Arc flash hazards have not been adequately addressed in the mining industry
Arc flash generally refers to the dangerous exposure to thermal energy released by an arcing fault on an electrical power system. In recent years, arc flash hazards have become a prominent safety issue in many industries.
This problem, however, has not been effectively addressed in the mining industry. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) data for the period 1990 through 2001 attribute 836 injuries to "noncontact electric arc burns," making them the most common cause of electrical injury in mining.