Arc Flash Resources

ARC Flash Resources

Arc flash is a growing source of concern for manufacturers and other employers, and OSHA has begun citing companies for arc flash violations.

electrical warning signs, electrical breaker box

Good Practice. Electrical breaker box should be kept closed. Area around breaker box should be kept clean and free from clutter.

US Labor Department's OSHA proposes $88,200 in fines against Victor, NY, contractor after worker burned in SUNY Buffalo arc flash .. Nov, 16, 2009

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited O'Connell Electric Co. Inc. of Victor, N.Y., for 14 alleged serious violations of safety standards after a company employee was burned in a May 18 electrical arc flash on the North Campus of the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo. The electrical contractor faces a total of $88,200 in proposed fines.

The incident occurred as O'Connell employees were performing maintenance on 34,500 volt electrical switches and transformers in the basement of Baldy Hall. OSHA's inspection found that one of the switches had not first been de-energized, as required, before employees began their work, nor had the switches been properly barricaded and tagged to prevent exposure to live electrical parts.

OSHA also determined that the injured worker and other employees had not been adequately informed about and supplied with adequate personal protective clothing. In addition, they had not been adequately trained in electrical safe work practices and in proper hazardous energy control procedures.

"This is a clear example of the grave consequences that can result when basic electrical safeguards are not provided and used," said Arthur Dube, OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "Electricity can injure and kill almost instantly, which makes it vital that power sources be de-energized and locked out, and workers be properly trained and equipped before electrical work is performed."

OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

"One means of preventing hazardous conditions and the accidents that can result from them is to establish an effective safety and health management system through which employers and employees work together to proactively evaluate, identify and eliminate hazards," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.

Arc Flash is a short circuit that flashes from one exposed live conductor to another, or to ground. The resulting ionized air creates electrically conductive superheated plasma that can reach temperatures of 5000°F and above. The explosion takes less than one second and produces a brilliant flash, intense heat, and a pressure blast equivalent to several sticks of dynamite.

Reducing the Risks of Arc Flash with Proper Identification

Protect workers! If it’s necessary to work live, follow the regulations outlined in NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.

Arc Flash Wall Chart

Help prevent arc flash injuries with this poster

This large arc flash safety chart measures 29"W x 20"H

Durable, flexible, calendared vinyl poster stands up to any environment and will last longer than traditional posters

Perform an arc flash hazard analysis to:

Determine the Flash Protection Boundary.
Calculate the hazard category and protective equipment requirements.

Cover both arc flash and electrical shock hazards in employee training, work procedures and permits.
Protection from Electric Shock and Arc Flash

Remember: OSHA only allows work on live electrical parts under special circumstances: when continuity of service is required, or when de-energizing equipment would create additional hazards. In all other cases, lockout / tagout is the law!

HHE Report No. HETA-97-0260-2716. Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, Louisiana

...screens, or tarps around welding operations to help prevent welder’s flash hazards, particularly in the Fabrication and Web Departments. According to OSHA 29 CFR 1915.56, whenever practicable, arc welding and cutting operations shall be shielded by screens to protect nearby personnel from the arc flash. If it is impractical to place curtains or screens around the welding operations, determine if they can at least be positioned between work areas and the walkways to protect nearby personnel from welder’s flash. Workers adjacent to welding operations should use long gloves ...

Arc Flash Labeling Requirements

Arc flash labeling is the responsibility of the employer, not the manufacturer or installer of the equipment. The NEC provides examples of electrical equipment located that must be field marked with a warning label:

Switchboards
Panelboards
Industrial control panels
Meter socket enclosures
Motor control centers

This is not an all-inclusive list. Labeling is required for any electrical equipment that is likely to require examination, adjustment, service or maintenance while energized, where the potential for an arc flash incident exists. Thus many employers are labeling bus ducts and other electrical equipment not specifically called out in the NEC.

Any modifications or renovations to electrical equipment will require an updated arc flash hazard analysis and label according to the 2009 NFPA 70E standard. This shall be reviewed at least every five years. Equipment installed prior to the 2002 NEC provision does not require a label. However, should it be modified or upgraded in anyway a label must be affixed. One OSHA representative has stated that he considers changing a use or a breaker to be a modification that would require labeling. More importantly, from a safety standpoint, the hazard is the same regardless of when the equipment was installed. Consequently, most employers are simply labeling all the appropriate equipment, regardless of when it was installed.

The NEC requirement states that the marking must be located so that it’s clearly visible to qualified persons before they begin work. Typically, the label is placed outside the panel or enclosure door. In some cases, however, companies choose to put the label inside the door (e.g., to protect it from harsh environments), but this should only be done if the door must first be opened (allowing the label to be seen) before the panel face or enclosure can be removed. The key point is that the label be easily noticeable by workers before they may be exposed to any potentially dangerous live parts.

Seton offers a variety of arc flash label formats to suit your needs.

Basic Arc Flash Labels

Meets current NEC labeling requirements.
Industrial-grade adhesive sticks permanently to a wide variety of surfaces.
Made of durable B-302 Polyester with over-laminate to withstand harsh environments.

