Two construction workers were injured at an East Texas Power Plant in Nacogdoches on 1/31 when 440 volts arced, causing an explosion.  They had severe electrical burns and were listed in critical condition.  OSHA 1910.269 and 1926 along with NESC cover this type of work in a utility setting. Click here to read more about this electrical [...]

ConEdison tested FR clothing in real-life utility situations inside manholes, transformer vaults, and bucket trucks.  The testing gives individuals the opportunity to view the results of various clothing options. Click here to view the 5 minute video of testing results.

In the US we frequently see a cartoon of a little boy urinating on something in the back window of a truck. Thought is might sound a bit strange. This kind of behavior can lead to death in a utility substation. A metal thief was seriously injured during an electrical substation explosion.   An accomplice indicated [...]

A 24-year-old electrician received facial burns following an explosion from a sawmill transformer.  Wearing the correct protective clothing and equipment prevented more serious injuries, though the gear and safety glasses were black and burned. NZ does not have an absolute requirement to wear arc rated faceshields but it is under consideration. Sounds like this company [...]

More than 30 million rubles (approx $101 million USD) was spent on performance of safety mesasures during a 2011 contest for the best state of safety of structural units.  A large part of the funds provided employees with PPE and special clothing, including ones resistant to electric arcing.  Russia has adopted clothing meeting IEC 61482-1-2 [...]

An engineer and 4 others suffered varying degrees of burns at a substation in Dubai International Airport’s Concourse 3 construction site.  They were testing an 11kV Ring Main Unit when an arc flash occured igniting clothing and causing severe burns on as much as 60% of the worker’s bodies. Click here to read the article from 2/22/12.

Gloves in Arc Flash.  This is an article on arc rating of gloves for use in arc flash exposures.  ASTM F18.65 has a pending ballot on a standard to rate gloves and several manufacturers are testing and providing information to end users. Click here to read more about gloves and arc flash

This is a classic good news/bad news story. Entergy’s Pallisades Nuclear Plant was shut down by an arc flash, electrical fault.  The good news is that “no workers were injured”.  In the past, a worker or two would have been hurt AND the plant would have  been shut down.  What might make spectacular news with [...]

Another grocery store arc flash. This is very sad and the lack of understanding is even worse.  It was a definitely arc flash but also a possible shock.  So many don’t realize the energy in 480V electrical systems in just about EVERY electrical room.  Grocery stores, malls etc. http://www.theday.com/article/20111208/NWS04/111209555/1047/nws

Hugh Hoagland at ArcWear and Debbie Pierce at Miller Pierce now offer Arc Flash Marketing Studies and Stategic Studies for the arc flash market.  Miller-Pierce is a leading marketing company in the US providing market analysis. Click here to read about Miller-Pierce’s Arc Flash Market Strategy.