The latest update about Arc Flash studies in the USA describes how facilities fall behind in reassuring the electrical safety of their workers. Check this:
The Partnership for Electrical Safety invigorates a guidance report from OSHA on comfortable arc-rated clothing in agreement with NFPA 70E standards.
In the US alone, more than 750,000 electricians do not have proper PPE or safety equipment. The way things are now, the PES is brewing many initiatives to ensure that workers in this category enjoy safe and risk-free working conditions. This piece of news is a great relief for these workers as Congress has asked the OSHO to develop a new Arc Flash Guidance report. Once issued, the PES will support the employers to comply with the OSHO standards. In the US alone, more than 750,000 electricians do not have proper PPE or safety equipment. The way things are now, the PES is brewing many initiatives to ensure that workers in this category enjoy safe and risk-free working conditions. This piece of news is a great relief for these workers as Congress has asked the OSHO to develop a new Arc Flash Guidance report. Once issued, the PES will support the employers to comply with the OSHO standards. The PES is an organization in the USA focusing on educating employees on safety standards working near electrical equipment. The organization works to empower individuals working near electrical equipment by encouraging them to use standard PPEs and arc-rated clothing. In this framework, the PES works in collaboration with the OSHA, Congress, and the Department of Labor to drive more safety for these workers, and emphasize the worker’s perspective as well as that of the employers in adopting safer working conditions. However, there are still many gaps to be filled and companies and employers must understand that Electrical safety and an Arc Flash Study are neither a grandeur nor a mandate, but a moral responsibility.Some of the arguments why facilities think they don’t need an Arc Flash Study and Analysis
Facility owners often argue about why they needn’t conduct an Arc Flash Study and Analysis every five years. The whys and wherefores include the fact that their electricians are certified, they know their work, no major mishaps have happened in their facility so far, and so on. This misconception that something needs to take place to clear the safety requirements drives many accidents. Lack of Awareness of Arc Flash Studies and compliant codes is what makes these facility owners think otherwise. Educating the workforce, employers, and other facility owners can bring about a major change in this perspective.
Every year the EFSI( Electrical Safety Foundation International) celebrates May month as the electrical safety month of the year. This initiative is undertaken to inform and educate people in general about electrical safety inside and outside of any facility. Arc Flash awareness is an integral part of this initiative.
The widespread adoption of electrical energy to power office spaces, residential buildings, and even cars has necessitated the use of safe practices and awareness of potential dangers. Regular maintenance and analysis can minimize the dangers. Being a sustainable source of power, we need to address these issues in hand at the right time.
“ If it weren’t for Electricity, we would all be watching Television by candlelight”, this quote by the famous humorist, George Gobel, makes us all recall how pivotal this discovery is for humankind.
Our electricity may be green or gray, although we often rely heavily on this form of energy. On the flip side, there are disguised threats looming around Electricity. One potential risk of using Electricity is Arc Flashes, which must be addressed promptly. We must also understand that electrical equipment and wires also age and wear down like people do. Unexpected intruders, unidentified faults, or even human intervention in an electrical system can have a huge blowback to the system and can result in hazards. To Make allowances for a smooth and hazard-free workplace, top companies conduct Arc Flash Studies to rate their electrical system. Residential setups are also not exempted from the dangers of electrical system hazards and need Arc Flash studies time and again.
What exactly is an Arc Flash?
Arc Flashes are the most underrated kind of electrical hazard that can have many ill effects. They happen when high electric discharges take place between the loose ends of a conductor, as the air in between offers the least resistance to the flow of current. This is accompanied by a huge amount of heat, often described as much above the temperature on the surface of the sun, to cause an Arc and subsequent blasting. The most common practice to avoid these is to conduct an Arc Flash Study to identify the faults and rectify them. Let us understand the danger lurking around Arc Flashes in detail through a simulated industry case study. Consider a company that hires an electrician to check the fault in the system. He is equipped with the tools and expertise to rectify it. For some reason, one of the tools slipped from his hand and landed on the circuit. This may create a short circuit in the system. An Arc flash incident is thus created and most likely, a fire breaks out. However, the electrician is not wearing his prescribed safety equipment. What happens in such cases is disturbing to think in the first place. There is a fairly good chance that the person loses his life. Alternatively, if the company had already done an Arc Flash Study and Analysis, it could prescribe safety wear for the electrician, thus curbing the danger of losing a life.
One case study and we are clear on the fact that Arc Flash Studies are mandatory. Different countries follow different compliance guidelines that are relevant for Arc Flash Study and Analysis.
Standards for Arc Flash Study and Analysis
Various codes and standards are defined for Arc Flash Study, and comprehending this is crucial for performing the same. Mandatory compliances like OSHO, NFPA 70E, IEEE 1584, etc are the standard codes for Arc Flash Study Analysis. In addition, some of the situations where it is mandatory to do an Arc Flash study are:- When company insurance necessitates Arc Flash Study reports
- When major alterations are done in the electrical power system.
- If a major hazard or damage has already happened to the electrical system.
Who can perform the Arc Flash Study?
The zillion-dollar question- who can do an Arc Flash Study and Analysis? Only experienced professionals with an in-depth understanding of compliance codes like the OSHO, NFPA 70E, and IEEE 1584 are qualified to perform Arc Flash studies and Analysis.
Care Labs offers cost-effective and code-compliant electrical safety and engineering solutions to companies across the USA, Europe, Canada, and Pan-Asia. ETAP 22.5 software is used to do Arc Flash study and evaluation.
Care Labs’ approach to an Arc Flash Study follows these steps:
- Evaluate the components, operational procedures, and settings of the electrical system.
- Utilize the ETAP 22.5 application to get information about the Arc Flash boundaries, and incident energy levels, and recommend PPEs for workers.
- All the findings and recommendations are included in a report customized to a specific location’s standards.
- Expert professionals from Care Labs offer counsel and suggestions on implementing necessary system adjustments to align with the standards.
Final word
Companies around the world must comprehend the significance of conducting an Arc Flash Study and Analysis every five years. This is not just to clear the decks, but to safeguard the workers from the potential danger of Arc Flashes. It is extremely dangerous for the manpower if an Arc flash incident happens in a facility. Although many awareness programs and mandates are being introduced regularly, any facility owner must consider this as his/her moral responsibility. Companies like Care Labs are adept in offering services in this area. With the latest software applications and high-end tools, Care Labs has made many companies a safe place to work. As the saying goes, Better Safe than Sorry, take the first step to vaccinate your workplace from Electrical hazards.
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