Risky Work Needs Arc Flash Protection

Workplace injuries caused by arc flash can be the result of sudden electrical flashes or fatal explosions. At any one time, numerous employees receive electrical charges that can impair the mobility in their hands and arms and possibly threaten their lives. Without proper training or adequate safety precautions, employees are open to being in serious danger from poor electrical connections or malfunctions.

Safety requirements

Electrical safety is vital to protect both the lives of employees and the multi-thousand dollar assets of your business. In the event of an electrical emergency, you could very likely see your business premises engulfed in flames and open your establishment to crippling lawsuits from severely injured workers. The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Act requires you to safeguard your employees from the dangers posed by electrical hazards, one of the most important perils being arc flash. You have to provide training designed to impart critical knowledge to your workers on how to identify, assess and prevent this danger from occurring.

Analysing the dangers

Live circuits are hotbeds of electrical charges. It is essential that your workers don Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times, thermal protection developed to shield employees who handle electrical components against the risks posed by surges in electricity. Your establishment should be analysed thoroughly, in particular high-energy equipment, to determine possible conditions such as improper insulation that might cause electricity to jump from connectors.

Tips to prevent electrical dangers

To be certain that your organisation is primed for safety, you must abide by the guidelines set forth in the National Fire Protection Agency 70E or NFPA 70E. It’s a blueprint for electrical safety in your operations and ensures you take the adage "Safety First" to heart. Other than legal compliance, you can take a few steps to prevent a flash incident from arising:

* Disconnect equipment from the power source. Before working on any electrical equipment, down the power and cut off the power supply. Pull out the plugs from sockets or turn off any source of direct power to the equipment.

* Secure your tools. Assign a specific place for each of your tools and return each item to its designated spot after use. Make it a workplace habit to store tools carefully.

* Use protective equipment. Ensure you are attired in appropriate safety gear before attempting any kind of work on high-energy apparatus.

* Label equipment clearly. Identify and clearly mark equipment that have overloaded and caused an arc flash in prior incidents.

* Avoid manpower on very high-risk jobs. Where possible, use power operated machines on particularly risky work.

* Create safety boundaries. Establish an area in your facility that safeguards your workers from flash.

Arc flash explosions pose a very real danger, possible of creating pressures of such magnitude that debris can be flung in all directions. Devastating fires can erupt, causing extensive damage to your building. You must make every effort to ensure your employees are aware of this terrible hazard, protect your organisation from the electrical risk and prevent incidences of workplace injuries.

Protect your workers from serious injuries and prevent your facility from devastating fires. Assess the arc flash risk of your business and train your employees in safety precautions at http://www.lewellyn.com/