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3 ?2014 Panduit Corp. and Pentair Equipment Protection. All Rights Reserved. ? ensure compliance with relevant hazardous energy standards ? provide high-quality, cost-effective implementation and training services that guarantee your compliance program execution and training goes smoothly and achieves the desired results Preventive Measures for Arc Flash Risk A growing concern in the electrical industry is the increased incidents of arc flash. An arc flash explosion is a very dangerous and often costly electrical system malfunction that occurs as a short circuit between electrified conductors. When the isolation between the conductors is breached or cannot contain the applied voltage, the air immediately surrounding the short can ionize, creating an intense energy flash of 5,000°F or more. Often, an arc flash event is triggered by operator movement or contact with the energized equipment. This is a particular threat when faults occur within an enclosure. A phase-to-ground or phase-to-phase fault that results in an explosion can cause fatal injuries, severe burns and produce considerable property damage. Arc flash is a dangerous condition associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc, a very common workplace hazard. Due to the significant number of electricians that have been seriously burned or killed by accidental electrical arc flash while working on energized equipment, NFPA

70 requires the labeling of switchboards, panel boards, and control panels to warn the qualified person of the potential for arc flash. According to NFPA 70E, typically, as much as 80% of hospital admissions from electrical incidents are a result of burns resulting from an arc flash and ignition of flammable clothing, rather than electrical shock. The amount of energy released from an arc flash can be fatal at distances of

10 ft. (3m). Furthermore, over 2,000 people each year are admitted to burn centers for severe arc flash burns. Estimates also indicate that more than 30,000 non-fatal electrical shock accidents occur each year. Best practices in meeting the OSHA, NFPA, and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) safety standards requirements to establish a workplace free of unknown hazards in relation to the electrical system include training programs, lockout/tagout procedures and identification systems. Training Programs Training is critical for all workers who are exposed to safety hazards. These workers must thoroug........