Electrical and Arc Flash Safety

An IBEW electrical contractor working on the Caterpillar site sustained arc flash burns in an electrical incident.  Knowing IBEW rules and Caterpillar rules it is most likely he was wearing arc rated clothing and following most of NFPA 70E. http://www.pekintimes.com/mobiletopstories/x2019337075/Two-injured-at-Caterpillar  

Sharing arc flash information is the purpose of this blog.  We seek the best and least commercial information sources of arc flash. IAEI (International Association of Electrical Inspectors) Magazine has several articles on arc flash and has one page dedicated to helping find them. http://www.iaei.org/magazine/tag/arc-flash/

NEMA announced today that Kentucky adopted the NEC 2011 as law with no exceptions, this fundamentally makes Arc Flash Labels law in KY.  NEC gives adequate guide to how arc flash labels must be installed in Article 110.16. Read the NEMA Story on NEC adoption in KY.

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.

The worker in this story is installing a new smart meter when the arc fault occured. Wearing close to right PPE.  Likely no energy calc.  He got burned but no clothing ignition.  Lucky and likely to have little life changing burns but PPE could have been better matched from this description. Wonderful that the fire [...]

When an electrical worker gets burned and the word explosion is mentioned, it is usually an arc flash.  Arc flash sustained by a worker are covered under OSHA hazard assessment requirements and both NFPA 70E and NESC.  Most workers are doing things they didn’t expect to get into an arc flash over. Click here to [...]

Just teaching an NFPA 70E Train the Trainer and a trainer told us about a new device that can detect when a crane gets near powerlines and shuts down the crane.   Click here to see one engineering method to help comply with the 20 foot rule on cranes and Powerlines.

This article explores requirements for DI and EH Shoes and Best Practices for use of shoes in arc flash and step potential.  Another of our arc flash training articles. http://ohsonline.com/articles/2011/04/01/using-dielectric-and-electrical-hazard-shoes.aspx

Hugh Hoagland, arc flash trainer from e-Hazard.com will present a 4 hour free class on NFPA 70E at the Safety Fest.  This FREE Arc Flash Training will feature the most experienced trainer on arc flash. Hugh has been the leading arc flash tester since 1997 and performs arc flash tests, accident investigations and arc flash [...]

CSB just released the Powerpoint of their study on Combustible Dust. CSB Combustible Dust Incident Study