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Arc Flash Label Printers - Arc Flash Labeling

Arc Flash & Electrical Safety News

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Reduce Arc Flash Accidents Using Totally Integrated Automation

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?

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Monday, July 20, 2009

Video - Electrical Standards & Regulations

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

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Monday, June 08, 2009

Using Technology to Minimize the Arc-Flash Hazard

An article in the IAEI Magazine (International Association of Electrical Inspectors) discusses some of the technologies available to minimize arc flash hazards. The article focuses on current limiting devices and high resistance grounding. The final paragraph summarizes the article:

"High resistance grounding systems do not protect against the less frequent but still dangerous phase-to-phase or three-phase arcing faults. However, the combined use of high resistance grounding for protection from ground faults and its ability to prohibit the escalation of the fault and current-limiting fuses or current-limiting circuit breakers for phase-to-phase and three-phase arcing faults is an effective engineering approach to minimizing the arc-flash hazard."

You can read the entire article here.

Related past posts:
Understanding Ground Fault Protection
Electrical Safety In The Workplace
Preventing Arc Flash Injuries

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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.

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Monday, January 05, 2009

Establishing an Arc Flash Loss Prevention Program

I just found this white page published by M.C. Dean, Inc. last August. The introduction to the white paper describes its purpose as designed to:

[Quoted from the introduction to the white paper.]

● Give middle and upper management an executive level description of the details surrounding arc flash and the industry’s best proven business practices. After reading this paper executives should have the confidence to begin the process of assigning the right team and resources needed to develop the methodology that best carries out a safety and arc flash loss prevention program tailored to their organizations.

● Provide the technical manager with a support document that can be presented to upper management along with recommendations to improve corporate safety policies by integrating an Arc Flash Loss Prevention (AFLP) Program.

● Provide business leaders with a quick reference guide to the questions they have involving who is responsible (in the eyes of OSHA and the judicial system), how to resource, how to control cost and how to build a sustainable program that can be monitored by a non-technical manager.

● Equip risk managers with a methodology to process a loss prevention program targeted to exposure related to arc flash. This includes the means to identify, evaluate, choose, implement, monitor and manage a comprehensive program that is sustainable and provides measureable data that can be used to calculate best risk management decisions.

● Caution on the use of “over-simplified” allowable tables and charts the industry has developed to establish arc flash protective measures. The risks include controlling the cost of expensive personal protective equipment (PPE) that may or may not be needed and giving untrained workers the false sense of confidence when working on energized electrical equipment. The result is a mismanaged safety program.

You can read the white paper here.

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Monday, September 15, 2008

Understanding Ground Fault Protection

There is a good article by Ken Cybart of Littelfuse in today's Plant Engineering Live. It provides an overview describing ground fault monitors. The article begins by discussing the causes of ground faults:

"Simply put, a ground fault occurs when electrical current finds a bridge to ground via worn insulations, conductive dusts, water or other “soft grounds,” instead of the normal path back to its source. More than 80% of short circuits in equipment are ground faults, and 90% of these events are due to insulation deterioration on wires and cables."

The article then discusses Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) and Ground Fault Relays (GFRs). You can read the complete article at: http://www.plantengineering.com/

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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.

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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Electrophysics Launches Entry-level Portable Infrared Cameras

The following is a press release from Electrophysics

The cost effective EZTherm 880 combines easy infrared imaging, accurate temperature measurement with an integrated visible camera.

Fairfield, NJ (PRWEB) June 11, 2008 -- Electrophysics (www.electrophysics.com) announced that it has introduced its new EZTherm 880 Portable Infrared Camera Line. According to Electrophysics, the EZTherm 880 is designed for electricians and facility managers responsible for inspection of electrical circuits, motors and other rotating equipment, UPS systems, and building roofs, siding and interior walls. The EZTherm cameras make it cost effective to add or strengthen the role of thermal imaging in a facility's predictive maintenance program. The EZTherm can easily replace or augment annual inspections performed by an infrared imaging consultant. With up to 3 times the number of pixels of typical entry level infrared cameras, EZTherm 880 produces infrared images that are substantially sharper making diagnosis of equipment reliability issues much more accurate, intuitive and precise.

The EZTherm 880 camera features unique dual mode focus control (motorized or manual) that makes the 880 a true one hand operation camera. A unique feature in entry level cameras is the camera's close focus distance of only 4 inches making it ideal to image through inspection windows mounted in high voltage switchgear designed to reduce operator exposure to an arc flash event.

