Electrical and Arc Flash Safety » New Safety Products

Multi-Hazard Arc Flash Gloves for non-shock arc flash exposures

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:46:43 +0000

Superior Glove Newsletter article on non-shock arc flash and other hazard gloves. These are for operators or ground crews exposed to arc flash possibilities but with no shock hazard.

Click here to read Hugh Hoagland’s arc flash glove hazard article.

GE “Arc Vault” Posts New Video Promotion

Hugh Hoagland — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 03:46:17 +0000

GE’s Arc Vault claims to stop an arcing fault in less than eight milliseconds (ms) with equipment doors open or closed.

There are so many new ways to prevent arc flash. Keep posted. We are going to feature many of them this year. I want folks to use PPE but other means will prevent or reduce the exposure. I’d love to see all exposures less than 1 cal/cm2. Devices like this, fast acting, current limiting fuses, arc resistant equipment, infrared windows, through door voltage detection and etc can reduce exposures, risk and energy levels. Twenty years from now I would predict all work clothing will be flame resistant/arc rated in some manner and risks will be even lower. There is no reason the economies of scale and innovation can’t make materials which do not melt and self extinguish as cost effective as normal clothing in a few years. The arc flash market and now the military market is making this change a reality!

C;ick here to watch GE’s Arc Vault YouTube

DRIFIRE and Quanta Services Announce Collaboration

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:39:26 +0000

This collaboration, between a leading manufacturer of flame-resistant clothing & arc tested garments (DRIFIRE) and one of the nation’s largest providers of electrical power services (Quanta), will focus on developing innovative garments that consider both the safety and comfort of workers exposed to electrical and arc-flash hazards. The collaboration has lead to the launch of an innovation council that will brainstorm ideas for new products and designs.

Click here to read more about the collaboration of DRIFIRE and Quanta

All Leather Belt for Electrical Work

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:07:31 +0000

I get this question a lot. Is there a belt on the market which is dielectric?

These may not be perfect but there is no metal exposed in normal wearing condition. One can be ordered directly if you click here. The other 2 are available through Amazon.

Di-electric rope use (ASTM F1701)

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 19:56:52 +0000

How do you use di-electric rope?

Most don’t understand that di-electric rope is test on new rope and di-electric standards aren’t as forgiving as arc flash standards.

Users di-electric rope have no work practice standards in written form. Most utilities attach the rope to a tested hot-stick and pull using that. Some will pull with rubber gloves. Lee Marchassult points out “Many tree trimmers have been shocked on poly rope while tied to a branch that makes contact with the line. [A Vermont] company had two tree trimmers in one month contacting energized ropes [involved in incidents]. Normal practice is to use an insulated and tested link stick if possible where the rope would contact the line and earth at the same time.” Other utilities allow pulling of ropes with rubber insulated gloves and leather protectors.

What is di-electric rope?

Di-electric rope meets ASTM F1701. Di-electric rope should not be considered insulated. It is di-electric when tested and when new. Wet rope or dirty rope or otherwise contaminated rope will perform very differently from new rope. Di-electric testing differs vastly from arc flash testing. Most things like normal dirt doesn’t really affect arc flash but conduction of electricity can be vastly changed with a little of the right dirt or moisture.

Bare-Handed Rope Practices shared by BC Hydro

What is your practice. Sharing can help others. Share any accidents. No need to list your name if you are an enduser.

Companies which sell this rope to my knowledge.

Yale Cordage (USA)

Barry Cordage (Canada)

Novabraid (Canada)

New England Ropes

Here is another article from a manufacturer on rope use. Click here

Arc Flash Training: Choosing PPE for Arc Flash Exposures Article in EC&M Magazine

Hugh Hoagland — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:59:18 +0000

My new article on choosing arc flash PPE is unbiased and real helpful on getting the right things without all the industry hype. We don’t sell the PPE but we do most of the arc flash testing at ArcWear.com so you can count on our info to assist in need.

http://ecmweb.com/ops_maintenance/choosing-ppe-arc-exposure-20100301/index.html

Consciously Conspicuous by Mark Saner overviews ANSI 107 and ASTM F1506 Applications

Hugh Hoagland — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:35:19 +0000

Mark Saner of Workrite offers a nice overview of arc flash and flash fire clothing which needs to be highly visible.

Click here to read Mark’s article.

Good article on High Visibility & Arc Flash

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:07:24 +0000

See Mark Saner’s article on high vis ANSI 107/CSA Z96/EN 471 and flame resistance.

Mark surveys the requirements.

Click here to read the OH&S article.

Indian Engineer credited with GE Arc Flash Innovation

Hugh Hoagland — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:46:20 +0000

Love the idea behind this device. Shunt arc flash energy from the worker and make the fault quicker. This was introduced a few months back and it has been a real innovation that can be retrofitted for older style equipment.

Read the article in the Bangalore Mirror.

Electrical Safety Program Book out in Second Edition. Ray & Jane Jones have the definitive guide.

Hugh Hoagland — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:46:33 +0000

All our trainers use this resource in their consulting. Ray and Jane Jones (former chair of NFPA 70E) have done it again. This version is updated for 2009 version of NFPA 70E. If it is like the last one, you will want it on your shelf if you are serious about electrical safety.

Click here to preorder from Jones & Bartlett Publishing.