generally better see what the problems are before sending an electrician into the plant to deal with a problem. Over time Richards found that workers were going into the electrical cabinet less and less often."

Read the article here.

Related Past Posts
Being Prepared Means Wearing The Right Clothing
Arc Flash Protection In The Mining Industry
Is Your Electrical PPE Adequate?

NFPA Journal - Electrical System Maintenance

2009-08-04T08:21:00.001-07:00

The current edition of the NFPA Journal has a good article about electrical maintenance. (Use this link to read the article.)

The article points out that we should not let other priorities distract us from needed electrical maintainance, and it identifies overcurrent devices as being at the top of the list. The article states:

"Although all electrical equipment needs to be maintained, the most important, from a safety standpoint, are the overcurrent devices that trip circuits when a fault occurs. These determine the length of time the overcurrent conditions exist, which determines the amount of heat, energy, and damage that will occur."

But, the article also points out that other areas also need to receive maintenance attention.

Related Past Posts
Arc Flash Safety Checklist
Arc Flash Labeling Best Practice Guide Available
System Maintenance A Key To Arc Flash Safety

OSHA Cites MillerCoors in Golden, CO For Arc Flash Injuries

2009-08-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

OSHA has cited MillerCoors LLC in Golden, Colo., with 10 alleged safety and health violations from two investigations involving the death of one and the injury of two workers.

OSHA launched an investigation into the company's safety and health practices following the death of an employee at the brewery Feb. 2. A second investigation opened following an accident April 9 in which two employees were injured.

Together, the investigations disclosed one alleged willful and nine alleged serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act's regulations governing electrical hazards. OSHA alleges that workplace conditions contributed to two employees being burned by an electrical arc flash April 9. Furthermore, agency officials allege that inadequate safety measures were in place to protect against electrical hazards at the time of the Feb. 2 accident; however, the Jefferson County coroner's office could not determine if those conditions contributed to the final cause of death.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the worker who died as well as the two injured workers," said Greg Baxter, OSHA's regional administrator in Denver. "At the time of both accidents, the company's procedures for dealing with electrical hazards were inadequate. MillerCoors needs to take the necessary steps to eliminate electrical hazards in its workplaces."

The alleged willful violation stems from the company's failure to ensure the use of appropriate electrical protective equipment when employees were working on or near energized electrical parts. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

The serious violations relate to inadequate safe work practices and failure to ensure adequate personal protective equipment was available and used by employees working on or near energized equipment. OSHA issues a serious citation when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which an employer knew or should have known.

OSHA proposes $128,500 in penalties against the company for the alleged violations.

MillerCoors has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director in Englewood, Colo., or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Related Past Posts
OSHA Citation For Failure To Abate Safety Violations
OSHA Reopens Record on Proposed Rule On Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission
Is Your Electrical PPE Adequate?

Video - Electrical Standards & Regulations

2009-07-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

This safety video, produced by WESCO Distribution and ESFi (Electrical Safety Foundastion International), the video is the highest quality electrical safety video I've seen on YouTube.. This Standards & Regulations module provides an overview of the 70E standard and how it relates to the OSHA regulations.

Related Past Posts
OSHA And Arc Flash Safety
OSHA Announces Two New Online Tools For Electrical Safety
Electrical Safety In The Workplace

Square D Services From Schneider Electric Presents The 2009 Energy And Power Distribution Conference

2009-07-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

The annual Energy and Power Distribution Conference will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, through Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009, at the Houston Hobby Airport Marriott in Houston.

Square D Services has created this unique learning environment in which industrial, commercial and utility end users come together to discuss emerging industry trends and the latest energy and electrical issues and solutions. The conference will feature best practices from presenters who are specialists in electrical distribution, energy management and arc flash safety.

Every year, energy and power distribution issues arise as technology evolves. New laws are enacted, and safety requirements change. Yesterday's solutions to electrical issues might not be current today. The conference features two technical tracks, Power System Equipment Reliability and Energy Management, which focus on updated electrical safety standards, compliance regulations, technologies and electrical equipment modernization. In addition, the conference agenda includes two panel sessions that will give attendees a chance to direct questions to industry experts. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be available upon request.

"The goal of the Energy and Power Distribution Conference is to educate professionals in areas that will increase safety, reduce lifecycle and facility costs, increase energy efficiency and maximize power system reliability. Attendees will receive updates on pertinent issues while learning about and discussing new technologies and service solutions in a non-commercial environment," said Mike Rice, vice president of Square D Services.

The 2009 Energy and Power Distribution Conference will begin Sept. 29 with a welcome reception, an ideal time for professional networking. The keynote speaker will address attendees to kick off a full day of seminars Sept. 30. That evening, attendees will come together for more networking and socializing.

To register online for Square D Services' Energy and Power Distribution Conference, visit www.regonline.com/epdc09. Interested parties who prefer to register by mail or phone can contact Hal Theobald at (513) 755-4226 or visit www.squared-services.com to download a conference brochure and registration form in PDF format. The conference registration fee is $395. Square D Services is offering a promotional rate of $295 for registrations received by Aug. 14, 2009. Hotel rooms have been reserved at a group rate of $129 per night; attendees should mention Energy and Power Distribution Conference to receive the group rate.

For more information about Square D Services or the Energy and Power Distribution Conference visit www.squared-services.com.

Understanding Arc Flash Regulations

2009-07-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

This video, by Industrial Training University covers the basics that workers need to know about arc flash and the need for proper labeling and PPE.

Information about arc flash labeling.

Arc Blast Video

2009-06-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

This is a promotional video, but it also provides an excellent view of the blast resulting from an arc flash.

Arc Flash Safety: History and Requirements

2009-06-23T06:51:00.000-07:00

Scott Harris published a post on the Industrial Risk Management blog yesterday that discusses the history of arc flash and requirements for protecting people from arc flash hazards. The article opens with:

"Arc flash was first identified by Dr. Ralph Lee in his 1982 'The Other Electrical Hazard: Electric Arc Blast Burns.' Dr. Lee found that as many as 80% of electrical injuries resulted from arc flash rather than from shock, which had always been thought to be the major risk associated with live electrical work."

After discussing the history of arc flash and code requirements, Mr. Harris points out that labeling of arc flash hazards is required, and in particular a 2006 OSHA interpretation letter. The question posed to OSHA was:

"When work must be performed on energized electric equipment that is capable of exposing employees to arc-flash hazards, does OSHA require the marking of the electric equipment to warn qualified persons of potential electric arc-flash hazards — i.e., as required by NFPA 70E-2004?"

OSHA's answer was:

"OSHA has no specific requirement for such marking. A requirement to mark equipment with flash hazard warnings was not included in the 1981 Subpart S revision. However, paragraph (e) of §1910.303 requires employers to mark electrical equipment with descriptive markings, including the equipment's voltage, current, wattage, or other ratings as necessary. OSHA believes that this information, along with the training requirements for qualified persons, will provide employees the necessary information to protect themselves from arc-flash hazards. "

"Additionally, in §1910.335(b), OSHA requires employers to use alerting techniques (safety signs and tags, barricades, and attendants) . . . to warn and protect employees from hazards which could cause injury due to electric shock, burns or failure of electric equipment parts. Although these Subpart S electrical provisions do not specifically require that electric equipment be marked to warn qualified persons of arc-flash hazards, §1910.335(b)(1) requires the use of safety signs, safety symbols, or accident prevention tags to warn employees about electrical hazards (e.g., electric-arc-flash hazards) which may endanger them as required by §1910.145. "

Read the entire blog post here.

Related past posts:
Arc Flash Labeling Best Practices Guide
Arc Flash Labeling Starter Kit