NEC Arc Flash Labels On-A-Roll- Arc Flash And Shock Hazard Appropriate PPE Required(Danger)

NEC Arc Flash Protection Labels - Arc Flash & Shock Hazard Appropriate PPE Required...(With Graphic)

NEC Arc Flash Labels On-A-Roll- Arc Flash And Shock Hazard (Danger/Peligro)

Write-On Arc Flash Labels

Write-in areas for equipment-specific information such as
flash protection boundary, hazard category, and required PPE.
B-933 Vinyl can be written on with pen or marker.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Hazard Categories

Hazard Category	Required PPE	Min. Arc Rating (cal/cm²)
0	Long sleeve Shirt & Long Pants (natural fibers) Safety Glasses	n/a
1	Fire-Resistant Shirt & Pants (or Fire-Resistant Coverall) Hard Hat Safety Glasses Leather Gloves & Shoes	4
2	Cotton Underwear Fire-Resistant Shirt & Pants (or Fire-Resistant Coverall Hard Hat Safety Glasses or Goggles Arc-Rated Face Shield (or Flash Suit Hood) Hearing Protection Leather Gloves & Shoes	8
2*	Same as 2 EXCEPT Flash Suit 8 Hood required (no face shield option)	8
3	Cotton Underwear Fire-Resistant Shirt & Pants (PLUS Fire-Resistant Coverall) Hard Hat Safety Glasses or Goggles Flash Suit Hood Hearing Protection Leather Gloves & Shoes	25
4	Cotton Underwear Fire-Resistant Shirt & Pants (or Fire-Resistant Coverall) Hard Hat Safety Glasses or Goggles Full Flash Suit with Hood Hearing Protection Leather Gloves & Shoes	40

Minimum Arc Rating indicates the amount of thermal energy the apparel protects against. It’s critically of arc blast or explosion. De-energizing and locking out equipment is the best way to protect workers. important that workers wear natural fibers and fire resistant clothing, because the most severe burns are caused by ignited or melted clothing. Additional shields and barriers may also be necessary to protect workers.

Arc flash typically occurs while electrical equipment is being disconnected, inspected or serviced, and can be caused by a variety of factors such as:

Accidental contact with live parts
Close proximity of a conductive object, like a metal tool, with a high-amp current source
Sparks generated from racking in breakers, replacing fuses, or even from dropped tools
Over voltage conditions
Insulation failure or corrosion buildup on electrical terminals
Presence of fumes or chemical vapors that reduce the breakdown voltage of air

Comply with the NEC marking requirement for arc flash hazard protection

Hazard warning labels are now required by the 2002 National Electric Code (Article 110.16) to help reduce the occurrences of serious injury or death due to arcing faults to those who work on or near energized electrical equipment
Post these durable self-adhesive vinyl labels to switchboards, panel boards, etc. to warn

Introduced in the 2002 Edition of the National Electric Code
	EMPLOYERS, not manufacturers or installers, are responsible for complying with NEC labeling requirements.
	Switchboards, panel boards, industrial control panels, and motor control centers must be field marked. Many companies are also marking conduits, disconnect switches, and any other equipment where the risk of arc flash exists.
	Any equipment installed after 2002 needs to be labeled. For equipment installed before 2002, labeling must be applied if ANY modifications or upgrades take place. Smart employers are taking the safe, efficient approach of labeling all their electrical equipment, regardless of when it was installed.

	OSHA has been working with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other organizations to develop a set of regulations that specifically address arc flash.
	OSHA does not specifically mention arc flash hazards or requirements in its standards. However, the requirements for protecting employees working on exposed live parts are described in terms general enough to include arc flash hazards, allowing OSHA to cite employers for exposing workers to arc flash hazards.
	OSHA 29 CFR 1910.331 - .335, Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices is the main standard defining requirements for protecting workers who may be exposed to electrical hazards. In enforcing worker safety procedures, OSHA cites the NFPA 70E standard as the "how to" source for compliance. NFPA 70E provides guidance on specific steps that must be taken to comply with the more general statements made in the OSHA standards.
	OSHA 1910.133

Appendix F to Subpart V—Clothing

I. Introduction

Paragraph (g) of § 1926.960 addresses clothing worn by an employee. This paragraph requires employers to: (1) Assess the workplace for flame and arc hazards (paragraph (g)(1)); (2) estimate the available
heat energy from electric arcs to which employees could be exposed (paragraph (g)(2)), (3) ensure that employees wear clothing that has an arc rating greater than or equal to the available heat energy (paragraph (g)(5)), (4) ensure that employees wear clothing that could not melt or ignite and continue to burn in the presence of electric
arcs to which an employee could be exposed (paragraph (g)(3)), and (5) ensure that employees wear flame-resistant clothing 1 under certain conditions (paragraph (g)(4)). This appendix contains information to help employers estimate available heat energy as
required by § 1926.960(g)(2), select clothing with an arc rating suitable for the available heat energy as required by § 1926.960(g)(5),
and ensure that employees do not wear flammable clothing that could lead to burn injury as addressed by §§ 1926.960(g)(3) and (g)(4).

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