Arc Flash & Electrical Safety News
Monday, May 28, 2012
NFPA 70E and Remote Employees
An article in NECPlus discusses the growing numbers of remote workers, also known as "lone workers.". These are workers mainly involved in field work and are typically required required to travel to customer locations. They include electrical technicians, field engineers and sales engineers. The article states:"Since remote employees typically have infrequent personal contact with their supervisors or other employees, employers must take a new approach to ensure that employees are trained to be safe while working. In particular, employees must be trained to be aware of the potential hazards inherent in electrical installations, even if they are not the person directly installing the equipment."
Remote workers must be particularly alert to hazards because they are regularly in new environments with which they are not completely familiar. They may know the hazards of the industry they work with, but each facility is different and has unique hazards.
The article talks about using NFPA 70E as the foundation of your electrical safety training. Read the complete article here.
Labels: Electrical Safety, NFPA 70E, remote workers
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Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Loose Connection In Wind Turbine Causes Arc Flash
Reinforced Plastics magazine reports that a loose connection in the electrical system started the fire in the V112 3 MW wind turbine at the Gross Eilstorf wind farm in Germany on 30 March. The fire started in the harmonic filter cabinet due to a loose connection in the electrical system, which created an arc flash.Read the entire article here...
In a March post in this blog I referenced an article that reported that OSHA was targeting arc flash prevention in wind turbines in the US. I write another blog about general workplace safety (click here to read) for which I monitor OSHA citations. In April 2011 OSHA issued a citation to Outland Renewable Services, following an arc flash incident which burned a worker. The proposed fine was $378,000. Prior to that LM Wind Power Blades Inc. of Grand Forks, N.D was cited twice in 2010: once in April 2010 and again in December 2010. Those citations were related to fall hazards and confined space hazards.
Related Past Posts:
Arc Flash: Not My Fault
Labels: Arc Flash Accidents, Electrical Injuries, OSHA
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5 Electrical Injuries: Risk Stratification and Treatment
Injuries caused by electrical exposure range from inconsequential to fatal, and the potential for harm is often underestimated. This article examines basic electrical concepts and describes the damage that electrical exposure can impart to the organs and systems. Case studies are included, and evaluation, management, and disposition considerations are discussed. Special attention is also given to the management of pediatric and pregnant populations.This article, by Barry Knapp, MD, FACEP, RDMS, and Adam Belsches, MD, is published in Emergency Medicine magazine (read the paper).
Related Past Articles:
20 Years Of Electrical Injury Data
Electrical Safety In Construction
Electrocution Is A Serious Risk For Workers
Labels: Canadia Electrical Safety, Electrical Hazards, Electrical Injuries
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Effect of Electrode Type on Arc Flash Testings for AC Systems
A paper published by ACTA Press reports on the results of tests using various electrode types for arc flash testing.Three electrode systems were tested, and results compared with the IEEE calculations. The types of electrodes used were plane-plane, rod-plane and sphere-sphere electrodes. The effect on arc flash testing was observed for each.
The voltage and current characteristics of each electrode type and for various air gap spacings were obtained graphically by using the data acquired from experiments. The test results are compared with the theoretical results obtained from the formulation given in IEEE 1584 Guide for Performing Arc-Flash Hazard Calculations.
The conclusion was that both the experimental and theoretical results seem to satisfy each other.
The paper may be purchased from ACTA Press here.
Related Past Posts:
New Outdoor Arc Flash Labels
Arc Flash In A Grocery Store
Arc Flash And Molten Metal
Labels: arc flash research, Electrical Hazards
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Monday, April 09, 2012
A Tidal Wave Of Arc Flash Hazard Calculation Studies
The International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) Magazine has an arc flash article that provides an overview of arc flash safety, with a focus on arc flash studies. The opening paragraphs state:What started as a slow drip a decade ago has turned into something more like a tidal wave. I am referring to arc-flash hazard calculation studies. Although the “drip” might have started in the United States, the “tidal wave” has now washed across the entire globe and arc-flash studies are becoming more common in other countries as well."
It was ten years ago that IEEE 1584, known as “IEEE Guide for Performing Arc Flash Hazard Calculations,” was first introduced. This landmark document defines equations and methods that have become key components of the AFHCS.
This article covers arc flash safety from conducting a study through selecting the proper PPE and making labels.
Read the entire article here.
