3/18/2024 0 Comments Arc flash safety boundariesReduce arc flash energy to a level where permitted tasks can be performed, or.The engineering controls covered in the following pages will either: Administrative controls and warnings are less effective because they rely on workers following proper procedures and safe work practices. The most effective arc flash safety programs look to incorporate “safety by design.” Though not as effective as substitution or elimination, the goal of engineering controls is to reduce the degree of hazard. Hierarchy of arc flash mitigation controls When applied to electrical workplace safety, arc flash mitigation involves taking steps to minimize the level of hazard and/or the risk associated with an arc-flash event.ĪNSI Z10-2012, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems, released a hierarchy of arc flash mitigation controls, as shown in Figure 2. Electrical equipment should be installed, operated, serviced, and maintained only by properly trained and qualified personnel.Īccording to Webster’s dictionary, mitigation is defined as, “to make milder, less severe or less violent”. The remainder of this paper will focus on mitigating arc flash hazards, specifically engineering controls. Ensure adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and proper toolsĬompanies can take additional steps to reduce the potential for an arc flash.Maintain electrical distribution system components.Conduct regularly scheduled safety training and audits for all electrical workers.Follow strategies to mitigate and control arc flash hazards.Conduct an arc flash risk assessment to evaluate the likelihood of occurrence and severity of arc flash hazards.Develop and audit electrical safe work practices policy.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) enforces electrical workplace safety standards outlined in the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace®.īasic compliance to the requirements of NFPA 70E is established through a six-step process: While the threat of shock and electrocution from inadvertent contact with energized parts has long been recognized, the arc flash and arc blast hazards have only fairly recently been incorporated into the electrical safety standards. A combination of the likelihood of occurrence of injury or damage to health and the severity of injury or damage to health that results from a hazard.A source of possible injury or damage to health.The type of equipment specified, and where in an electrical system it’s installed, can significantly reduce the duration and threat of an arc flash incident. Electrical equipment can play an important role in minimizing arc flash hazards. However, as electrical environments change arc flash threats need to be reevaluated. The National Fire Protection Association’s Standard NFPA 70E first addressed the issue in its guidelines for safety boundaries and maintenance practices, including personal protective equipment (PPE). The need to protect workers from the hazards of arc flash is well understood.
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