This documents purpose is to establish clear and consistent instructions and procedures for dealing with arc flash hazards. The flash is immediate, but the results can cause severe injury. The study is prepared by an electrical engineer and conducted for the. Making or breaking a circuit bridging a insulating air gap with a more conductive object the heat generated can be devastating a fire usually burns at 800 degrees steel melts at around 1,800 degrees. New osha regulations for arc flash safety what does this.
Arc flash an arc flash occurs when electrical current passes through air this most often occurs in power systems when. This standard provides equations for calculating incident energy and the arc flash boundary. Understanding arc flash simply put, an arc flash is a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground. Electrical safety ppe best practices including 1910. How to perform arc flash risk assessment under nfpa 70e. An arc flash is a dangerous condition associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc. Arc flash hazards actually consist of two separate. Electrical safety program arcflash how it impacts projects. At some locations, the arc flash boundary is less than the limited approach shock boundary. Unlike the shock boundaries, the arc flash boundary is not voltage dependent. Standard operating procedures will help control andor eliminate arc flash events in order to protect employees from electrical hazards. The company should be especially aware of this, since osha cited republic. Batteries in nfpa 70e live work is unavoidable on certain portions of battery systems most batteries are covered in article 320 nfpa 70e2009 was full of installation requirements some contradicted.
The purpose of this safety policy and procedure is to establish guidelines and procedures through which als. This is enter company name here arc flash prevention policy. Arc blasts and the resulting heat can lead to fires, pressure waves and flying shrapnel that result in serious damage to life and property. Topic title organizationgrantee year grant number language. Unless proper procedures are instituted, personnel installing or servicing these systems are frequently exposed to the hazards of shock, arc flash and arc blast. It is the goal of murray state university to control the arc flash hazard which occurs during the maintenance of electrical building components throughout campus.
Originally developed at oshas request, nfpa 70e helps companies and employees avoid workplace injuries and fatalities due to shock, electrocution, arc flash, and arc blast, and assists in complying with osha 1910 subpart s and osha 1926 subpart k. For facilities that have already performed arc flash studies, the nfpa70e still recommends that arc flash studies be updated. More recently, however, the dangers of arc flash have come to the forefront of electrical safety programs and procedures. Electric shock hazards, including electrocution, have been studied since the introduction of electricity. It is measured in terms of arc flash incident energy, which is used. Preventing arc flash incidents by design this arc flash label indicates that the breaker. Standard operating procedure page 2 of 3 preoperation 1. Canadian occupational health and safety legislation re arc flash hazards back to f. Arc flash procedures presented by gary hatcher, cih eei spring occupational safety and health committee conference april 2124, 2009. In summary, arc flash is a very dangerous phenomenon. An electrical arc flash is a serious hazard that is caused by an electric current flowing through an air gap between electrical conductors, which generates intense light and heat.
As an extra precaution, try to schedule any risk assessment and maintenance during a period of time when the circuit can be shut down. Equipment specific procedures in their individual work units boundary. Nfpa70e compliance takes more than a label pdf electrical safe work practices and procedures pdf easypower arc flash brochure pdf. Arc flash from electrical faults on the lowside of. Electrical safety policy objective this policy is intended to protect individuals working at the university of florida from electrical hazards that may result in electric shock, burns, arc flash blast or other injuries due to direct or indirect contact with electrical equipment, tools or appliances. An electrical breakdown of a gas which produces an ongoing plasma discharge, resulting from a current flowing. Arc flash analysis program afa facilities services the. The types of risk such as thermal effects of arc flash to face, chest, arms and hands. An arc flash assessment determines the potential for an arc flash electrical arc and the possible intensity of that arc flash this is critical information needed by anyone who will be working on or near energized electrical parts, switches, breakers or equipment calculations can be found in ieee 1584 guide for performing arc flash. Companies that have not performed arc flash analysis to determine incident energy companies with distributedremote locations that do not have a global arc flash safety policy notee. Procedures for performing an arc flash hazard analysis can be found in ieee 1584.
It is the goal of concordia university chicago to control the arc flash hazard which is present during the maintenance of electrical building components throughout the campus. The purpose of this policy is to prevent injury due to shock hazard or arc flash. More recently, however, the dangers of arc flash have come to the forefront of electrical safety. Canadian occupational health and safety legislation re arc. The term arc flash is used to describe low impedance connections, which allows movement of unwanted electric discharge from one voltage phase to another. Safety policy as well as with any written safety procedures covering specific tasks. The arc flash protection boundary is an imaginary sphere that surrounds the potential arc point. Over 2000 workers are sent to burn centers each year with severe arc flash burns.
