Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » first responder electrical safety

Electrical Workplace Safety & Sudden Cardiac Arrest Article by NFPA

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:54:24 +0000

SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrest) is not a heart attack (lack of blood), but rather involves the heart’s electrical impulses. CPR and AED (automated external defib) are needed when employees experience SCA in the workplace. 13% of workplace fatalities are due to SCA, with survival rates of only 1-5% if occuring outside of a hospital. If trained employees are not able to procure an AED for use within the 1st 4 minute window, the chance of the victim’s survival decreases substantially. NFPA 70E^®-2012, Section 110.2(C) requires employees whose duties warrant such training to be regularly instructed in methods of first aid and approved methods of resuscitation. Training in approved methods of resuscitation – CPR and AED use – must be certified by the employer on an annual basis. Employees who are trained in CRP and AED use, and who have an AED available for use, can substantially improve the chance of survival of a fibrillation victim, whether the fibrillation is due to an electrical shock hazard or sudden cardiac arrest.

Click here to read the NEC article by Michael Fontaine.

Electrical Vehicles: Do they pose a threat to first responders?

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 03:40:26 +0000

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are powered by high-voltage batteries. These batteries can be in excess of 400 volts. When responding to an accident, are first responders safe to use power cutters on the vehicle? This is a good question. There will need to be training on these cars. They are the future but all new technologies require new ways of dealing with them.

Click here to read more about safety of first responders in EV accidents

Cal-OSHA fines Santa Clara-based window washing company $17.5K following electrical accident that resulted in employee fatality

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 21:35:36 +0000

Cal- OSHA has fined a Santa Clara-based window washing company $17.5K following an electrical accident that resulted in the death of one employee and severly injured another. The employees were severely burned when the bucket of their cherry picker came into contact with high-voltage transmission lines. One of the employees died three week later. The citations state that the employees came within one foot of the power lines despite regulations that mandate they stay at least 13 feet away and that one of the employees was not properly secured to the bucket. Firefighters responding to the scene faced a difficult situation given the live power lines.

Click here to read more about the Cal-OSHA fines levied on Santa Clara-based company

AOL Video of a news story of a worker electrocution illustrates need for basic electrical safety training

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:45:07 +0000

Worker electrocuted. Was BUD (Before You Dig) called?

Click here to see the AOL Video.

Firefighter Electrical Safety Article

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:10:05 +0000

This one has some internet common photos of overloaded powerlines from other countries (never would see most of these in the US or EU but the basics are true.

We offer a first responder training for firefighter safety because of these types of hazards.

Click here to see the Fire Fighter Nation article.

TVA arc flash incident from the firefighter’s point of view.

Hugh Hoagland — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:14:22 +0000

These firefighters had a real challenge putting out a fire in a 4160V switchgear at the TVA plant last week.

Interesting comment on how they put the fire, caused by an arc flash, out.

Click here to read the news story.

Al Havens at e-Hazard.com teaches classes on electrical safety for first responders.