There are three EZTherm 880 models offered beginning with the 880-1 which features high image quality, advanced report generation software, 350°C measurement range, accurate measurement accuracy, multiple color palettes, large image recording memory, 5 hour battery run time, all housed in light weight IP-54 ergonomic camera body. The 880-3 model adds a high quality visible camera channel and additional measurement analysis functionality. The 880-4 is our "Pro" package and includes a 3X telephoto lens and our unique protective lens for harsh environments that can potentially spray contaminated liquids on the camera's expensive IR lens.

"The EZTherm 880 is the perfect compliment to our HotShot line of high performance cameras. These easy to use point and shoot cameras are the perfect trouble shooting tool for electricians and other technicians and can support the use of more advanced thermographic cameras, like our new HotShot HD, by expert thermographers responsible for highly critical equipment inspection and IR program management. In addition we are so confident in our product quality that every EZTherm 880 carries a two year warranty." said Chris Alicandro, Director of Sales for Electrophysics

Company Background: Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, Electrophysics develops and manufactures advanced thermal imaging, near infrared and night vision systems for use in imaging applications.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Isolating the Risk of Catastrophic Arc Flash Explosions

Betty Jackson, of Hoffman, has publish a white paper titled "Isolating the Risk of Catastrophic Arc Flash Explosions" that is available online. This paper makes that point that arc flash incidents will happen and that a solution is the Hoffman SEQUESTR™ External Disconnect Enclosure.

The paper begins by providing an overview of arc flash, its causes and the damage that can result. It gives this summary of arc flash hazards:

"According to NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, 2004 Edition, pages 12 and 28, the two most important numbers to remember are 1.2 and 40. Incident energy levels greater than 1.2 calories per centimeter-squared can produce second degree burns. The NFPA 70E requires that workers wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with 50 volts or more. Arc flash levels above 40 calories per centimeter squared can be fatal and usually result in a massive pressurized blast with sound pressure waves and projectiles. The PPE is available for exposures up to 100 calories per centimeter-squared; however, the force from the pressurized blast can be fatal regardless of the PPE."

The white paper then goes on to point out that in spite of best efforts, because of the large number of variables--some of which may be unknown--the true extent of the arc flash hazard can never be known. In addition, the paper points out something I know to be true from personal experience:

"During private discussions, electrical engineers have revealed that, despite their compliance training, they sometimes skirt the PPE rules because the bulky, fire retardant suit, gloves, face shield/goggles and other gear is hot, uncomfortable and makes service and maintenance time-consuming and cumbersome."

The second half of the white paper dicusses the SEQUESTR™ External Disconnect Enclosure.

"The SEQUESTR™ External Disconnect Enclosure attaches to the side of a main control enclosure and houses only the disconnect switch or circuit breaker, physically removing it from the main enclosure."

"Live power is no longer present in the main control enclosure when power is turned off at the disconnect switch. It completely shuts down the power in the main cabinet, and there is no hazard of power coming into the box. Its system also interlocks the doors of the main control cabinet when the disconnect switch is powered on. This allows users to comply with the disconnect door interlocking requirements of UL 508A, NFPA79, IEC 60204, and HS 1738, the most common electrical standards for industrial machinery."

Use the link above to read the entire white paper.

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Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Ultrasonic Analysis and Arc Flash

"Another application that is often overlooked is the use of airborne ultrasonics as an added safety measure when opening electrical cabinets. An example of this might be during a routine IR thermography scan. Pre-screen the cabinet doors with an ultrasonic meter to detect any arcing that may be occurring in the breaker or starter. This arcing will ionize the air inside the cabinet. When the cabinet door is opened, the fresh air becomes a welcomed path to ground, producing an extremely dangerous arc flash."

The above is a quote from an article by Andy Page , "How are you using ultrasonic analysis?" in Reliable Plant Magazine. 11/2007

The article discusses ways in which structure-borne ultrasonic analysis can be used to improve safety. There are two types of ultrasonic analysis:

Pulse-echo ultrasound generates an ultrasonic pulse that is transmitted into a material. It is typically used for imaging, to measure material thickness or to locate material discontinuities.

Structure-borne ultrasonic analysis, also known as passive ultrasonic analysis, detects and analyzes the ultrasound coming from a equipment and is used to detect and predict various types of failures. In addition to numerous other applications, this article provides two examples of how passive ultrasonic analysis can be used to prevent arc flash incidents.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

ScienceDirect:: Arc Flash and Organizational Issues

I generally don't post links to science papers that require a fee in order to read the paper. However, this paper looked particularly interesting and the area of study so important that I thought it worthwhile.

