Arc Flash & Electrical Safety News

Monday, October 31, 2011

What Information Does NFPA 70E 2012 Require On Arc Flash Labels?

NFPA 70E 2012 is now in effect. What information does it require on arc flash labels?

The 2009 edition of NFPA 70E required that labels have either the available incident energy or the minimum arc flash rating for the PPE to be used. Plus every label had to have the arc flash boundary, nominal system voltage and the date of the arc flash analysis. If you have labels with this information, that were applied prior to October 1, 2011, those labels may remain. However, they must fully comply with NFPA 70E 2009.

We recommend that labeling throughout a facility be consistent. The same formant and information should be included on every label of the same type. So when someone looks at a warning label they know what to expect, what they are seeing means, and exactly where to look for the needed information. For this reason we recommend replacing all arc flash labels when you reach the point at which new arc flash labels must be used in any location in your facility.

The NFPA 70E 2012 code requires the following:

At least one of the following must be included:

Available incident energy and corresponding working distance
The highest hazard or risk category (NFPA 70E Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) and Table 130.7(C)(16) for the description of the PPE.
The minimum arc rating of required clothing
The minimum required level of PPE

In addition the nominal system voltage and arc flash boundary must be included.

Your existing arc flash label may already be compliant with NFPA 70E 2012, and no changes are required. However, NFPA 70E 2012 provides greater flexibility allowing you to use labels that, for your facility, are more effective and easier to understand.

Labels: Arc Flash Labeling, NFPA 70E

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"Civilian Hero" Reduced Severity of Damage From East Moline Arc Flash Exposion

An arc flash explosion and fire in East Moline, Iowa injured two men last Friday. An article in the Quad-City Times reports on the arc flash explosion. One of the injured men is credited with taking steps that reduced the severity of the results from the arc flash in a power generation facility powered by methane gas. The article reports:

“One of the men was able to get to a fire extinguisher, and he also got to the man who was hurt worse and got him out of the area,” Schnepple said. “He also managed to get to the cut-off and stop the flow of gas. We have a civilian hero out of the deal, for sure.”

Read more: http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/explosion-in-east-moline-injures-men/article_70fe90ac-0197-11e1-9092-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1cMmUrEga

Labels: Arc Flash Accidents

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Man Who Suffered Electrical Burn Receives Full Face Transplant

While this is not specifically about arc flash. It is about a development that may help arc flash victims.

In 2001 a 21 year old man, who was in a car accident, received burns from 7,200 volt electrical source. The burns affected most of his face. Recently the second full face transplant, at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, was successfully performed giving him a new face.

Read the article, and watch a video of the news report here.

Labels: Electrical Injuries, Recovery From Arc Flash

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Monday, October 24, 2011

New Outdoor Die-Cut Arc Flash Labels From DuraLabel

Graphic Products has released new die-cut DuraLabel Outdoor-Durable labels for Arc Flash labeling. Dangerous electrical Arc Flash explosions are likely to occur in outdoor locations as frequently, if not more frequently, than at indoor locations. Arc Flash injuries include severe burns which destroy skin tissue and other organs, huge pressure wave blasts that can throw the victim several feet, hearing loss and even death.

The new outdoor DuraLabel arc flash labels have been engineered to provide greater resistance to sunlight, weather and moisture, providing greater outdoor durability. Outdoor conditions are tough on labels, and it takes Tough Tested DuraLabel labels to provide maximum life.

The labor to install labels is usually the most costly part of labeling hazards. So having DuraLabel labels that last saves you money. But more importantly it ensures your labels are delivering their important information year after year. A faded, unreadable label can result in a serious injury or fatality. Using DuraLabel outdoor arc flash labels gives you longer label life and more reliable protection.

Arc flash labels serve four purposes:

·Convey information about arc flash hazards.
·Inform people to stay away

·Help electricians know precautions must be taken when interacting with electrical equipment.

·Inform workers about personal protection equipment (PPE) should they need to work on or near equipment that represents an arc flash hazard.

These tough labels can take the punishment of outdoor locations and are pre-printed with OSHA/ANSI compliant headers including WARNING, DANGER, CAUTION and NOTICE. The die-cut labels have better outdoor durability because the rounded corners are less likely to peel than the continuous supply.

All of DuraLabel's Arc Flash Labels are specially formatted for printing with the DuraSuite software. Each DuraLabel Printer comes bundled with DuraSuite, making it easy to print professional quality labels with all the required NFPA 70E information.

Call 1-888-326-9244 for more information about DuraLabel outdoor arc flash labels.

With more than 50 unique labeling supplies providing the right label material for nearly any type of environment, a full family of printers for every application, a five year vinyl supply warranty, free technical support and satisfied customers throughout the world, DuraLabel and Graphic Products have solved unique problems in the industrial safety arena for more than 40 years.

Labels: Arc Flash Labeling, DuraLabel Supplies

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Video - Test Of Effects Of An Arc Flash

This is a video of a test if a face shield, but it clearly shows the effects of an arc flash.

