Click here to visit WebMD’s Electrical Injuries Article.

WebMD says, “Electrical arcs: Current sparks are formed between objects of different electric potential that are not in direct contact with each other, most often a highly charged source and a ground. The temperature of an electrical arc can reach 2500-5000^o C, resulting in deep thermal burns where it contacts the skin. These are high-voltage injuries that may cause both thermal and flame burns in addition to injury from direct current along the arc pathway.”

Calling arcs “current sparks” is not really understanding a true arc flash.  Makes it sound like a spark you see when operating an electric motor.  “Ionized gas with current flow” would be a better description.  The temp is basically fine and the “deep thermal burns” is an accurate description.  Saying they are “high-voltage” injuries is totally inaccurate.  They are most often low voltage events and THERMAL injuries.  They can have direct current but probably not.  This might be somewhat accurate for a “tracking arc” but this isn’t the majority of arc flashes.

WebMD says, “Flame: Ignition of clothing causes direct burns from flames. Both electrothermal and arcing currents can ignite clothing.”

Great to point this out.  This is the culprit in most arc flash injuries.

WebMD says, “Flash: When heat from a nearby electrical arc causes thermal burns but current does not actually enter the body, the result is a flash burn. Flash burns may cover a large surface area of the body but are usually only partial thickness.”

This is an arc flash we commonly speak of.  Both their electric arc and flash are two types of arc burns but they don’t have to be high voltage.

Good to see a medical site speaking about both “tracking arc” and “arc flash”.  Better information about these types of events is needed so workers have good information to aid in prevention.

Click here to read my article on the four types of arcs in the field.

Proper training, use of insulated coverup and insulating rubber gloves are real life savers. We have a Nigerian Engineer attending our Arc Flash Training, Train the Trainer to begin using the e-Hazard electrical and arc flash safety training materials in Nigeria in April 2010.

Public education helps too.

Read the Story in Leadership Nigeria.

Good statistics from the Brits.

Click here to see the page to link from to sign up and get the article and others.

Not just of workers but most were workers and male.

Click to see the study in an Internet Journal of Forensic urnal

Here we have a good example of lack of maintenance and possibly poor quality switches and breakers.

Good quality electrical devices installed properly by a trained electrical worker and periodically inspected could have hel

Click here to read the local newspaper article.

Not counting lives. How much could we save the economy if we had safer workers. Studies show companies would on average be much more profitable if they emphasized safety more.

Click here to read the OSHA press release.

All workers are affected by electrical hazards and need processes and training to keep them safe.

Click here to read the story.

A very good story in a local newspaper demonstrating the human impact of an arc flash event.

Click here to read the story in The Star of Johannesburg, South Africa.