Arc Flash & Electrical Safety

NFPA 70E and Remote Employees

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:29:00 +0000

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.

Loose Connection In Wind Turbine Causes Arc Flash

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:39:00 +0000

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

5 Electrical Injuries: Risk Stratification and Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:07:00 +0000

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

Effect of Electrode Type on Arc Flash Testings for AC Systems

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:31:00 +0000

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

A Tidal Wave Of Arc Flash Hazard Calculation Studies

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:21:00 +0000

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

10 Steps To Control Electrical Cabinet Problems

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:49:00 +0000

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

Five Common (and dangerous) Working Distance Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:56:00 +0000

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

OSHA Targeting Arc Flash Prevention In Wind Turbines

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:45:00 +0000

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

Arc Flash: Not My Fault

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:34:00 +0000

NFPA 70E puts the responsibility for protecting against arc flash injuries on the owner of the equipment. But, more and more responsibility for arc flash safety is being pushed onto equipment manufacturers. Buyers are requiring design features that reduce the potential of an arc flash, such as isolating the high-voltage areas from the low voltage areas.

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

New NFPA 70E Certifications For Electrical Workers and Supervisors

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:24:00 +0000

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

Arc Flash Explosion In Congo Results In 200 Deaths and 1500 Injured

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:44:00 +0000

What appears to have been an arc flash explosion set off additional explosions in a munitions storage facility and barracks in the Congo. There are conflicting reports, but what appears to have happened is that an arc flash in a barracks resulted in a fire that spread to the area where munitions were stored. The exploding munitions resulted in most of the fatalities and injuries, which included civilians in the surrounding area.

The AllAfrico.com news web site reports:

"The series of five explosions at the barracks was caused by an electrical short circuit, according to Bienvenue Okemi, spokesperson for the government."

Read the complete article here.

Voice of America has an article with additional information.

Related Past Posts:
How Many Arc Flash Fatalities Are There?
What Information Does NFPA 70E 2012 Require?
Arc Flash In A Grocery Store

20 Years Of Electrical Injury Data

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:43:00 +0000

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has released its summary of data pertaining to fatal and nonfatal occupational electrical injuries.

Each year the ESFI publishes electrical injury information in tabular and graphical form on their website. The most recent data covers the 20 year period from 1992-2010, but mainly focuses on 2003-2010 data. This article discusses some of the more interesting patterns observed.

The report is available as a PDF document that you can read here:
http://blog.safe-workplace.com/2012/02/summary-of-last-weeks-major-osha_20.html

The report notes that since 1992 the number of annual electrical injuries has declined by 50%. The greatest number of electrical injuries (44%) resulted from contact with overhead wires.

Appendix A for the report, tables with data, is provided separately at:
http://www.esfi.org/index.cfm/pid/10272/cdid/11512

Related Past Posts:
How Many Arc Flash Fatalities Are There?
Electrocution Is A Serious Risk For Workers
Citations For Failure To Abate Electrical Hazards

Apparent Arc Flash Explosion Kills Metal Thief In Prince Anne Industrial Park

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:58:00 +0000

I've been watching for apparent arc flash explosions outside the U.S. to get a feel for the real numbers of arc flash incidents. What I'm finding are that there are several per week, but a a lot of them are not work related. For example, on this past Wednesday the Delmarva Daily Times (Canada) reported:

"Someone apparently tampering with an electrical box at the Princess Anne Industrial Park was killed this afternoon when the equipment exploded. Police at the scene said they could not identify the remains. 'There’s no way to tell who it is,' said Police Chief Scott Keller. 'There’s not much left of them.'"

Read the article here.

Typically the articles don't have much detail, so it can be a guess as to whether it was an arc flash incident. The Delmarva Daily Times published additional details about the person killed in this incident in an article they published today. Read it here.

Several years ago I reviewed all of the OSHA fatality reports for a 12 month period and found very few arc flash related fatalities in the U.S.. I am now in the process of conducting a similar review of OSHA fatality reports for 2011. I'll start publishing the results on the Safe Workplace blog starting this coming Monday.

Related Past Posts:
How Many Arc Flash Fatalities Are There?
OSHA Citations For Lack Of Electrical Safety
Video Of Arc Flash Demonstration

Five Common Arc Flash Assessment Errors

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:10:00 +0000

A 44-year old electrician gives his opinion on the five most common arc flash assessment errors in a post in his blog. It's some good advice from someone with hands-on experience. You can read the post at:

http://gaarcfaultelectricians.com/?p=92

The post does not number the errors, but here are what I think the post says they are:

1. Not having an Electrical Safety Program.

2. Using PPE incorrectly

3. Purchasing tools without electrician's input

4. Using generic arc flash labels

5. Not being in compliance with OSHA requirements

Related Past Posts:
Arc Flash Concerns During Thermography
Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks
New Outdoor Arc Flash Labels

Burned Electrician Sues Over Exploding Electrical Box

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:01:00 +0000

The SE Texas Record reports that Tracy Hill has filed a lawsuit against Texas International Terminals Ltd. Mr. Hill was caught in an apparent arc flash while working on an electrical box at the Texas International Terminals facility last October 5th. The article reports:

"According to the suit, Tracy Hill, an employee of Sullivan Interests, was allegedly instructed by an employee of the defendant to repair several of the defendant's transformers and electrical boxes."

