– Is Arc Flash a real issue?
OSHA now recognizes Arc Flash and Arc Blast as a work place hazard. Temperatures at the arc flash can reach 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit (hot as the surface of the sun) and the blast can propel fragmented components outward at a velocity in excess of 700 miles per hour. The resulting loss of life and limb is no longer deemed acceptable by OSHA.

– Do you have to comply with Arc-Fault protection and Panel Labels?
Yes – under OSHA’s General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) requires an employer to furnish to its employees “Employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” NFPA 70E is the recognized industry standard for electrical safety requirements in the workplace. NFPA 70E recognizes Arc Flash as a hazard that is likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

– When do you have to comply with Arc Flash protection and panel labeling?
The NFPA 70E was first published in 1979 with major revisions in 2000 and 2004. OSHA considers the danger of Arc Flash and the industry agreed upon protection methods to be adequately published. Therefore the time for compliance is now if one wants to avoid the risk of OSHA penalties or additional legal risk in the case of an arc flashelectrical accident.

– How do you take the steps to comply with Arc-Flash protection and panel labeling?
Protection against various energy levels of arc flash requires different Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves, mask, flash-resistant clothing, etc.. The employer must select, provide and require the employees to use the appropriate PPE equipment. Since the flash energy level will vary at each electrical panel calculations must be performed and a special panel label printed that indicates both the energy level present and the required PPE equipment.

In order to calculate the flash-energy at each panel an electrical analysis must be made of your electrical system. This analysis and associated safety program involves a series of steps.

• An electrical one-line must either exist or be created.
• Data must be collected for cable runs and equipment configurations.
• The data must be entered into a computer model meeting IEEE/ANSI C37 standards, such as SKM.
• A short-circuit (fault) study must be performed.
• A system selective coordination study of the overcurrent devices must be performed.
• Then the Arc Flash calculations and resulting energy levels are generated.
• The Arc Flash labels are generated and printed. These labels have unique identifiers for each panel on the one-line.
• Electrical safety training for all employees who have occasion to work on live circuits.
• Annual maintenance of the one-line, calculations and required panel labels. “NFPA 70B, Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance” in System Studied recommends that baseline short-circuit calculations be updated when a major modification or renovation is done, but no more that every five years.

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