Electrical safety in the workplace 2 course goal the aim of this program is to provide comprehensive onsite training to high risk workers i. The results are often violent and when a human is in close proximity to the arc flash, serious injury and even death can occur. Safety policy and procedure policy number 020 authorized by. Electrical arc flash hazards management guideline checklist. Grantee materials by topic occupational safety and health.
An objective of maintenance procedures for electrical switchgear and equipment is that it will reliably and safely clear load and fault current and the associated protective relays operate within their design criteria. Ieee and nfpa both recognize that the significant threat posed by arc flash hazards and have joined forces on an initiative to fund and. Estimates show that 10 arc flash incidents occur every day in the us. Preventing chronic beryllium disease through exposure recognition and control. Distance limits for various aspects of electrical work. Contributory factors to arc flash incidents are often the presence of corrosion, dust, impurities, moisture and insulation failure. These explosions typically occur without any warning, destroy electrical equipment completely and lead to severe injury or death of personnel present within the boundary of the arc flash. Upgrade your electrical safety policy, procedures and requirements. The arc flash hazard program establishes coordinated and consistent procedures and operating criteria for safe and reliable operation and maintenance of those facilities. When an arc flash hazard exists, an approach limit at a distance from a prospective arc.
Gm policy and research, australian energy council aec, level 14, 50 market street, melbourne, vic, 3000. Arc flash electrical safety practices arc flash resource. The arc flash blew the door open, knocking him back against a wall and causing him in front of the enclosure, which continued to arc. The employee shall comply with the safetyrelated work practices and procedures provided by the employer source nfpa 70e 2018 105. When an arc flash hazard exists, an approach limit at a distance from a prospective arc source within which a person could receive a seconddegree burn if an electrical arc flash were to occur. If you are unsure, many risk assessment procedures will outline the procedure for getting a second opinion to confirm arc flash risk and appropriate actions. At other locations, the arc flash energy can be much greater than the approach boundary. Information and discussion topics for electrical workers. Procedures to deenergize electrical equipment must include. This is because arc flash hazards pose an everyday risk in plants across the world, possessing the potential to destroy equipment and seriously injure, or kill, employees. Making or breaking a circuit bridging a insulating air gap with a more conductive object. An arc flash assessment determines the potential for an arc flash electrical arc and the possible intensity of that arc flash. In other words, if an arc fault could occur which has enough energy to cause substantial damage, injury, fire or other harm, there is an arc flash hazard. Grantee materials by topic occupational safety and.
An arc flash is a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground. Some of the factors that determine the amount of incident energy include. Provide employees with training in the employers safetyrelated work practices and procedures. Arc flash analysis program afa facilities services. What does an arc flash suit look like, i dont want to. Hazard calculations for the proper calculations, procedures, and. The arc flash hazard program establishes coordinated and consistent procedures. An objective of maintenance procedures for electrical switchgear and equipment is that it will reliably and safely clear load and fault current and the associated protective relays operate within their design. An arc flash is an explosion causing severe burns, injuries andor death depending on the severity. Electrical safety and arc flash protection effective date. The study is prepared by an electrical engineer and conducted for the purposes of injury prevention and determination of safe work practices, arc flash boundary, and appropriate levels of personal protective equipment ppe. Three key action steps to make this policy work for your organization. What does an arc flash suit look like, i dont want to wear a moonsuit. How to perform an arc flash study arc flash training.
Arc flash analysis is a technical study investigating a workers potential exposure to arc flash energy. The arc flash, also called a flashover, is the light and heat produced by the arc fault. Although not initially injured by the arc flash, don was burned as he rescued an unconscious jon from in front of. Arcrated clothing, minimum arc rating of 4 calcm2 arcrated longsleeve shirt and pants or arcrated coverall arcrated face shield see note 2 or arc flash suit hood arcrated jacket, parka, rainwear, or hard hat liner an protective equipment hard hat safety glasses or safety goggles sr. Health and safety fcxhs03 release 072018 version 1. Arc flash zones will be labeled with a standard arc flash zone hazard sign. Osha currently has thousands of rules and regulations that. Mar 01, 2012 ieee 1584 is the most commonly used method for performing an arc flash study.
Australian electricity generators have come together and developed an electrical arc flash hazard management guideline to help minimise risk to electrical workers. Information relied upon in this policy are the generally accepted standards listed in the osha 29 code of federal regulations cfr part 1910. Arc flash hazards actually consist of two separate hazards. Arc flash blast virginia department of mines, minerals. With the right training, safety procedures and equipment, its possible to minimize the risk of arc flash. Refer to the city of lincoln lockout tagout policy. This standard provides equations for calculating incident energy and the arcflash boundary. To ensure effective operations of a workplace, everyone must be aware of what they are doing and how it may affect those around them, and they must be prepared to accept the consequences. Ohsa regulations for arc flash safety what does this mean.
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