Arc Flash & Electrical Safety

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: Arc Flash PPE, Arc Flash Products, Understanding Arc Flash

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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: Arc Flash, Arc Flash PPE, Arc Flash Products, Preventing Arc Flash Accidents

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Monday, June 16, 2008

Qualify Providers Before An Arc Flash Analysis

An article in Plant Engineering Live, by Joseph Weigel, of Square D Services, Schneider Electric, provides some recommendations for selecting an arc flash analysis provider.

The article begins by providing an overview description of an arc flash analysis followed by a short discussion of standards. It then talks about the factors that should be considered when selecting a provider of your arc flash analysis.

The article concludes by saying:

"Purchasing an arc flash analysis for an industrial facility is very important for electrical safety standard compliance and also is required in order to provide the safest possible workplace for employees. However, like any product or service, when purchasing an arc flash analysis, one tends to get what one pays for, which is why qualifying providers should not be taken lightly. But more importantly, a facility owner or manager should also be careful not to be wooed by low bids.

Thus, a careful and thoughtful approach to an arc flash analysis purchase and qualifying providers, can help ensure the best possible result for a company’s investment."

Labels: Arc Flash Calculations, Arc Flash Products

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Free Web Seminar on Arc Flash Avoidance and NFPA 70E Compliance

The following is a press release from LumaSense Technologies. They are a provider of sensor instrumentation for "monitoring, detecting, analyzing and measuring."

Broadcast date: Tuesday, June 3rd 2008
Broadcast Time: 11:00 AM PDT (2:00 PM EDT)
Speakers: Lowry Eads, Lowry Eads & Associates (Lanny Floyd, Dupont)
Hosted by: Brett Sargent, LumaSense Technologies ( John Snell, The Snell Group)

Most of us know that the words "Arc Flash" mean something serious. But, most of us do not know how dangerous an Arc Flash can be. Some things to consider are:

• There are approximately 2,000 Arc Flash events that occur in the United States every year
• Temperatures can reach 35,000°F in less than 1 second
• When copper vaporizes, a dynamite like explosion will occur

So, now that we have your attention, Arc Flash events can be minimized and avoided if you understand safety standards and adhere to published requirements. Documents such as NFPA 70E can help save lives and avoid catastrophic incidents.

Safe maintenance practices, knowing what to look for, thermal imaging of electrical switchgear using safe equipment and protective gear can all help.

Join us on Tuesday, June 3rd 2008 in this informative web seminar "Arc Flash Avoidance and NFPA 70E Compliance" to understand what an Arc Flash is and safety standards you should follow to save lives.

To register for the Web Seminar, Please go to: www.lumasenseinc.com/news_events/web_seminars.html

Labels: Arc Flash Products, Arc Flash Training

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