Every year, more than 2,000 people are admitted to burn centers with severe arc-flash burns. Arc flash incidents involve electric shocks, fires spreading rapidly through buildings, flying objects such as molten metal and sound blasts as loud 140 db. Arc flash may be caused by dust, dropping tools, accidental touching, condensation, material failure, corrosion, and faulty installation.
Four factors determine the severity of an arc flash injury: 1) Proximity of the worker to the hazard; 2) Temperature; 3) Time for the circuit to break; and 4) Strength of the current passing through the arc.