"Tracy Hill states he was going to get his electrical testing meter just before the event in question."

"'He returned to the box and was about 3-6 feet away from it when he heard a loud pop, saw a bright light and then an explosion,' the suit states."

Arc Flash Analysis: IEEE Method versus the NFPA 70E Tables

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:11:00 +0000

Schneider Electric Engineering Services has just published a white paper that compares the IEEE method for doing an arc flash analysis with the NFPA 70E table method. The white paper is available online at:

http://static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Electrical%20Distribution/Services/1910DB1201.pdf

The following is the abstract from the paper describing the subject of this white paper:

"Recent changes in workplace safety regulations have heightened the awareness of hazards associated with electrical arcs. The hazard level must be quantified and workers properly protected before entering proximity of exposed energized conductors. National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) standard 70E provides the guidelines for work involving electrical hazards and the selection of arc flash
protective equipment. In order to properly select the protective gear one must have knowledge of the potential thermal energy of the electric arc. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 1584 has been the de facto standard for calculating the arc energy levels at different points in the electrical power system."

"However, NFPA 70E also provides the option of using the Hazard/Risk Category (HRC) task tables for personal protective equipment (PPE) selection. These tables provide pre-defined levels of PPE, which are based on the available short circuit current and the speed of the overcurrent protective device. Therefore, in order to properly apply the tables, some degree of electrical calculations must be performed and the tables could be subjected to misuse if they are applied without knowledge of the necessary calculations."

"In this paper the basic differences between the IEEE 1584 method and the NFPA 70E task tables are discussed and a recommended specification is provided for facility owners who are interested in achieving compliance with the regulations."

This white paper includes a brief mention of the need for arc flash labels as required by NFPA 70E. DuraLabel printers make NFPA 70E compliant arc flash labels that also are formatted they way you want. Your have your choice of using the built-in template and database, or creating your own arc flash label format. Plus, with a DuraLabel printer making labels is fast and easy. Find out more. Call 1-888-326-9244 today and ask about the special DuraLabel arc flash labeling kits. You'll be glad you did.

Related Past Posts:
Marine Arc Flash
Follow Standards When Selecting PPE For Arc Flash
Putting Arc Flash Calculations Into Perspective

Arc Flash Fatalities At Wal-Mart Making The News

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:04:00 +0000

In today's edition of the the Huffington Post they are reporting that news about arc flash fatalities at Mal-Mart is spreading with articles in the Boston Globe. The Huffington Post article starts by dramatically telling the story of Romulo de Oliveira Santo, a worker who died from an arc flash at a Wal-Mart in Walpole, Massachusetts about ten moths ago.

Read the article here.

The Boston Globe article (read it here) reports on the lawsuit that has been filed by the Santos family:

"Santos’s death is now the subject of a lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court that seeks to hold Walmart Stores Inc. accountable for actions of contractors and subcontractors that build and renovate the retail giant’s stores. The plaintiffs, who seek $5 million in damages from Walmart and two subcontractors, allege the conditions that led to Santos’s electrocution are part of a pattern of unsafe practices at Walmart construction sites, including the hiring of unlicensed contractors and so-called straw men to obtain local permits."

Related Past Posts:
Arc Flash Injuries Are Happening Daily
Should Arc Flash Danger Labels Ever Be Used
Victims Of Arc Flash

Two Workers Burned In Sacul Arc Flash

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:25:00 +0000

Two employees of Fagan Construction were seriously burned by an arc flash explosion at the Southern Power biomass power generation facility in Sacul, Texas.

An article in Texas Fire provides the initial report:

http://www.texas-fire.com/2012/01/two-burned-in-sacul-biomass-plant-accident/

Both workers are in serioius condition and have been taken to a burn unit in Houston.

No additional information is available at this time.

Donnie's Accident Video

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:13:00 +0000

In August 2007 I posted a YouTube video called "Donnie's Accident." It is a powerful video telling the story about a man named Donnie who was injured by an arc flash. Donnie just posted a comment on that video letting us know that he now has a web site. Here is what he wrote:

======================
Hello! My name is Donnie Johnson. My wife and I made a video a few years ago called "Donnie's Accident". I have a new website. I have had numerous requests on You Tube and other sites for copies of my video from safety directors. They use it for their safety programs. So I made a website! I use the video during my 'work safety' presentations when I speak at events, businesses and organizations. You can watch or download the video and read the full story of my 'experience' here. I’m not charging anything; this site is meant to help promote safety awareness by sharing my experience before during and after an electrical "Arc Blast" accident as well as reminding us what can happen if we don’t follow our safety procedures. Please feel free to share the link.

www.donniesaccident.com

You can contact me using the “Comments or Questions” box on the website.
=====================

Please share the link to his web site with others.

