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Is your facility OSHA Compliant for Electrical Arc Flash Hazards?
It
is estimated that in the United States, 5 to 10 arc-flash injuries resulting in
hospitalization occur every day. According to research, more than 2,000 times
per year, workers are admitted to medical facilities for treatment for treatment
of injuries caused by arc flash.
Frequently Asked Questions (print version)
FAQ's About Arc Flash
What is an Arc Flash?
- An Arc Flash is an electrical fault (or short) between two electrical conductors - phase to phase, phase to earth, or phase to neutral. This energy release (flash) can be as minor as a flash of light with a popping sound, or as major as a fireball explosion with heat four times that of the sun, also known as an Arc Blast. The concern is that energy released above a certain level will ignite non-flammable clothing and cause major flesh burns
- Fuses and breakers can let more that their rated currents through for a period of time until they open (or blow). Think about 15,000 amps dead shorted for a half a second - the result is a big flash of fire for that half a second, and that is an arc flash.
- Over 70% of Electrical Arc Flash incidents occur during or immediately after electrical maintenance.
What are some Arc Flash Injuries?
- Blindness, severe burns, barotrauma (shockwave), ruptured ear drum, toxic vapor inhalation, shrapnel wounds are just some of the serious injuries which result from Arc Flash Hazards.
Why do I need to do an Arc Flash Assessment?
- OSHA states that employers "...shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees."
- NESC, ANSI C2-2007, Section 410.A.3 reads “Effective as of January 1, 2009, the employer shall ensure that an assessment is performed to determine potential exposure to an electric arc for employees who work on or near energized parts or equipment. If the assessment determines a potential employee exposure greater than 1.2 cal/cm exists, the employer shall require employees to wear clothing or a clothing system that has an effective arc rating not less than the anticipated level of arc energy."
- Beyond the requirements of codes and standards, the safety of your employees should be a major consideration for conducting an Arc Flash Assessment. An arc flash can happen at any time while working on live electrical equipment. By doing an assessment the risk to employees can be minimized if you know what the dangers are, where they are located in your plant, and how your employees are prepared to handle the situation. A good comparison is that of police bomb squads. These specialized workers do not go into an “energized” situation without careful planning, proper protection, and training. Employees facing work on electrical equipment should be similarly prepared.
What must I do to comply?
- Provide and be able to demonstrate a safety program with defined responsibilities.
- Calculate and post the degree of arc flash hazard.
- Provide correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers.
- Train workers on the hazards of arc flash.
- Provide appropriate tools for safe working conditions.
- Apply warning labels on equipment - provided by the equipment owners, not the manufacturers.
pāco manufacturing®offers an Arc Flash Hazard Analysis
pāco manufacturing® will provide an arc flash assessment to determine what the potential for an arc flash hazard is at each point in the electrical system, calculate the level at each assessed point, and recommend the proper PPE (personal protective equipment) at that area of a plant.
pāco manufacturing® offers the following services:
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Please download a copy of our questionnaire if you would like for pāco manufacturing® to provide you with a quote. Please click here or on the quote icon to the left. You may fill it out electronically and email back, or print it, fill it out and fax it back.