Labels: Arc Flash Accidents, Safety Video

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Marine Arc Flash

The following is from the Institute of Marine Engineering

UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING THE ARC FLASH HAZARD IN SHIPS

Electrical systems have been used successfully for over 150 years in ships and typically the main hazard from electricity is believed to arise from electrocution. However, with the rising demand for power on ships leading to the subsequent installation of electrical power systems with high fault current levels, there is an increased potential for arc flash accidents to occur. Arc flash is an electrical discharge or a short circuit through ionised air (plasma) caused by isolation or insulation integrity failure – and also the subject of ‘Marine Arc Flash’, a new conference being organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) to be held in central London on Tuesday 8 November 2011.

“The aim of this new conference is simple,” explains IMarEST’s Interim Chief Executive, Fiona Morris. “We want to raise awareness of electric arc flash within the maritime community and uncover best practice to ameliorate the risk of arc flash in ships. The arc flash hazard is beginning to be addressed in land-based industries and considerable research has gone into developing standards, which allow the calculation of heat flux and advises on suitable personnel protection. Now is the time to ensure that operators, owners, designers and maintainers of ships are aware of this danger and can ensure that the arc flash hazard is managed in order to make their vessels safe places to work.

“The arc flash can release tremendous amounts of energy in the form of heat and pressure waves, coupled with the generation of toxic smoke and flying hot debris from the vaporisation of conductive parts. In the confined compartments of ships the hazard is not only to people in the vicinity but also to the functions of the ships from the resulting partial or complete loss of electrical power.”

Looking forward to November’s IMarEST Marine Arc Flash Conference, chairman Kevin Daffey, Chief Technology Officer Electrical Systems, Rolls-Royce plc explains: “Arc flash has the potential to release tremendous amounts of energy into the confined spaces often found on ships. The design of electrical systems to avoid or mitigate its impact is of paramount importance for the safety of ships, their crew and passengers. This technical conference will bring together those in the industry responsible for electrical safety to discuss five key issues, the applicability of new design standards/methods; development of new safe working practices; introduction of personal protective equipment; calculations and risk quantification methods; and impact on marine electrical engineering and operation.”

Jim Phillips, PE Electrical Training Expert, Brainfiller.com will deliver the opening keynote address, following which presentations during the day-long conference will be given under four main headings ‘Theory’ chaired by Kees Posthumus of Defence Materiel Organisation, The Netherlands; ‘Marine Experience’ with Tony Chronnell of L-3 Offshore in the chair; ‘Mitigation Methods’ led by Shaun White of Converteam UK Ltd; and ‘Design Best Practice’ chaired by Paul Eaton of Converteam UK Ltd.

Speakers under these session headings are from the University of Manchester and University of Strathclyde; TAS Engineering Consultants; Marine Accident Investigation Branch; BP Shipping, BMT Defence Services Ltd; Lloyd’s Register; J & K Ross Ltd; MOD DE&S; Terasaki Electric Co Ltd; Converteam UK Ltd; Aircraft Carrier Alliance; and Rolls-Royce plc; with Kevin Daffey leading the 45 minute discussion session towards the end of the day; and Professor Chris Hodge, Chief Electrical Engineer of BMT Defence Services Ltd and Chairman of the IMarEST Board of Trustees, delivering closing remarks.

Further information on all aspects of IMarEST’s Marine Arc Flash Conference including registration is available from www.imarest.org/events; events@imarest.org; and from the Events Department IMarEST, Aldgate House, 33 Aldgate High Street, London EC3N 1EN, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2702; Fax: +44 (0)20 7382 2667.

Labels: Arc Flash Conferences, Marine Arc Flash

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Video Compares Arc Flash Events At Different Incident Energy Levels

Plant Services magazine has posted a video showing the effects of an arc flash at three different incident energy levels. Do you know the difference between a 4.6 cal/cm2and a 14.5 cal/cm2 arc flash? Watch the video here.

Note that at the time of this post the web page is not correctly designed. In some browsers it is difficult to see the controls for running the video. You can just see the top part of the buttons at the bottom of the video screen. The far left button will start the video. The words will remain on the screen for a long time. The arc flash explosions are shown beginning about 2/3 of the way through the video.

Labels: Arc Flash, Electrical Safety, Understanding Arc Flash

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Monday, October 10, 2011

Electrical Inspector Dies After Fire And Explosion At Home

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a Des Plaines city employee died in an explosion and fire in his backyard. David Mugerditchian, aged 60, was an electrical inspector for the city of Des Plaines. He suffered burns to 96 percent of his body as a result of the fire.

The article reports that a colleague, Butch Ehrke, who is a building inspector, said that "Mugerditchian would take the time to explain things to homeowners and building owners as far as what remedies would be more economical or more efficient laborwise. 'He would explain things to people, like, Here’s a way you can hook up the generator and not have to worry about certain things. That’s the kind of guy he was.'"

Read more here.

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Australian Worker Seriously Injured In Electrical Substation Explosion

The Herald and Weekly Times reports that the father of Australian pop star Jessica Mauboy's was seriously injured as the result of an explosion at an electrical substation in Darwin.

Read the full story at: Herald and Weekly Times

The local police reported that a high voltage underground cable was cut during an excavation. The resulting explosion seriously inured two workers. The first ambulance officers to arrive at the scene had to hose the men off due to the severity of their injuries.

Only limited information is available at this time.

Labels: Electrical Injuries

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