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: ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 1 Comments | Add Comment | links

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

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: , ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

ASTM Issues Standard For Arc Protective Blanket Testing

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.

Labels: ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Friday, July 10, 2009

Understanding Arc Flash Regulations

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.

Labels: , ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Arc Blast Video

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

Labels: , ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

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: , ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Friday, September 12, 2008

ESDA Announced Paladin Real-Time Arc Flash Advisor

The following is based on a press release from ESDA Corporation.

EDSA Corp. has unveiled the Paladin® Real-Time Arc Flash Advisor™, the industry's first software program that enables organizations to make up-to-date assessments of changing arc flash hazards. By maintaining an uninterrupted, 360 degree view of the facility and its potential arc flash hazards, Paladin Real-Time Arc Flash Analytics can provide detailed, updated advisories for site personnel regarding the appropriate safety procedures and protective gear recommended to work in a given vicinity.

Though electrical accidents represent a statistically small percentage of all work-related incidents, they are disproportionately fatal: according to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), electrical injuries in the workplace – in particular, phenomena called "arc flash" accidents – result in the death of a facilities worker every 28 hours… even in facilities that have passed formal inspections within recent months.

"Even the best-designed, regularly-inspected facility has arc flash threats that emerge after the inspectors leave, because of changes made within the facility, equipment getting swapped out, and maintenance procedures requiring workers to access off-limits areas for repairs," said Mark A. Ascolese, chairman and CEO of EDSA. "The Paladin Real-Time Arc Flash Advisor is the first software product that can perform intelligent calculations about potential arc flash threats in real-time… an effective way to help enhance worker safety in-between required OSHA inspections."

Understanding the Arc Flash Threat
As defined by IEEE and the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), arc flash is a strong electric current – and sometimes a full-blown explosion – that passes through air when insulation between electrified conductors is no longer sufficient to contain the voltage within them. This creates a "short cut" that allows electricity to race from conductor-to-conductor… to the extreme detriment of any worker standing nearby. Arc flash resembles a lightning bolt-like charge, emitting heat four times the surface temperature of the sun; anyone exposed to the blast or heat without sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) would be severely -- and oftentimes fatally -- injured.

During a seven-year study conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2,576 U.S. workers died and another 32,807 sustained lost-time injuries -- losing an average of 13 days away from work -- due to electrical shock or burn injuries. These statistics were validated in a second study involving more than 120,000 employees that determined arc flash injuries accounted for 77% of all recorded electrical injuries.

New Real-Time Protection
Used in conjunction with the Company’s Paladin® Live™ platform, the Paladin Real-Time Arc Flash Advisor maintains an uninterrupted watch over site operations -- continually checking all components, equipment, and systems -- to make intelligent recommendations about where potential arc flash hazards have the potential to emerge, and gauge their severity.

Prior to entering the area and beginning work, site personnel simply query the Paladin Real-Time Arc Flash Advisor: the system responds with an up-to-date recommendation on the appropriate safety procedures and PPE necessary to work in the vicinity. Recommendations are based upon IEEE 1584 and the NFPA 70E standards entitled, "IEEE Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations" and "Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces" respectively.

For example, when performing repairs to equipment in which a worker could accidentally be exposed to an electrical hazard, Paladin Real-Time Arc Flash Advisor will provide specific guidance on gloves, clothing, goggles, helmet, etc., that the worker should wear to increase his or her safety in the event of an accident. Forewarned about the nature of the threat, workers will be able to proceed with a higher degree of knowledge about specific safety risks they may encounter.

About EDSA Micro Corporation- EDSA develops software solutions for the computer-aided design, modeling, real-time analysis, energy management, and preventative maintenance of complex electrical power systems. For more than 25 years, the Company’s Paladin® software products have been used in thousands of commercial, industrial, governmental, and military applications worldwide, to protect more than $100 billion in customer assets, while reducing their energy consumption. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., the Company maintains sales, distribution, and support offices around the world. For more information about EDSA and its products, visit www.edsa.com.

Labels: , , ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

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: , ,

posted by Daniel Nighting | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Monday, July 07, 2008

New Arc Flash Helmet & Faceshield

Arc flash helmet and face shield from Extreme Safety

Protecting the face and head region from arc flash hazards is crucial. The face shield and helmet combination does the job effectively and barely restricts movement or causes an inconvenience.

The face shield is designed to deflect blast energy away from the face, while absorbing heat and spatter. The helmet is simply a mounting device for the face shield, but is made of similar material. Standard face shield and hardhats will melt in an arc flash; for that reason you should only use arc flash approved PPE.

