Designing and Implementing an Arc Flash Clothing Program

104 Pages·2015·3.88 MB·English

Designing and Implementing an Arc
Flash Clothing Program
Understanding The Electric
Arc Flash Hazard
Background
• Involved with the Flame Resistant Clothing market from
the service, manufacturing and garment sides for over
20 years.
• Over the past 11 years worked closely with fortune 1000
companies as they look develop PPE programs within
their Electrical Safe Work Practices to comply with
NFPA70E/NESC and also Flash Fire programs for NFPA
2113.
• Developed and conducted over 250 educational and
informational seminars on the Hazards of Arc Flash and
Flash Fire for NSC, ASSE, VPPPA, NJATC, NECA,
CAER and numerous other associations.
Content
• What is an Arc Flash?
• Why AR/FRClothing?
• Creating and AR/FR Program
OSHA General Duty Clause
• Employer’s responsibility / Choosing AR/FR
“Each employer shall furnish to each of his
employees employment and a place of
employment which are free from recognized
hazards that are causing or are likely to
cause death or serious physical harm.”
References
OSHA:
• 1910.132(a) – Protective equipment, including
personal protective equipment for eyes, face,
head, and extremities, protective clothing,…
• 1910.137 - Electrical Protective Equipment
• 1910.147: LOTO
• 1910.269: Power Generation & Distribution
• 1910.331-.335 - ESWP
• 1910.334 Use of equipment - Portable - Fixed -
Test
• 1910.335 PPE & warning

Arc Flash Event
• A dangerous release of energy created
by an electrical fault - Arc temp can
reach 35,000 F
• Release will contain:
– Thermal energy
– Acoustical energy
– Pressure wave
– Debris -Copper expands 67,000 times
when vaporized
• Fatal burns can and do occur at >10
feet
What Equipment can Cause Arcs?
• Typical equipment can be:
– Motor Control Centers (MCC’s)
– Circuit Breakers
– Disconnects
– Metering Devices (remove – install)
– Panel Boards
– Switchgear (low and high voltage)
– Transformers
Why is AR/FR Needed?
• Most severe burn injuries and
fatalities are caused by non-flame
resistant clothing igniting and
continuing to burn
• Flame resistant clothing will self-
extinguish, thus limiting the injury
• Body area under non- AR/FR
clothing is often burned more
severely than exposed skin
What Is a Burn?
A chemical process which
progressively injures skin;
severity relates to depth
 1st : redness, pain – not
permanent
 2nd: blistering – skin will
regenerate
 3rd: total skin depth
destroyed. Will not
regenerate – requires
grafting
 4th : Underlying muscle
damaged