It is estimated that 5 to 10 arc flash incidents occur in electrical equipment everyday in the United States. These events have the potential to cause serious injuries and even death due to burns and other trauma.
Each year, hundreds of burn injuries and deaths are recorded from workers exposed to open flame, high heat, flash fire or arc flash without proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
An arc is an electrical phenomenon that occurs when flowing current leaves its intended conductor, traveling through air to another conductor or to ground.
A moving video posted on YouTube by friends of Eddie Adams describes how the Elkin, North Carolina electrician lost his life in an arc flash incident – and how his loss impacted his family, friends and co-workers. Adams died from the explosion of a 2300 volt starter.
OSHA authorized the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA, to develop the 70E standard in 1976 due to the sheer numbers of lives lost due to electrocution and arc flash incidents.
MSA Safety, Inc. introduces the EVOTECH® and Workman® Arc Flash Full Body Harnesses designed to self-extinguish quickly to prevent melting or dripping in the event of an arc flash. These innovative harnesses help to keep workers safe around electrical hazards at heights.
On April 11, 2014, OSHA published in the Federal Register the final rule revising 29 CFR 1910.269 and 1926 Subpart V standards governing workplace safety in electric power generation, transmission and distribution work.