A new add-on for the face shield is the Nomex flap. The flap attaches to the bottom of the face shield, and hangs down to the chest. This creates a mechanical barrier between to cover the gap between the face shield and chin area.

Although the face shield and helmet achieve their 10ka/1sec arc flash rating without this flap, it is an approved extra feature suitable for some applications.

More information is available from Extreme Safety.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Thursday, April 10, 2008

University Employees Injured By Arc Flash

The Texas Christian University Daily Skiff (the student newspaper) reports in today's edition that two university employees were injured by an arc flash. The article reports that:

"Two physical plant employees were injured Wednesday morning in an electrical accident in the basement of Tandy Hall, university officials said."

"One employee who suffered injuries to his eyes and forearm was still in the hospital late Wednesday, and the other, who injured his knee while moving to avoid the shock, was treated and released, said Tracy Syler-Jones, associate vice chancellor for marketing and communication."

There had been a power outage and the two employees were working to start a backup generator. This incident should make us aware that we must always be alert to the possibility of an arc flash when working with electrical equipment. My guess is that the two workers who were injured never even considered the possibility of an arc flash. Training, proper labeling, and the use of PPE are three pillars that can not be ignored or forgotten.

Labels: , , ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Monday, April 07, 2008

Honeywell Aquires Arc Flash Protective Equipment Maker

The following is a press release from Honeywell:

Honeywell Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Norcross Safety Products

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Honeywell on Friday announced a definitive agreement to acquire Norcross Safety Products L.L.C., a leading manufacturer of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), for approximately $1.2 billion.

Norcross, based in Oak Brook, IL, and majority owned by Odyssey Investment Partners, manufactures a wide range of protective and safety equipment for the fire service, utility and general industrial worker segments. The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory review. Norcross will be integrated into Honeywell Life Safety, part of Honeywell’s Automation and Control Solutions (ACS) group. Norcross’s revenue was approximately $609 million in 2007.

“From emergency responders, to electrical workers to the industrial workforce, Norcross’s innovative solutions protect those who work in environments where safety protection is paramount,” said Roger Fradin, President and CEO of Honeywell ACS. “With more than 100 years of industry experience, best-in-class solutions and trusted brands, and a strong management team with exceptional talent and depth, Norcross is a globally recognized industry leader that will bolster our offerings to our customers in key Life Safety segments.”

Fradin continued, “This acquisition provides Honeywell with a complete platform in a fragmented, global segment which is expected to yield substantial growth opportunities. Investing in Norcross allows Honeywell to fully participate in the broad and highly regulated industrial safety marketplace.”

As one of the industry’s largest providers of personal protective equipment, Norcross has a unique ability to provide integrated head-to-toe protective equipment solutions. Norcross is a recognized leader in a number of market segments including Air Purifying Respirators (APRs), protective footwear, protective headgear, firefighter turnout gear, high-voltage sleeves and gloves, and arc flash protection. It benefits from one of the industry’s most extensive distribution networks with more than 2,500 distributors.

“This acquisition creates an exciting adjacency for Honeywell Life Safety – especially our Fire Systems and Gas Detection businesses, which share common distribution channels with Norcross. We expect strong sales synergies across Honeywell businesses and opportunities to add value to Norcross products with Honeywell electronic gas sensors, fire detection and advanced fiber material technologies,” said Mark Levy, President of Honeywell Life Safety. “Norcross and its leadership in the personal protection segment are highly complementary to our portfolio and customer base. The acquisition of Norcross builds on the highly successful Novar, Zellweger and First Technology acquisitions and extends our already strong position in the $20 billion global Life Safety marketplace.”

Norcross is uniquely positioned in a number of core vertical segments including General Safety and Preparedness (respiratory protection; protective footwear; hand protection; eye, head, face and ear protection; first aid; and fall protection); Fire Service (firefighter turnout gear, footwear, helmets, gloves and other accessories); and Electrical Safety (gloves and sleeves, lineman equipment and arc flash protection). Norcross sells its products under trusted, long-standing and well-recognized brand names, including North, KCL, Fibre-Metal, Morning Pride, Pro-Warrington, Salisbury and Servus.

“Becoming a part of Honeywell is a terrific opportunity for our business, customers and employees. We are enthusiastic that this acquisition brings us access to even stronger technologies, global distribution channels, and gives us the ability to expand our product offerings in a world with heightened safety demands,” said Bob Peterson, President and CEO of Norcross Safety Products.

