This document discusses arc flash safety and the dangers of electrical arc flashes. It notes that arc flashes can cause severe third-degree burns, blindness, cardiac arrest, and other serious injuries. The document outlines best practices for preventing arc flash incidents, including following NFPA 70E guidelines, assessing hazards to determine proper protective equipment, working on de-energized systems whenever possible using lock-out/tag-out procedures, and always wearing appropriate PPE suited for the potential energy level of the work being performed. Failure to follow safety procedures can expose workers to live parts and result in arc flash burns or death.

1. ARC FLASH SAFETY
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By: John Alvarez
johnsafetyfirst10@yahoo.com

2. ELECTRICAL ARC FLASH
• There are about 2,000 or more serious burn injuries
and dozens of deaths related to arc flashes per
year
• Even if you don’t work directly with electricity you
should know the dangers of an arc flash
• Safety guidelines could help so that you don’t get
hurt or your Co workers
• Never do any electrical work unless you are
completely authorized and consider qualified by
the facility owner.
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3. WHAT IS AN ELECTRICAL ARC
FLASH?
An electrical explosion due to a high-current short
circuit which presents a hazard to
qualified/authorized electrical workers.
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4. ARC FLASH EXPLOSION
• Arc flashes can cause:
• Third – degree burns
• Blindness
• Cardiac arrest
• Broken Bones Hearing loss
• Punctures and lacerations
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5. CAUSES OF ARC FLASH
• Testing the voltage with inappropriate tools
• Dropped tools
• Improper work procedures
• Not insulated properly
• Working on energized equipment
• Dust and corrosion
• Lack of training

6. WHAT IS NFPA 70E?
• NFPA stands for National Fire Protection
Association.
• NFPA 70E “Standard for Electrical Safety in
the Workplace” has created heightened
awareness of electrical arc flash hazards.
Applicable to systems 50 volts and above.
• Affects: Training, Labeling, Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE), Tools, Work
Practices.
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7. WHO ENFORCES ELECTRICAL ARC
FLASH SAFETY?
• Electrical panels and designs are required to
provide labeling per NEC 110.16 requirements.
OSHA 1901.132 and 1910.335 require that
employers perform a hazard assessment to
determine proper PPE and that employees be
provided with and are required to use
appropriate PPE properly.
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8. WHAT ARE WE PROTECTING
AGAINST?
• Shock Hazard with PPE, Distance, or Safety design.
Assuming 480v and less.
• Default Qualified Boundary is 1 foot
• Default Unqualified Boundary is 42 inches
• Arc Flash Hazard with PPE, Distance or Safety
design.
• Default boundary is 4 feet without PPE.
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9. PPE SELECTION
• NFPA 70E-28 Article 130.7
Personal and Other Protective Equipment.
• When a employee is working within the “Flash
Protection Boundary” (4 feet of exposed live
parts) he/she shall wear protective clothing and
other PPE in accordance with 130.3
• Protective equipment, sufficient for protection
against the potential electrical flash, is required
for every part of the body. The selection of the
required thermal rated PPE depends on the
incident energy level at the point of work.
• Employees must wear and be trained in the use of
appropriate protective equipment for the possible
electrical hazards with which they may face..
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10. CLOTHING
• Category – 0 Untreated natural fiber that doesn’t
melt like cotton or wool
• Category – 1 wear clothing that is flame resistant or
FR
• Category – 2 Wear cotton under garments and FR
clothing
• Category - 3 Wear cotton undergarments, FR
CLOTHING AND FR COVER ALL
• Category -4 Cotton undergarments, FR clothing
and a double layer coat and pants
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11. PPE
• Some jobs may require
specific PPE:
• Such as; arc rater face shield, safety glasses, voltage
rated hard hat, insulated gloves and insulated shoes or
boots and hearing protection. Or a full arc flash suit.
• PPE need to be rated for the amount of incident energy
that can withstand this is called:
• Arc Thermal Performance Value or ATPV
• Manufactures provide the ATPV Ratings in the clothing if
a piece of clothing doesn’t have an ATPV Is not an
acceptable protection against arc flash dangers.
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12. 4- FLASH PROHIBITED APPROACH
• 1. The Prohibited approach.
• 2. Restricted approach.
• 3. Limited Approach Boundary
• 4. Flash Protection Boundary
• For high voltage protection it could be as far as 20
feet and for low voltage it could be up to a few
inches.
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14. 4- FLASH PROHIBITED APPROACH
• For someone to cross the flash protection boundary
and any of the shock boundaries he must be
authorized by the owner of the equipment and
wear the proper PPE FOR THE JOB THEY ARE DOING.
• All hazards, equipment that has been installed or
modify after 2002 must have warning signs or labels
that tell the hazards that are present.
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15. DE –ENERGIZED
• Best way when working with electricity is to apply
LOTO procedures.
Dozens of workers kill every year for not following the
lock out tag out procedures
• Employees need to know the lockout Tag out
procedures
• Required PPE
• Work permit procedures
• Emergency Procedures in the event of an
arc flash or electric shock.
• Always pay attention to all signs and labels
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16. CAN DOUBLE INSULATED AND VOLTAGE
RATED TOOL HELP?
• YES! Non-insulated tools introduce an arc
flash risk that is minimized with properly rated
insulated tools. Note that the tools must be
marked with the following voltage rated
symbol by the manufacturer.
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17. ARC FLASH
• Arc flashes are extremely dangerous and could
injure or kill workers. You don’t have to come into
direct contact with electricity to get seriously injured
with an arc flash that is the way is so important to
know all of the dangers associated with.
• Always pay attention to all the labels and always
put on the CORRECT PPE.
• Following safe work practices will reduce the
chances that you or your coworkers get hurt by one
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