Related Past Posts
Arc Flash Studies - Working Backwards
Preventing Arc Flash Injuries
NCCER Training Addresses Electrical Hazards In The Workplace
Labels: Arc Flash Calculations, Safety Inspections
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Thursday, April 05, 2012
10 Steps To Control Electrical Cabinet Problems
An article in Plant Services magazine points out that mixing power and control wiring within one panel can result in problems and difficult to diagnose anomalies. This article provides ten steps to follow for controlling these types of electrical problems. The article opens by stating:"Mixing 480-V three-phase cables and lower voltage 24- or 120-V control wiring and communication cabling in the same cabinet can result in erratic operation or even complete failure of electronic equipment inside the cabinet. Knowing what’s inside the cabinet before you open it, the specific wiring variables to look for once inside, what values to measure, and simple ways to correct problems can help alleviate many erratic and sometimes mysterious control and communication problems."
Read the entire article in Plant Services.
Related Past Posts:
Hospital Cited For Failing To Protect Workers From Electrical Hazards
Isolating The Risk Of Arc Flash Explosions
Protecting Against Arc Flash Hazards
Labels: Electrical Safety. Electrical Problem Solving
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Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Five Common (and dangerous) Working Distance Mistakes
I was just reading an article by Jim Pillips in Electrical Contractor magazine about understanding working distances. The introduction states:"The term 'working distance' appears 20 times in the 2012 Edition of NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. It appears 12 more times in the annexes. The working distance is an important component of the arc flash hazard analysis and is frequently listed on arc flash warning labels and in the arc flash report."
The article then discusses five common working distance mistakes:
1- Working too close
2- Parts of the body closer than the working distance
3- Incorrect input data
4- Unexpected energized parts upfront
5- Rear accessible equipment
Read the complete working distant mistakes article here.
Related Past Posts:
Z462 Arc Flash Standard
System Maintenance Is A Key Part Of Arc Flash Safety
Every Industry Needs To Address Arc Flash Hazards
Labels: Arc Flash Accidents, Preventing Arc Flash Accidents, working distance
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Thursday, March 15, 2012
OSHA Targeting Arc Flash Prevention In Wind Turbines
An article in Wind Power Design & Engineering reports that:"OSHA has stepped-up inspections as a result of several arc-flash events associated with wind turbines. The organization reports the investigation of 32 arc-flash accidents that occurred in 2009 at wind farms. According to the agency, total industrial arc-flash incidents cause about 80% of electrically related accidents and fatalities among qualified electrical workers. In 2010, OSHA investigated one such event that resulted in severe burns to a wind-farm technician and proposed fines of $378,000 for the employer, a service and maintenance company to the wind-energy industry."
The article then goes on to discuss arc flash mitigation, the causes of arc flash and arc flash protection strategies. You can read the article at: http://www.windpowerengineering.com/maintenance/safety/reducing-arcing-faults-and-their-costs-with-arc-flash-relays/
Related Past Posts:
What Information Does NFPA 70E Require On Labels
Video Compares Arc Flashe Events
New Outdoor Arc Flash Labels
Labels: Arc Flash, NEC - Arc Flash Hazards, Work Place Safety
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Arc Flash: Not My Fault
ControlDesign.com has published an article about the design features OEMs are starting to include in equipment to make the equipment safer. New features include: "data taps and/or Lexan windows in panel doors so they don't have to be opened as often, installing interlocks and other hardware that make it harder for users to open panels without thinking, and coordinating fuse protection."
The article looks at the issue of who is responsible for arc flash safety, as well as looking at equipment from a number of manufacturers and what they are doing to improve arc flash safety. You can read article here: http://www.controldesign.com/articles/2012/hand-arc-flash-not-my-fault.html?page=full
Related Past Posts:
How Many Arc Flash Fatalities Are There?
20 Years Of Electrical Safety Data
Electrical Safety In Construction
Labels: Arc Flash Accidents, Arc Flash Products, Electrical Safety
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Monday, March 12, 2012
New NFPA 70E Certifications For Electrical Workers and Supervisors
An article in the March/April issue of the NFPA Journal announces two new NFPA 70E certifications. The article states:"This year, NFPA will launch a new initiative to support NFPA 70E by providing employers with a tool designed to help them implement the code’s safe work practice requirements. For almost a year, a team of 70E subject matter experts has worked on the development of two new and exciting certifications. With the help of a test development organization, the finishing touches are being put on the programs, which target 70E specialist supervisors and specialist workers."
Read more: http://www.nfpa.org/publicColumn.asp?categoryID=2463&itemID=55628&src=NFPAJournal&cookie_test=1
Labels: Arc Flash Training, NFPA 70E
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