Honeywell International is a $36 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Friday, January 04, 2008

Square D Electrical Safety Video

I've featured many videos on this blog. A problem has been that, no matter how good the video, since they came from YouTube many people could not use them. Square D has produced an excellent electrical safety video that is available for downloading. This means you can put this video on any computer and show it anywhere you need to do electrical safety training.

All that is required is a short registration process.

Use this link to go to the registration/download page.

This video covers electrical safety in general, with a heavy emphasis on arc flash safety. A dramatic video of an arc flash explosion demonstrates the effectiveness of PPE and how serious arc flash injuries can be.

Labels: , ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 1 Comments | Add Comment | links

Thursday, December 13, 2007

The Myths and Realities of Arc Flash Protection

Electric Energy Online has an excellent article that is mostly about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used for arc flash protection. It discusses 10 myths about arc flash.

MYTH 1: Arc Flash explosions do not happen… I have never seen one.
MYTH 2: There is nothing anyone can do to protect against an Arc Flash explosion
MYTH 3: Will Street Clothes made of cotton or other natural fibers protective me?
MYTH 4: Spectacles and Sunglasses will protect me from the heat of an Arc Flash exposure
MYTH 5: I wear a face shield… that should be enough
MYTH 6: I wear a face shield… when would I need a hood?
MYTH 7: FR Clothing is all the same.
MYTH 8: ATPV = 100% Protection
MYTH 9: Aluminized clothing is an effective choice for protection from Arc Flash hazards.
MYTH 10: I am confused by the Table 3.3.9.3 in NFPA 70E. What exactly is a Hazard/Risk Category?

It is a good, practical real-word article that provides explanations demonstrating that all of the above are myths.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 1 Comments | Add Comment | links

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Ferraz Shawmut Arc Flash Paper Wins Award

The following is a press release from Ferraz Shawmut

Paper Written by Ferraz Shawmut's Wilkins, Lang and Allison Wins First Place at PCIC Conference

IEEE recognizes authors for "Effect of Insulating Barriers in Arc Flash Testing"

NEWBURYPORT, MA — Three Ferraz Shawmut engineers and researchers were recently honored for an insightful paper presented at the 2006 IEEE Industry Applications Society Petroleum and Chemical Industry Technical Conference. "Effect of Insulating Barriers in Arc Flash Testing," was named the first place prize paper from last year.

IEEE recognized authors Robert Wilkins, Mike Lang and Malcolm Allison at an awards luncheon on Sept. 17 in Calgary, Alberta, held in conjunction with the 54th Annual IEEE IAS Petroleum and Chemical Industry Technical Conference.

"Words alone can’t describe our gratitude to the IEEE, IAS and PCIC for this recognition, and our company is truly fortunate to employ such talented individuals as Robert, Mike and Malcolm," said Ken Hooper, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Ferraz Shawmut. "These continued research efforts give us greater knowledge of arc flash hazards, which can make the electrical industry safer. There's nothing more important than finding better means of protecting people."

Determining award-winning papers involved multiple levels of evaluation:

•At least four technical reviews were conducted for each IEEE PCIC paper before the conference. Technical reviewers scored papers based on: reader interest, reference value, originality, conciseness/clarity, and layout/format/figures.

•The chair for the technical subcommittee sponsoring the paper also provided a technical review summary.

•At the conference, each paper received 10 oral reviews from audience members immediately following its presentation. Oral reviewers scored papers based on: visual aids, oral presentation and audience participation.

•The technical session moderator also submitted an oral review.

•Scores were tabulated for all 42 papers presented during the conference, and the PCIC Executive Subcommittee and Papers Review Subcommittee, about 150 people, voted on the 10 best papers.

•The Papers Review chair and vice chairs reviewed the results and presented the top six papers to the PCIC Executive Subcommittee for approval.

"Recognizing exceptional achievements and contributions is an important part of the mission of the IEEE, the Industry Applications Society, and the Petroleum and Chemical Industry Committee," said H. Landis Floyd II, advisory and awards subcommittee chair. "We extend heartfelt congratulations on this recognition of dedicated contributions to the electrical engineering profession."

To view Ferraz Shawmut’s paper, "Effect of Insulating Barriers in Arc Flash Testing," visit http://us.ferrazshawmut.com/resources/articles-white-papers.cfm.

###

The IEEE Petroleum and Chemical Industry Committee (PCIC) provides an international forum for the exchange of electrical applications technology related to the petroleum and chemical industry. The PCIC annual conference is rotated across North American locations of industry strength to attract national and international participation. User, manufacturer, consultant, and contractor participation is encouraged to strengthen the conference technical base.

