Burn Up the Myth: EH rated footwear

Q:     I have had some individuals bring in EH rated boots that were made with a Kevlar material.  It was my understanding that the leather requirement was for ensuring the electrical rating.  If the boots are EH rated, are they acceptable provided all other criteria are met?    A:     I have a high level of confidence that personnel wearing EH or dielectric (DI) rated shoes, boots, and overshoes will be adequately protected from an arc flash incident up to and including 40 cal/cm2 as long as they are made of leather. Leather shoes have been tested under these arc flash conditions.  All tests indicate that no heat from an arc flash was transferred to the inside of the shoe, whether or not the shoe had a steel toe.  Even so, shoelaces have caught fire or melted.  Under no circumstances should people wear shoes made with synthetic materials inside the arc flash boundary unless they have been arc tested (no ratings on shoes).  I they could melt under arc flash conditions.  We have also tested shoes with metatarsal guards and with composite toe guards and those with leather shoes have tested well. EH rated shoes should be made of leather, based on item 1 above. As stated above, EH and DI shoes, boots, and overshoes have been tested under arc flash conditions. Neither shoes, boots, nor overshoes caught fire or melted under these test conditions.  Most EH shoes that have Kevlar on the label are using a thin Kevlar shank to prevent puncture an make the shoe stronger.  Kevlar is excellent in an arc flash bu this use of Kevlar will have little or no effect on the arc performance of the shoe. –Al Havens and Hugh Hoagland   Note:  I want to point out that EH shoes are tested at 14kV at the time of manufacture but are only to be used below 1kV. As Al and Hugh pointed out, it is only the sole that has the voltage rating; the upper carries no voltage rating. ONLY DI shoes are ever required by NFPA 70E but EH shoes are recommended for “dry conditions”. –Bill Shinn    Visit our website for more articles on the importance of PPE.       Got a question? The only bad question is the one you didn’t ask until after the accident!    Contact us with any questions.

Electrical Safety News

Recall on Fluke Products  04-22-2013 13:53:19 PM Successful Electrical Safety Workshop Wraps Up 04-22-2013 13:52:54 PM OSHA Changes to Electrical Safety Regulations  04-17-2013 10:59:35 AM Arc Flash Injures Three at Callaway Energy Center  04-17-2013 10:52:55 AM   Electrical arc flash in nuclear plant switch yard: three workers injured  04-17-2013 10:48:41 AM   Proposed New ISO Standard on Requirements for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems  04-17-2013 10:31:24 AM   Arc Flash at Nuclear Power Plant Callaway, MO April 2, 2013 NRC Site Reports  04-04-2013 15:44:51 PM     Safety Leadership or Safety Bullying? A New White Paper for E. Scott Geller  03-29-2013 10:49:03 AM   NSA Sheds Light on its FR High Visibility Clothing  03-28-2013 09:20:39 AM   Methods of Operating Medium Voltage Equipment  03-27-2013 11:01:21 AM   OSHA fines Nebraska Meat Processor for Electrical Safety Violations  03-27-2013 09:31:46 AM   10,000 Hit it every Week Have our BLOG sent right to your inbox! To stay up-to-date on the latest electrical safety news, go to the e-Hazard BLOG

Fines by OSHA on Electrical Hazards
Many citations include electrical hazards.         View OSHA citations and our commentary   on our BLOG.

Safety Leadership or Safety Bullying?

There has been much discussion in the safety industry on the idea of “safety culture” as it relates to managing employees in safety-related occupations.     Inspired by an editorial in ISHN magazine, E. Scott Geller, Ph.D., an Alumni Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech and Senior Partner at Safety Performance Solutions, has written a compelling article that examines safety bullying in the workplace.     “Indeed, I remain convinced that setting zero as a safety “goal” is safety bullying. Zero should be our vision.”   Please visit the e-Hazard blog to read the DRAFT of Dr. E. Scott Geller’s article on Safety Bullying reprinted with his permission.  Feel free to comment below or email Dr. Gellar directly.   Read the full article on the e-Hazard blog.

FREE Webinar covers OSHA Proposed Changes to Electrical Safety Regulations

In March 2013 OSHA was slated to make several changes to the  1910.269, 1926 and 1910.300 standards affecting utilities, construction and general industry.  This is expected any day.     This webinar, featuring Hugh Hoagland, and Hosted by OH&S Magazine will review the proposed changes and their impact on industry. Most companies following the latest version of NFPA 70E or the NESC will be unaffected, since the new regulations reflect the 2012 versions of these documents, with a few twists.     DATE: May 2, 2013 TIME: 2:00PM EST – 1:00PM CST – 11:00AM PST    Sponsored by:         Register Now

2013 Electrical Safety Training Courses

We offer a variety of electrical training courses, including arc flash training, electrical safety procedures and electrical safety guidelines, designed with the user in mind. Our goal is to provide relevant courses for any industry where electrical safety is a concern. More trainers use e-Hazard training materials than all our competitors combined. Competitors welcome to our open-registration classes. Low Voltage Qualified Low Voltage Refresher  High Voltage Qualified  High Voltage Refresher  LV & HV Train the Trainer  Operator’s Class  NESC  OSHA 10 Hour    On-site custom classes are available. We can design a training program around your company’s unique electric safety program needs. Our team of experts have created tailored training solutions for companies and industries around the world.   Contact us for more information.