Arc Flash Injures Electrical Worker At Florida Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:28:00 +0000

An electrical worker employed by a subcontractor for Florida Power & Light was injured by a arc flash explosion yesterday. The worker was installing a digital meters at the Naples Bay Resort. He suffered severe first- and second-degree burns to his upper body. The Naples News reports:

"'The guests reported hearing an extremely loud bang, followed by a fireball,'" Naples Fire Chief Steve McInerny said.

The fire burned the victim’s face and his right arm, shoulder and chest. Some of the burns might be third-degree. The electrician was wearing a face shield, eye protection and a fire-resistant shirt at the time."

Read the complete story here.

Arc Flash In A Grocery Store

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:52:00 +0000

For the past month I've been working at digging up any and all news reports about arc flash injuries. There are many claims about the number of severity of arc flash incidents and I wanted to find out what the facts are. However, it has turned out to be a difficult task -- at least using public news sources.

One conclusion I've arrived at is that the general news media does not have a clue about arc flash. Another conclusion is that there is a huge electrical safety problem -- the number of injuries reported from electrical shock daily is staggering. In most cases they happen because equipment was not de-energized before someone started to work on it.

In the mid-1970's I was a start-up engineer working on digital control systems. At that time "digital control" meant mechanical relays. Some of the electricians I worked with would test circuits by touching live connections with the back of their fingers. They even claimed to be able to tell the difference between 110 and 220. Is that type of bravado still going on in the workplace? Do electrical workers feel they can work on live circuits and not be injured? Or is it just more convenient to not turn the power off?

What got me started on this post is an article in a Connecticut Newspaper called "The Daily." It reports about an arc flash incident in a Big Y grocery store. Grocery stores seem like safe places. Please don't be complacent. Please don't be casual about electrical safety. Please don't take shortcuts. Please be with your family for Christmas, not in a hospital recovering from an electrical burn.

Electrical Hazard Awareness Training for Electrical and Non-Electrical Personnel

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:17:00 +0000

The Energy Facility Contractors Group's (EFCG) Knowledge Portal provides electrical training resources that are freely available for downloading from their web site. These include both PDF documents and Power Point presentations.

They are produced by the Electrical Safety Subgroup and are available here (click here). The topics that are covered include:

Facility Electrical Worker Training

Potential Hazards with Neutral Conductors
Test Before Touching
Electrical Measurement Safety
Guidance for Identifying Spurious Voltages in Isolated Electrical Systems

Facility Non-Electrical Worker Training

Module 1 - General Electrical Safety Awareness
Electrical Cord Safety
Module 3 - Electrical Safety for Arc Welding and Plasma Cutting
Module 4 - Electrical Safety Working Near Overhead Power Lines
Module 5 - Electrical Safety During Excavation and Trenching
Module 6 - Electrical Safety for Skilled Worker
Module 7 - Electrical Safety for Radiological Control Technician
Module 8 - Electrical Safety for Subcontractors
Module 9 - Battery Safety and Handling
Electrical Safety Awareness Study Guide for Instructors and Students

Inadequate Safety Policies Led To Nuclear Plant Electrical Incident

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:10:00 +0000

The following is from an article in The Holland Sentinel in Holland, MI:

"A Nuclear Regulatory Commission report, cites inadequate safety policies as a possible cause of the incident at Palisades Nuclear Power Plant near South Haven in September that resulted in a reactor shutdown and release of radioactive steam into the environment."

The incident referred to in the article was an electrical short/arc flash incident that happened while workers were performing maintenance on an electrical panel. The article describes what happened:

"...after initially loosening the screw for the horizontal bus bar, the worker saw a flash from the area of the screw. Upon seeing a flash, the worker’s hands instinctively recoiled from the work area for personal protection, thereby letting go of the horizontal positive bus bar. The horizontal positive bus bar was loosened enough so that it rotated downward and contacted the negative bus bar causing a significant arc and melting of the bus bars. ... No workers were injured and the plant shut down."

Click to read the complete article here.

Free Online Electrical Safety Training

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:43:00 +0000

Oklahoma State University provides a basic electrical safety training course that is available online for anyone to use. The course covers the following topics:

Why Worry About Electricity?
Common Causes of Accidents
How You Can Protect Yourself
Electrical Emergencies
Codes and Regulations

You can take this course by going to:
http://ehs.okstate.edu/modules/electric/index.htm

Mass. Workers Injured by Electrical Explosion

noreply@blogger.com (Steve Hudgik) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:52:00 +0000

EMS World reports that two electricians working at the Mayo Clinic Medical Laboratories were injured by an electrical explosion last week. The article reported:

"One electrician, who suffered first- and second-degree burns to his face, was transported to Lawrence General Hospital. The other, who Andover Deputy Fire Chief James Dolan said suffered more severe burns to his face, neck and arms, was initially transported to Lawrence General Hospital but wound up being driven via a life-support ambulance to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dolan said his injuries were severe enough to warrant the use of a Med-Flight helicopter, but poor weather had grounded yesterday's flights."

The two electricians were reportedly working on a high-voltage panel at the time of the explosion.

You can read the entire article here.