Success of the PCIC is built upon high quality papers, individual recognition, valued standards activities, mentoring, tutorials, networking, and conference sites that appeal to all. Visit www.ieee-pcic.org

Ferraz Shawmut has been a leader in circuit protection for industry and the electrical market for more than 100 years. With a complete line of current-limiting fuses and accessories, Ferraz Shawmut prides itself on delivering innovative, problem-solving products like the Thermally Protected Metal Oxide Varistor (TPMOV), the SmartSpot® open-fuse indicator, Amp-Trap 2000® fuses, ULTRASAFE™ fuse holders, Protistor® semiconductor fuses and Select-A-Fuse® software. Two of the company’s latest innovations are its new line of Amp-Trap® High-Speed Class J (HSJ) fuses, engineered specifically for the protection of today’s sensitive electronic motor controllers, and the industry’s first line of Finger-Safe Power Distribution Blocks (FSPDBs), delivering the ultimate in safety and ease-of-use when making power connections in electrical panels. Ferraz Shawmut, Inc. is a subsidiary of the Carbone Lorraine Groupe. For more information, contact the company by phone at (978) 462-6662 or visit http://us.ferrazshawmut.com.

Labels: ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Thursday, September 20, 2007

What Works: Arc flash On The Run In Pompano Beach

I prefer articles that provide some detail about what was done to solve a particular problem. Today's online issue of Plant Services Magazine has a fairly good article that does this. It describes how Micro Typing Systems, Inc. addressed arc flash problems in their facility. The opening sentence of the article describes the problem:

"Aging equipment, an outdated electrical distribution system, and a facility originally designed for other purposes contributed to elevated arc flash incident energy values throughout the 20,000 sq. ft. facility of Pompano Beach, Fla.-based Micro Typing Systems, Inc. "

The goes on to describe what they did to reduce arc flash incident energy levels and ensure both their staff and contractors were properly protected from arc flash.

The article is at: http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2007/194.html

Labels: ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Is Your Electrical PPE Adequate?

Yesterday I recommended an article in Occupational Hazards magazine that presented a variety of problems with OSHA's proposed rules to reduce electrical burn injuries. Today I'm recommending an article from Maintenance Technology magazine that provides more details, including information based on two recent IEEE papers.

This article looks at the recent scientific research into what happens during an arc flash. The article concludes that:

"Recent research into arc flash phenomena, however, indicates that workers could be under-protected against the heat generated during an arc flash event. Test results presented at IEEE conferences and at the 2007 IEEE Electrical Safety Workshop show that different configurations of electrodes (conductors) yielded heat energy higher than current predictions due to the directional nature of the arc development. Additionally, initial tests of PPE, when placed within this directional plasma flow, did not provide the level of thermal protection predicted by its APTV."

An interesting result of the research is that it shows the design of electrical equipment has a major impact on the severity of the arc flash. Improved designs can reduce the intensity of the arc flash by 50%. It also shows that current-limiting fuses may reduce the heat energy to workers exposed to the plasma flow from an arc flash.

Labels: , ,

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Follow Standards When Selecting Personal Protection For Arc Flash Hazards

Yesterday's issue of Plant Services Magazine includes an article decribing the process of selecting the proper PPE for arc flash protection. You can read the article at: http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2007/096.html

The article starts by describing the: "Four-step hazard calculations: First, establish the job’s hazard risk category. Second, determine what clothing and equipment the hazard risk category requires. Third, identify what arc thermal performance value (ATPV) rating is necessary. Finally, select personal protective equipment that meets or exceeds the designated ATPV rating."

It then goes on to provide a quick overview of some of the recent improvements in PPE protection and comfort provided by specific PPE manufacturer's products.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Monday, January 29, 2007

Top Five PPE Mistakes

I've been spending a lot of time with PPE recently and ran across this discussion of the Top Five PPE Mistakes published in Incident Prevention Magazine. It is written by Hugh Hoagland, who passes on his extensive experience with PPE. His list of top five PPE mistakes is:

1. PPE Isn't Worn

2. FR Is Not FR All The Time

3. Using FR Rainwear Rather Than ARC Thermal Resistant Rainwear

4. Using non-FR jackets and winter wear over FR and thinking it is OK

5. No training on undergarments

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Friday, January 19, 2007

Overview of Arc Flash Protective Clothing

I ran into an article from Electrical Products and Solutions Magazine titled, "Compliance Made Easy with Six New Products". I'd like my job to be easier, so the title of this article attracted my attention right away. What were they going to suggest to make my job easier? Here is the opening paragraph from the article:

"Easy compliance is every manager’s dream. Companies that strive to keep their employees safe while following best practices need to keep on top of the standards and the products that emerge to make their life and standards compliance simpler. There are six products on the market that represent major improvements in 2006 to make compliance easier. Whether you are following NFPA 70E for electrical safety or the NESC changes (National Electric Safety Code), compliance will be much easier with these new products."