The paper is on the ScienceDirect web site and is titled: "Reducing non-contact electric arc injuries: An investigation of behavioral and organizational issues"

The abstract states:

"This study fills a vacuum in electrical training with a focus on the organizational and behavioral aspects of arc flash incidents. The research is cross-cutting in its scope, in that the results apply not only to mining and construction, but many other industries employing electricians."

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Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Regulating Arc Flash Hazards

An article in the May 2007 issue of Occupational Hazards magazine digs into OSHA's proposed rules to reduce electrical burn injuries, and raises several serious questions about the effectiveness of these rules. The article states:

"There are several problems, however, with the proposed rules. First, the proposed rules do not clearly define the obligations of an employer. Second, electrical arcs are unpredictable and the methods for calculating the maximum available heat energy to which an employee may be exposed are extremely unreliable at high voltages. Third, even if employers could calculate the actual maximum available heat energy and put their employees in the appropriate arc-rated clothing, there is still a 50 percent chance than an employee could sustain a second-degree burn. Finally, attempting to comply with the proposed rules may cause the same injuries that the proposed rules are designed to prevent in the first place."

The article addresses each of these points.

Occupational Hazards Magazine does not make it easy to link to their articles. Use this link http://occupationalhazards.texterity.com/occupationalhazards/200705/?u1=texterity to go to the May 2007 issue. Then at the top of the page, use the "Page" box to select page 41. As you finish reading each page you'll need to use the "Page" box to select the next page.

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Arc Flash Myths and Misconceptions

Daryl Lewellyn of Lewellyn Technology has written a good article about the wrong "knowledge" and misunderstandings people have about arc flash. Many of these come from trying to apply past experience to arc flash, and that is not always the best thing to do.

The article is available in PDF form at: http://www.lewellyn.com/pdf/os_pdf/Arc%20Flash%20Myths%20and%20Misconceptions.pdf

It covers five myths:

1. A current limiting fuse will always reduce the arc flash hazard

2. The arc flash hazard downstream will always be less than upstream

3. An arc flash analysis is about labeling panels

4. We don't have to do an arc flash analysis because we do regular infrared scans of our equipment

5. NFPA 70E is mostly about arc flash

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Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Shell Protects Against Arc Flash Hazard

Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine has an article describing how Shell Canada reduced the arc flash hazard level at a gas processing plant.

Shell conducted a short circuit, coordination and arc flash study at its Burnt Timber gas processing plant. The study showed there were some arc flash problems that needed to addressed. The article states:

"Shell’s solution was a comprehensive program to install an arc flash reduction maintenance system and retrofit conversion packages to existing equipment. The unit lowers arc flash incident energy levels by temporarily lowering trip settings during the maintenance cycle."

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Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Introductory Arc Flash Training

I always have my eyes open for good resources that will help with training.

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has developed an excellent four page arc flash safety booklet that is available online as a PDF file. The booklet is called: Hazard Prevention - Burn Injury Facts.

The booklet provides concise information that is easy-to-readand understand. It would be a good booklet to give new employees to familiarize them with the hazards of arc flash.

The booklet starts by describing arc flash, explaining why it is hazardous, and giving several examples of actual arc flash incidents. It then provides a summary of how to prevent arc flash injuries by eliminating the hazard; using engineering controls; using administrative controls; using work practice controls; and using PPE. The final section describes what to do should someone by injured by arc flash.

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Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Plants Services Magazine - Best Practices Award

Online non-contact IR thermometry won the Plant Service Magazine Best Practices Award. What is online non-contact IR thermometry? What can it do for you?

The article states:

"Thermal monitoring systems employing noncontact infrared (IR) sensors can measure temperature just about anywhere on the factory floor. These versatile devices measure and accumulate real-time data, and are well suited for environments with moving targets, inaccessible objects and high temperatures. An IR thermometer has no energy interference (thus, no energy is lost from the target), and no risk of contamination or mechanical effect."

The advantages of IR thermometry are that it provides continuous monitoring and allows changes in heat to be quickly and reliably detected. As the article concludes it points out the advantages for arc flash safety:

"Continuous thermal monitoring provides a safer, non-intrusive alternative for equipment inspection. With traditional physical maintenance, there always is a chance of an accident causing failure of the equipment or putting personnel in harm’s way. In the worst-case scenario, a technician can be killed from an accident or arc flash. Noncontact thermal monitoring eliminates concerns about electrical isolation, insulation and EMI flashover associated with contact probes. IR sensors can accurately measure temperature without contacting the surface of the target."

