From Spring 2022 of Connected.
During the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has redefined workplace safety and the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to keep workers safe from contracting and spreading the virus.
However, masks are only one form of PPE used daily to safeguard workers depending on their environment. Within the electrical industry, common forms of PPE may include suits, hoods/shields, boots, gloves, glasses, insulated tools and mats. These forms of PPE are legally required to protect workers against the risk of death and injury from electrical hazards such as arc flash.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 126 fatal occupational electrical injuries in 2020 and 2,200 nonfatal electrical injuries involving days away from work. While fatal injuries decreased 24% over 2019, the nonfatal injuries increased by 17%.
HOW CAN WE ENSURE THE SAFETY OF WORKERS AND CONTINUE TO MINIMIZE RISK?
Compliance with the latest safety codes and standards as documented in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E-Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace can help reduce workplace accidents and safety hazards. This document was designed to reduce risks and create a safer workplace for employees using electricity in the workplace.
NFPA 70E is used to achieve compliance with the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) electrical safety requirements and states the employer must do the following:
1.) Establish, document and implement safety-related work practices and procedures.
2.) Provide employees with training in the employer’s safety related work practices and procedures.
NFPA 70E also requires electrical safety training to be conducted and documented every three years for electrical workers. Additional safety measures include completion of an arc flash assessment and use of proper PPE for the electrical hazard.
WHAT IS AN ARC FLASH HAZARD?
An arc flash hazard is a “source of possible injury or damage to health associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc.” The Workplace Safety Awareness Council describes an arc flash as a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to the ground.
The resulting event is similar to an explosion. For a worker who is in close proximity to the arc flash, it can lead to serious injury or death due to burns, fire, flying objects, blast pressure, sound blasts and heat.
WHAT IS AN ARC FLASH STUDY/ASSESSMENT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
“An arc flash is often mislabeled as something else, such as an electrocution, which is a unique and different hazard,” explains Dan Powers, Senior Project Engineer for Peyton Technical Services. “Because of this lack of understanding, arc flash accidents are sometimes thought of as being an extremely rare occurrence but are more common than many people realize. As such, we must consider arc flash safety to be a critical part of any workplace safety program.”
An arc flash risk assessment, as required by NFPA 70E, Section 130.5 - Arc Flash Analysis, determines the risk, safety-related work practices required, the arc flash boundary, the incident energy at the working distance and the PPE that people within the arc flash boundary must use. The assessment must be reviewed at least once every five years.
PPE FOR ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
Once complete, an arc flash assessment quantifies the hazards a worker will be potentially exposed to so the appropriate PPE can be selected. Without this assessment, the hazard level is unknown and without proper PPE, a worker could be gravely injured.
NFPA 70E defines PPE into two groups, shock protection and arc flash protection. Shock protection includes voltage-rated gloves, insulated tools, mats and boots. Arc flash protection is divided into five categories: Incident energy <1.2 cal/cm2, PPE 1 Incident energy 1.2-4 cal/cm2, PPE 2 Incident energy 4.1-8 cal/cm2, PPE 3 Incident energy 8.1-25 cal/cm2, PPE 4 Incident energy 26-40 cal/cm2.
NEXT STEPS FOR BUILDING AN ELECTRICAL SAFETY PROGRAM
It is important you build an electrical safety program for the well-being of your workers. Development of an electrical safety program includes an arc flash assessment, documentation and implementation of safety practices and procedures, training workers on practices and procedures and obtaining the proper PPE for the electrical hazard.
“Without proper training and a written electrical safety program that establishes your site’s specific guidelines, workers may not understand the correct way to approach an electrical task or what PPE is appropriate for the hazard,” Powers cautions.
Kirby Risk is here to help. We have partnered with the top manufacturers and service providers in our industry, such as Bussmann by Eaton and Peyton Technical Services, to support you with arc flash assessments, electrical safety training and PPE.