The article is about the advantages of new PPE that has become recently available. It discusses HRC4 Kits, and specific brands of protective hoods, winter jacket, goggles and a face shield.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Arc Flash PPE

Not all PPE is suitable for arc flash protection. PPE must be rated for arc flash use.

An article in Electric Energy T&D Magazine discusses arc flash PPE and includes pictures of what happens to PPE, not rated for arc flash use, when it is exposed to an arc flash.

The article notes:

"There are presently several standards in place to provide for a safe workplace. The NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) has issued a standard called NFPA 70E-2000, the Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces. NFPA is not an enforcement body, yet OSHA will often refer to this document when evaluating a workplace. This standard calls for the employer to conduct a Hazardous Assessments of work, when voltage exceeds 50 Volts! The worker effectively has two defenses: his knowledge and the PPE he wears."

Although this article does not get into specifics about PPE, the pictures alone make this article worth looking at. They dramatically illustrate that non-arc flash rated PPE will not provide the needed protection.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

NFPA 70E's Clothing Requirements

Today we're turning to Electrical Contracting and Engineering Magazine for an article about protective clothing that debunks myths about the NFPA 70E PPE standards. This article points out that you may be purchasing more protection than is needed... resulting in more costly and heavier protective suits. Overall the article addresses 11 myths about arc flash protective clothing and equipment. They are:
  • Flame resistant clothing may not contain nylon or polyester.

  • Flame resistant clothing should never contain rayon.

  • Switching Suits are very heavy and cost $1,000.

  • Flame Resistant(FR) labeled clothing is all I need in the electric arc.

  • I must use a switching suit or arc suit to meet Hazard Category 4 of NFPA 70E.

  • All face shields are acceptable for the electric arc.

  • FR rain wear equals arc resistant rain wear.

  • Rubber gloves are dangerous in the electric arc.

  • If heavy cotton is good enough for welders, it is good enough for electricians.

  • FR Clothing must have an ATPV/Arc Rating of over 5 before it can be used in a protective clothing system, so I can't use my 4.5 oz Nomex IIIA for electric arc.

  • Clothing must be tested to the PS58 ASTM test method for electric arc ATPV or EBT and may not have the new ASTM 1506-2000 designation.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Being Prepared Involves Wearing the Right Clothing

This article, published in Electricity Today Magazine, provides a concise introduction to protective clothing for arc flash, why it is important, and what to look for in protective clothing. The article opens by stating:

In the fraction of a second it takes for an electric arc to occur, tremendous heat capable of igniting surrounding fires is created. Workers must be prepared for accidents, and the best way to be ready is to protect themselves with adequate clothing. Over the past 40 years, there have been significant advances in the manufacture of safety clothing for electricians."

"The way to be prepared is to be wearing the proper clothing. 100% cotton clothing continues to be the top choice, is the fabric of choice, but you need to be sure your cotton work clothes are treated with chemicals and certified to ensure fire resistance.

Learn more about clothing and arc flash safety in this article.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

NEMA publishes arc flash analysis white paper

The Low Voltage Distribution Equipment (LVDE) section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published a white paper on arc flash analysis that highlights the need for utility system parameters in the selection of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Information and a copy of the white paper is available on the NEMA web site

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Thursday, June 29, 2006

OSHA Could Fine Workers for PPE Violations

Congress has been working on ways to change the way OSHA works. One of the bills would allow OSHA to fine workers who violate employers' PPE policies. An article on the Occupational Hazards web sites describes three bills that were being considered by the Senate earlier this year.

One of the more significant aspects of these bills (Occupational Safety Fairness Act S. 2066) is that it would allow small companies to recover their legal costs from OSHA should they prevail in court.

Labels:

posted by Steve Hudgik | This Arc Flash Post and 0 Comments | Add Comment | links

Call about the NFPA 7E labeling machines

NFPA 70E Blog  |  Arc Flash Labels  |  Arc Flash Label Printers
DuraLabel Supplies  |  Arc Flash Quiz

FAST shipping of Arc Flash Label Printers & Supplies.
Most orders ship the SAME DAY we receive your order.