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Monday, February 19, 2007

LockOut / TagOut

The best way to prevent arc flash injuries is to not be working on energized equipment. Having an effective lockout / tagout system is an key component. The American Federation of State, County and Mucipal Employees has an article in the Health & Safety area of their web site that provides a good overview of lockout /tagout. Developed using a grant from OSHA, it provides a complete introduction to lockout /tagout. The topics covered are:

Identifying hazardous energy
What is lockout/tagout?
When is lockout/tagout needed?
What does OSHA require?
Tagout vs. Lockout
Tagout Program
Lockout Tagout equipment
Applying Lockout/Tagout
Release From Lockout/Tagout
Periodic Inspections
Training
Retraining

While Lockout / Tagout is important in preventing arc flash incidents, it is a much broader safety measure. It involves all forms of potential energy. As the article states:

"Hazardous energy can found in the workplace in different forms. The most common form of energy is electrical, but mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, and thermal energy can also be dangerous. Energy can also mean movement or the possibility of movement."

The benefits of a good lockout / tagout program extend beyond arc flash safety and include any area in your facility in which energy is used.

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Friday, January 26, 2007

Electrical Near Misses

"Electrical safety occurrences are the most frequently reported near miss events across the DOE complex, and thus pose the greatest risk to workers. In 2002 and 2003, electrical safety occurrences were reported at a rate of two per week, with three-quarters of them categorized as near misses (to serious injury or death). Thirty-five of the electrical occurrences in this 2-year period involved shocks to workers; six resulted in electrical burns."

The above is from an Operating Experience and Lessons Learned Report published by the Department of Energy. It looks at electrical incidents, most of which were "near misses" when it comes to serious injury, throughout their facilities. A number of incidents are described followed by an analysis of the lessons learned from each incident. This paper will expose you to information about hazardous situations you may not have considered and provide ways to eliminate those hazards.

You can read this paper at: DOE Electrical Near Misses (PDF document).

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Arc Flash Concerns During Thermography Inspection

"Infrared cameras have been used to identify problems in electrical systems for many years. Problems in electrical systems manifest themselves by heating. An infrared camera can readily identify these problems in a thermal image, which provides an excellent method of identifying failing or problem components prior to a failure. A failure can disable an electrical system and cause significant lost production, equipment damage and bodily injury. "

The above paragraph comes from an article called "NFPA70E, Arc Flash, and Safe and Efficient Thermography Practices" published in the January 2007 issue of Reliable Plant Magazine.

The article points out that thermography, the use of infrared cameras to identify problems based on their heat signature, is a valuable tool for detecting electrical problems before components fail. However, since most electrical components are located within cabinets, those cabinets must be opened to allow for thermographic imaging. The result is exposure to an arc flash hazard.

The article proposes the use of infrared windows. The article states:

"The first rule in any risk assessment is to eliminate the risk if possible; PPE is always a last resort! Infrared windows eliminate the risks associated with live inspections as they allow an infrared camera direct line-of-site access to live electrical components without opening an electrical enclosure. As such, they provide an excellent means of accessing electrical equipment efficiently and safely as a second qualified person is not required to open and unbolt enclosures and the "triggers" of arc flash are not introduced as the panels remain closed."

An extended discussion all aspects of infrared windows, including selecting locations where they should be installed, and how window size can be minimized by moving the infrared camera during imaging.

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Thursday, December 14, 2006

Preventing Arc Flash Injuries

I just found an excellent article about "Preventing Arc Flash Injuries" in Occupational Hazards Magazine. This article provides more detail than most in describing what needs to be done to establish a safety practices that prevent arc flash injuries.

The article points out that "Many managers and supervisors are asking 'why the interest' and more to the point, many are saying, 'I don't see how this affects me or my people. We have never had an arc flash incident.'"

Statistics from from a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study show why taking measures to prevent arc flash injuries is important. In the ten year period of1992 through 2001 there were 17,101 injuries caused by electric arc flash burns.