Testimonials

Check out what people are saying about our training classes! “Al is very knowledgeable of NFPA 70E and was a great instructor.  Course is exciting, interactive and much better than other NFPA 70E courses that I have taken.”   “Taken course 4 times- best instructor I’ve had.”   “I learned a great deal from the instructor.”   See our full class schedule and register today!

May is Electrical Safety Month

In anticipation of May’s National Electrical Safety Month, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is spearheading its annual effort to raise awareness electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety. Th ESFI Electrical Safety Advocate Guide is year’s campaign theme is     “Electrical Safety for All Ages.” ESFI has developed a multifaceted campaign with valuable safety resources targeting the youngest and oldest populations, as well as up-to-date safety resources for the workplace and general public. Visit the ESFI website for valuable information on Electrical Safety in the Workplace.

Arc Flash Safety Forum

Join our Arc Flash Safety Forum for online discussions regarding arc flash and electrical safety, arc flash studies, standards and code, and much more. Our instructors will continue to be involved in other forums but wanted to provide focus on arc flash training through this sight.  This will be an excellent resource for our trainers who have been through the four-day intensive Train the Trainer course and others seeking answers on arc flash and electrical safety.

New Technology in PPE: The Value of the Lift Front Hood from Salisbury

Salisbury by Honeywell has created a revolutionary product in the electrical safety industry. The Lift Front Hood is a unique hybrid  hood that takes the award-winning design of Salisbury’s weight balancing face shield and blends it with a standard arc flash hood. The result is a lighter, more comfortable arc flash hood that provides users with increased visibility, breathability and safety. Arc flash hoods often result in an uncomfortable feeling created when access to fresh air is reduced and a build-up of CO2 occurs. The Lift Front Hood allows fresh air to come in without adding additional weight or creating additional discomfort for the user. Visit the Salisbury website to read about the benefits.

Hugh Hoagland to speak at the National Safety Council Congress and Expo in September

e-Hazard Senior Consultant Hugh Hoagland will be presenting a session during the Annual 2013 NSC Congress & Expo, held September 28-October 4 in Chicago, IL.     The Session, Arc Flash: Changes to OSHA Standards, NESC and NFPA 70E, is scheduled for September 30, 2013 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM. The NSC Congress & Expo is the world’s largest annual event for safety, health and environmental professionals, designed to build awareness of the tools available to you and your organization as you continue down the path to safety excellence.  Visit the event website for more information and to register.

Train the Trainer Class

e-Hazard offers Train the Trainer courses several times per year. This three or four-day intensive training program is designed to prepare qualified trainers to deliver instruction to others based on NFPA 70E and OSHA requirements. e-Hazard started this training to raise the bar in the electrical industry. While we offer many qualified trainers, we also provide training materials and and coaching so you can develop in-house expertise without breaking the bank. See what over 400 other trainers are saying about the e-Hazard TTT class and our materials. Upcoming TTT classes: June 3-6   Louisville, KY September 23-26  Louisville, KY   December 2-5 Louisville, KY  Contact us to request course details.

ArcWear™ Arc Testing Dates

ASTM F1959, ASTM F2178 and ASTM F887 arc testing and mannequin testing are scheduled at the Kinectrics Lab in Toronto on the dates below.   Winter Work Jacket – Arc Flash Test   ArcWear™ Testing 2013  May 27-30 June 24-28 July 22-26  August 19-23 September 16-20   Policies: We must receive materials or clothing one week before the test date for sample preparation. Otherwise, call to make arrangements to ship to the lab in Canada. New and non-US/Canadian customers must make payment before the test date.  Testing is offered on a first come/first served basis with priority for consulting customers. $100 per material for prep/washing and cutting panels; ($200 for items arriving less than 7 days before the test date to cover preparation overtime)  For complete information on Arc Testing, including testing site location, shipping details and accreditation, visit: www.arcwear.com View our Arc Test Data. Get details on past Arc Flash Articles.

Please visit the newly redesigned ArcStore.com

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is crucial when you need protection the most.  ArcStore specializes in electric arc and flash fire tested garments for use in hazardous environments where electrical safety is a concern. Our products provide arc and flame protection as specified by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 70E), OSHA and cleanliness requirements of the FDA regulations when cared for and laundered properly. Visit ArcStore.com.