This article lists six steps for preventing arc flash injuries:

Step 1. The Arc Flash Hazard Analysis
Step 2. Gather the Information
Step 3. Perform an Arc Flash Study
Step 4. Choose the Proper PPE
Step 5. Label Your Equipment
Step 6. Train Your Workers

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Friday, October 20, 2006

Arc Flash Safety Checklist

EC&M magazine has published a five point arc flash safety checklist. The article in their August 1, 2006 issue states: "The checklist is based on information found in the IEEE 'Guide for Maintenance, Operation, and Safety of Industrial and Commercial Power Systems (Yellow Book),' Document Number: IEEE 902-1998."

Go to the Arc Flash Safety Checklist

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Monday, October 02, 2006

SAFETY SOLUTIONS: Compliance with 70E Electrical Standards

The May/June 2006 issue of Plastics Distributor & Fabricator Magazine addresses NFPA 70E as it relates to the plastics industry. The article asks:

"Are you in compliance with 70E electrical standards? This is the question being asked by OSHA compliance officers when they visit your facility. The Department of Labor (OSHA) estimates that there are, on average, 9,600 serious electrical shock and burn injuries each year. OSHA also estimates approximately one fatality per day due to electrocution."

The article defines what NFPA 70E is and then gives ten steps to successful arc flash safety program.

Although this article was written for the plastic industry, it is applicable to any industry or organization. It is a concise, to the point article that delivers useful information about NFPA 70E.

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Wednesday, July 26, 2006

The Dangers of Arc Flash Incidents

"Between five and 10 times a day, an arc flash explosion occurs in electric equipment somewhere in the United States that sends a burn victim to a special burn center, according to statistics compiled by CapSchell, Inc., a Chicago-based research and consulting firm that specializes in preventing workplace injuries and deaths.

That number does not include cases sent to regular hospitals and clinics, or unreported cases and “near misses,” estimated to be many times that number. There are one or two deaths a day from these multi-trauma events, noted Dr. Mary Capelli-Schellpfeffer, principal investigator.

The above quote is from an article in Maintenance Technology magazine titled "The Dangers of Arc Flash Incidents".

The article starts by discussing what an arc flash is and what the causes are. It points out that one utility had 2.2 arc flash incidents a year at an average cost of over 15 million dollars per incident. The article then goes on to point out that Safety Programs are a key to eliminating injuries from arc flash. A hazard analysis provides the facts that are needed, then standards such as NFPA 70E are applied to determine safety boundaries, required PPE, work practices, and proper labeling and signage.

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Monday, July 03, 2006

Implementing NFPA 70E At Your Facility

This article from the June issue of Occupational Health and Safety magazine provides a concise overview of the safety related work practices outlined in the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Standard For Electrical Safety in the Workplace--2004 Edition.

The article opens with this statement:

"Some 600 workers are electrocuted annually and electrocution is the fourth leading cause of workplace fatalities in the United States. If you have employees working on or near exposed energized electrical parts, electrical safe practices are essential."

The article then summarizes the requirements in four chapters of NFPA 70E that describe what should be included in written procedures those working on electrical equipment must follow.

Chapter 1: Safety-Related Work Practices

Chapter 2: Safety-Related Maintenance Requirements

Chapter 3: Safety Requirements For Special Equipment

Chapter 4: Installation Safety Requirements

The article concludes by pointing out that "The likelihood of an incident with one of your workers involving an electrocution or electric arc flash is significantly reduced by maintaining a safe electrical work environment that includes three major components: proper installation, safe electrical work practices, and an effective, ongoing electrical maintenance program"

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Saturday, July 01, 2006

Doing It The Right Way: NFPA 70E

"Sad stories abound. Money can be wasted. Ensuring electrical safety in the workplace is not an option--it's one of the most important things you'll ever do." A noted expert on electrical safety, John C. Klinger, P.E., offers several suggestions for effective compliance in an article in the May 2006 issue of Maintenance Technology magazine.

Using a bullet point list of do's and don'ts, Mr. Klingler provides a comprehensive introduction to implementing and following the requirements and standards of NFPA 70E. He starts by discussing why NFPA 70E is important:

"NFPA 70E is the most comprehensive electrical safety standard available today. There are other excellent electrical safety standards including the National Electrical Code, but NFPA 70E is the only on that addresses electrically safe work practices, electrical maintenance safety, special electrical equipment and electrical installation safety in one document."

He goes on to explain that NFPA 70E not only results in complete compliance with OSHA requirements, it addresses the need for electrical protection for your employees, vendors, contractors and others who work in your facility.

The article provides a series of practical suggestions that both improve safety and eliminate waste, and thus reduce costs. It covers topics such as proceedures, PPE, training, documentation, labeling and evaluation.

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